Key Facts

Outstanding Faculty Connections

Western professors play an active role in their student’s lives, not just in the classroom. In the laboratory, on study tours, advising student groups, supporting individual student career aspirations, and simply going the extra mile, Western’s faculty is here for you.

Academic Choice

Freedom to craft your education differentiates Western from many colleges and universities. Exploring options before declaring a major, supplementing your major with a minor or concentration in a second area of interest, doing an internship, or participating in countless academic enrichment opportunities makes learning exciting. Thoughtful planning is key.

Internationalizing Your Education

Western students participate in a variety of international experiences including study abroad, student teaching, internships, volunteer work, and faculty-led study tours. Many students also add a minor in International Studies, develop fluency in another language, or otherwise enjoy Western’s extensive selection of globally-focused academic options and initiatives coordinated by the Center for International Studies.

Honors Program

The Honors Program offers bright and highly motivated students academic enrichment in the form of exclusive small and interactive classes, a close-knit intellectual learning community, an Honors residence hall cluster, collaborative learning space, and early access to faculty research teams and other scholarly pursuits. Admission is highly selective and the experience is exceptionally rewarding.

Pre-Med, Pre-Law, and other pre-professional pathways

Collaborative rather than cut-throat describes the Western culture. High expectations, academic commitment, quality advising, and strong faculty support result in high acceptance rates into medical school, law school, and other selective graduate programs.

Rankings & Accreditation

Western is recognized nationally for its successes, from its leadership as one of the most sustainable, “green” campuses in the nation by the Sierra Club to being named the top master’s granting institution in the Pacific Northwest by U. S. News and World Report. Western’s goal is to build a stronger Washington by being an international leader in active learning, critical thinking, and societal problem solving, and these awards and honors illustrate those successes.

Best in the Northwest

Western Washington University is the highest-ranking public, master’s-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to the 2015 U.S. News & World Report college rankings.

U.S. News and World Report also ranked Western as the top-ranked public university of its type in the West on its list of highly ranked universities that operate most efficiently.

Great Value

Kiplinger’s ranks Western on its 2014 list of 100 Best Values in Public Colleges and Universities.

Community Engagement

Western Washington University has been selected for the national 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction award, which recognizes higher education institutions across the country that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities.

Western was given the Community Engagement classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching for its efforts to operate community-outreach programs, deepen students’ civic and academic learning and to enhance overall community well-being.

Forbes Magazine ranks Western among the 2012 list of Nation’s Top Colleges.

IEP is a member of the American Association of Intensive English Programs (AAIEP). Western Washington University is accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).