Western Washington University (WWU) vs Towson

Western Washington University and Towson University, both public universities with rich histories, offer distinct educational experiences. Western, nestled in the picturesque Pacific Northwest, boasts a higher acceptance rate and a smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community. Towson, situated just north of Baltimore, Maryland, offers a more diverse student body and a wider range of academic programs, including a renowned nursing program. While Western excels in environmental science and marine biology, Towson shines in business and education. Both universities provide ample opportunities for student involvement, with Western emphasizing outdoor recreation and Towson offering a vibrant arts scene. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Towson University logo

Towson University

Western Washington University logo

Western Washington University

Overview

Location Towson, Maryland Bellingham, Washington
Campus setting City: Small City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 85.0% 81.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 87.9% 96.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $45

Graduate: $45
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $100
SAT range 1040 - 1220 1090 - 1310
ACT range 21 - 26 22 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 28.0% 16.0%
Students submitting ACT score 3.0% 3.0%
Total number of applicants 11,616 10,580
Total number of admissions given out 10,213 10,167
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,592 2,874
Yield rate 25.4% 28.3%
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) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $28,126

Out of state: $43,178
In state: $26,634

Out of state: $43,861
Average net price $11,076 $11,388
Tuition
In state: $7,100

Out of state: $22,152
In state: $7,572

Out of state: $24,799
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,632

Meal plan: $6,650
$13,079
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

73.0%
Average amount $9,261
82.0%
Average amount $7,112
Students receiving federal student loan 42.0%
Average amount $5,098
29.0%
Average amount $4,929
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $15,576
3.0%
Average amount $15,435

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 17,907
Men 40.5% Women 59.5%
14,019
Men 42.6% Women 57.4%
Graduate students 2,949
Men 22.9% Women 77.1%
1,106
Men 36.4% Women 63.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 10.6% N/A
International students 1.7% 1.0%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 5,351 3,985
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Maryland New Jersey Pennsylvania New York Virginia N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
  • Education
  • Psychology
  • Business
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 72.3% 67.7%
Dropout rate 6.8% 30.6%
Transferred out 18.9% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,447
  • Year 2: $107,906
  • Year 3: $122,885
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $73,340
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $94,047
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,795
  • Year 2: $83,768
  • Year 3: $85,948
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $85,262
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,242
  • Year 2: $66,821
  • Year 3: $79,355
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,719
  • Year 2: $66,984
  • Year 3: $69,964
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,483
  • Year 2: $63,666
  • Year 3: $68,130
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,907
  • Year 2: $67,156
  • Year 3: $67,633
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $58,402
  • Year 3: $66,692
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,389
  • Year 2: $62,012
  • Year 3: $65,981
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,837
  • Year 2: $81,333
  • Year 3: $92,019
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,492
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $78,577
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,314
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $76,877
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,624
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $71,599
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,592
  • Year 2: $60,920
  • Year 3: $64,540
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $60,325
  • Year 3: $64,302
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,243
  • Year 2: $49,572
  • Year 3: $60,999
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,788
  • Year 2: $37,748
  • Year 3: $58,090
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,818
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $57,268
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,065
  • Year 2: $45,696
  • Year 3: $57,167

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