Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA cwu.edu 8,081 students

Central Washington University's main campus is located in Ellensburg, Washington, a city in the Kittitas Valley. The campus provides a traditional college town atmosphere, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Cascade Mountains. Known for its strong programs in education, business, and the sciences, CWU fosters a diverse student body, including a significant and growing Hispanic population. The university also operates University Centers extending its reach to the Puget Sound region.

Programs

Analyzed in dataset

Earnings

$41,354

Average graduate, 1 yr after

Outlook

52/100

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

Tuition

$9,192

In-state sticker price

Out-of-state: $26,771/yr

Financial Aid

The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. Central Washington University's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 31% of students receive Pell Grants; 36% take federal loans.

Net Price by Family Income

Academic Year 2025

Income Bracket	Avg Net Price	4-Year Net Cost
$0 – $30K	$7,978	$31,912
$30K – $48K	$11,430	$45,720
$48K – $75K	$15,182	$60,728
$75K – $110K	$18,886	$75,544
$110K+	$22,366	$89,464
Sticker price (no aid)	$9,192	$36,768

Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships, by reported family-income bracket. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.

Programs at Central Washington University

38 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.

Degree Program	DW Score	1-yr Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
Construction Management Compare across schools →	85	$81,666/yr	High	27.2x
Computer Science Compare across schools →	82	$52,362/yr	Very High	28.0x
Information Sciences Computer and Information Sciences, General Compare across schools →	80	$56,049/yr	Very High	19.1x
Accounting Accounting and Related Services Compare across schools →	79	$55,215/yr	Very High	19.0x
Management Science Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Compare across schools →	78	$81,377/yr	Very High	21.1x
Quality Control & Safety Technology Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians Compare across schools →	74	$77,500/yr	High	24.2x
Economics Compare across schools →	74	$52,129/yr	Very High	18.8x
Subject-Area Teaching Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Compare across schools →	74	$49,177/yr	High	16.1x
Business Administration Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare across schools →	73	$49,791/yr	High	16.9x
Teacher Education Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Compare across schools →	72	$47,359/yr	High	15.9x
Mechanical Engineering Technology Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians Compare across schools →	70	$65,871/yr	Moderate	21.7x
Criminal Justice Criminal Justice and Corrections Compare across schools →	65	$44,172/yr	Moderate	15.8x
Social Sciences Social Sciences, General Compare across schools →	64	$42,332/yr	High	15.5x
Public Health Compare across schools →	58	$42,137/yr	High	14.1x
Air Transportation Compare across schools →	58	$40,025/yr	Moderate	22.6x
Political Science Political Science and Government Compare across schools →	58	$39,220/yr	Very High	15.7x
Apparel and Textiles Compare across schools →	56	$51,494/yr	High	12.0x
Public Relations & Advertising Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Compare across schools →	56	$40,976/yr	High	14.1x
Sociology Compare across schools →	50	$36,466/yr	High	14.5x
Psychology Psychology, General Compare across schools →	47	$36,964/yr	High	12.7x
Biology Biology, General Compare across schools →	45	$36,401/yr	High	12.9x
Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools →	44	$35,820/yr	High	13.5x
History Compare across schools →	44	$35,747/yr	High	8.7x
Parks Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management Compare across schools →	44	$28,140/yr	Moderate	11.0x
Health & Physical Education Health and Physical Education/Fitness Compare across schools →	42	$35,268/yr	Moderate	10.8x
Physiology Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences Compare across schools →	41	$30,340/yr	High	15.5x
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Compare across schools →	39	$32,808/yr	High	7.9x
Human Services Human Services, General Compare across schools →	38	$36,644/yr	Moderate	10.8x
Nutrition Sciences Compare across schools →	37	$30,113/yr	High	13.8x
Geography and Cartography Compare across schools →	37	$23,553/yr	High	13.1x
Human Development & Family Studies Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Compare across schools →	36	$27,006/yr	High	6.3x
Natural Resources & Conservation Research Natural Resources Conservation and Research Compare across schools →	31	$29,725/yr	High	11.2x
Fine Arts Fine and Studio Arts Compare across schools →	30	$26,123/yr	Moderate	9.0x
Music Compare across schools →	28	$25,532/yr	High	8.7x
Anthropology Compare across schools →	27	$20,318/yr	High	9.0x
Rhetoric & Writing Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Compare across schools →	26	$27,832/yr	Very High	6.6x
Theater & Drama Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Compare across schools →	24	$24,674/yr	Moderate	8.0x
Film & Photography Film/Video and Photographic Arts Compare across schools →	24	$23,126/yr	High	10.3x