CWU-Ellensburg vs University of Nevada-Reno (UNR)
Central Washington University (CWU) and University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) are two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique opportunities and experiences to their students. CWU, located in Ellensburg, Washington, is a public university with an acceptance rate of 88%, while UNR, situated in Reno, Nevada, is also a public university with a slightly lower acceptance rate of 82%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with CWU excelling in fields like education, business, and nursing, and UNR boasting strengths in engineering, computer science, and health sciences. While CWU's student body is predominantly composed of Washington residents, UNR attracts a more diverse population from across the United States and beyond. With CWU's graduation rate standing at 49% and UNR's at 59%, both universities are committed to providing their students with the support and resources they need to succeed. To help you make
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![]() Central Washington University |
![]() University of Nevada-Reno |
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Overview |
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Location | Ellensburg, Washington | Reno, Nevada |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 69.0% | 78.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 88.4% | 88.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$60
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SAT range | N/A | 1060 - 1270 |
ACT range | N/A | 20 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 12.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 60.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 10,767 | 9,421 |
Total number of admissions given out | 9,523 | 8,306 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,371 | 3,412 |
Yield rate | 14.4% | 41.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$22,248
Out of state:
$38,776
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In state:
$26,796
Out of state:
$42,888
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Average net price | $17,645 | $16,398 |
Tuition |
In state:
$6,656
Out of state:
$23,184
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In state:
$7,470
Out of state:
$23,562
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,645
Meal plan:
$7,957
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Room/dormitory:
$5,850
Meal plan:
$5,792
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
80.0%
Average amount $7,378 |
86.0%
Average amount $7,232 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
41.0%
Average amount $4,834 |
29.0%
Average amount $5,001 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $14,197 |
4.0%
Average amount $12,013 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
9,566
Men 47.0% Women 53.0% |
17,025
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
Graduate students |
610
Men 37.4% Women 62.6% |
4,009
Men 39.3% Women 60.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 6.7% | 26.1% |
International students | 2.7% | 2.8% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 3,755 | 3,524 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Washington California Oregon Hawaii Arkansas | Nevada California Hawaii Oregon Washington |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 53.6% | 62.7% |
Dropout rate | 44.0% | 34.1% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
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