CWU Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements (2025)

Central Washington University is not selective in its admission process. The acceptance rate of Central Washington University (CWU) is 100%. This means that all applicants are admitted.

How Competitive are Central Washington University Admissions?

Not Competitive: Applicants with satisfactory academics can easily secure admission.
A holistic review considers essays, recommendations, and leadership roles.

Central Washington University Admission Competitiveness

However, a 100% acceptance rate or open admission policy does not guarantee admission. Every institution has minimum eligibility criteria. If you meet these conditions, then you can be certain of admission. Additionally, to secure admission, you must convince the admission staff that you are mentally and physically fit for the course of studies.

Central Washington University Admission Requirements

CWU GPA Requirement

The average GPA of admitted students at CWU is 3.08. This suggests moderate selectivity.

A mix of A’s, B’s, and some C’s is common. Higher SAT/ACT scores can compensate for a lower GPA.

If your GPA is between 2.78 and 3.08, aim for a strong standardized test score. A minimum GPA of 2.68 is necessary for admission.

Can I Get Into CWU Without SAT Or ACT?: Central Washington University does not require admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process and does not recommend that students provide these scores. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. Check the schedule of the test and plan accordingly. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students, as given below. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.

Central Washington University (CWU) SAT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them. The test score policy is already mentioned.

Central Washington University Average SAT Score: 1040
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Central Washington University is 1040 on the 1600 SAT scale.

Central Washington University SAT Competitiveness

This score makes it an easy target or SAT test scores. You need to put average efforts to score 1040 on the SAT.

Key Insight:Aim for the 75th percentile (0 SAT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. Central Washington University allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.

If your score is below 0, you must retake the SAT to improve your chances of admission to CWU. It is not strange to appear multiple times for the SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.

Central Washington University SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
SAT Math	0	0	0
SAT Reading	0	0	0
SAT Composite	1040	0	0

It means that if you have scored less than 0 then you are below most of the admitted students at CWU and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 0 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students. View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1050

Can I get into Central Washington University (CWU) with a 0 SAT?

With a 0 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Central Washington University (CWU) are good but the admission staff at CWU tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.

CWU Profile

Name: Central Washington University (CWU)

City: Ellensburg

URL: www.cwu.edu/

State: Washington

Type: Public

Zip: 98926

Campus: Main

Accredited by: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

How much does a degree from CWU Cost?

The average annual cost of the degree at Central Washington University is USD: 25435. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Central Washington University is USD: 16768

How can I get a scholarship?

33.59% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 38.62 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to CWU and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.

At Central Washington University, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist CWU as your choice in the form.

How much a CWU Graduate make?

The average annual salary of the CWU graduate after 4-6 years of graduation is USD 61580. An average CWU graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4-6 years after graduation).

The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is USD: 40595

Less Competitive Schools

These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Central Washington University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower than the requirements of Central Washington University, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Faulkner University	Faulkner University, AL	1021	21
University of West Alabama	University of West Alabama, AL	1015	19
Central Baptist College	Central Baptist College, AR	1011	21
Henderson State University	Henderson State University, AR	1019	19
University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton	University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton, AR	1020	20
Metropolitan State University of Denver	Metropolitan State University of Denver, CO	1025	20
Point University	Point University, GA	990	18
College of Coastal Georgia	College of Coastal Georgia, GA	997	19
Columbus State University	Columbus State University, GA	1020	20
Thomas University	Thomas University, GA	1010	18

Equally Competitive Schools

These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Central Washington University. If your SAT or ACT score are competitive for Central Washington University, you'll be competitive for these schools also.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Troy University	Troy University, AL	1050	21
Williams Baptist University	Williams Baptist University, AR	1050	21
Colorado State University Pueblo	Colorado State University Pueblo, CO	1031	21
The Baptist College of Florida	The Baptist College of Florida, FL	1045	20
University of Hawaii-West Oahu	University of Hawaii-West Oahu, HI	1033	19

More Competitive Schools

These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Central Washington University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Huntingdon College	Huntingdon College, AL	1086	21
University of South Alabama	University of South Alabama, AL	1118	23
Spring Hill College	Spring Hill College, AL	1094	22
Tuskegee University	Tuskegee University, AL	1091	21
University of Arkansas at Little Rock	University of Arkansas at Little Rock, AR	1089	21

Degree Programs

Bachelor Degree Programs

Full list of All degree programs offered by Central Washington University.

Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard's latest data as provided in 2024, US Department of Education's latest 2024 statistics, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.