Western Washington University
Located in Bellingham, Washington, Western Washington University is nestled between the breathtaking Cascade Mountains and the tranquil Puget Sound. Its strategic position between the bustling cities of Seattle and Vancouver provides students with an ideal blend of a peaceful, small-town environment and easy access to vibrant urban life and thriving job markets.
Why choose Western Washington University?
Small college feel, big opportunities
At Western Washington, you can experience the benefits of a tight-knit community, through small class sizes and personalised attention from tutors. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1, students have many opportunities to build strong connections with their tutors, which leads to expert mentorship and a tailored learning environment.
Although it has the personalised learning of a small university, Western Washington provides the varied opportunities and resources typical of a large university, offering more than 200 programmes across diverse fields such as business, computer science, engineering, and environmental science.
Affordable education
Bellingham is an affordable place to live and study, making it the ideal place for students seeking a high-quality education at an affordable price. Western Washington University has one of the lowest tuition costs in Washington State, and the cost of living in Bellingham is 25.7% less expensive than in Seattle (BestPlaces.com 2024).
The Global Pathway Programme (GPP) further reduces tuition costs for international students, offering automatic scholarships that bring tuition to just $5,150 per quarter (Study Group 2024).
Community and environment
With a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility, WWU encourages students to lead change and make waves in their chosen fields. Western Washington University is conveniently situated between the vibrant cities of Seattle, USA, and Vancouver, Canada. This unique location offers students the best of both worlds – a peaceful, small-town atmosphere with easy access to the excitement of major urban centres.
Academic excellence and career success
Ranked number 10 among Top Public Schools in the Regional West (U.S. News & World Report, 2024), Western Washington is renowned for its high-quality education and strong commitment to student success.
Graduates are well-prepared for the workforce, with 89% of students employed or in graduate school within six months of graduating. Western Washington’s international alumni have landed positions at leading global companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing, and Visa.
Study options
If you meet the academic and English language entry requirements of the university you can study through direct admit. This means you do not need to study a foundational year and can start your undergraduate or postgraduate degree from day one.
Western Washington University also offers pathway programmes. The International Year provides a combination of academic and English learning courses to those who are academically qualified but need to enhance their English proficiency.
#18 Best University, Regional Universities West
(U.S. News & World Report, 2025)
Key facts
Location: Bellingham, Washington
Degree levels offered: Undergraduate & graduate
Intake terms:
- Intensive English Programme: Fall, winter, spring and summer
- International Year: Fall, winter and spring
- Undergraduate Direct Admit: Fall, winter, spring and summer (transfer only)
- Postgraduate Direct Admit Computer Science: Fall, winter and spring
- Postgraduate Direct Admit MBA: Fall
Student population: 14,700+
Student-to-faculty ratio: 17:1
- Biochemistry BS*
- Biology BS*
- Business BA
- Computer Science BS*
- Data Science BS*
- Economics BA
- Electrical Engineering BS*
- Environmental Science BS*
- Geology BA, BA*
- Industrial Design BS*
- Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management BS*
- Marine & Coastal Science BS*
- Psychology BS
- Urban Planning & Sustainable Development BA*
- Business MBA
- Computer Science MS*
*STEM-designated degrees
WWU offers many STEM-designated degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Completing these programmes may qualify international students to extend their post-graduation stay in the USA through Optional Practical Training (OPT). After finishing their programme of study and initial post-completion OPT, eligible F-1 students may apply for a STEM-OPT extension for a 24-month period. Refer to https://www.ice.gov/sevis for more information.
Students should talk with their WWU advisors to confirm that their chosen programme is a STEM-designated degree.
“I was incredibly excited to be accepted to Western to pursue my passion for electrical engineering. As a foreigner, everything was new and difficult at the beginning. Thanks to the friendly environment at Western, I quickly fit into life in the US, and this environment allows me to fully focus on preparing myself to be an Electrical Engineer and finding my goals after graduation. I am very lucky that all the students and professors are very kind and supportive. They helped me to find my goal of having my own business in smart cities and also encouraged and gave me the advice to accomplish my dream.”
Shao-Peng from Taiwan
Entry requirements
Find out the grades and other requirements you need to study your chosen degree at Western Washington University.
Fees
Discover the tuition fees for your chosen degree, as well as the other costs associated with studying at Western Washington University.