Western Washington University (WWU) vs University of Minnesota-Rochester

Western Washington University and University of Minnesota-Rochester, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Western Washington University, nestled in the picturesque Pacific Northwest, boasts an acceptance rate of 84%, while University of Minnesota-Rochester, known for its strong healthcare programs, has a more selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 70%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with Western Washington University excelling in fields like Business, Education, and Psychology, and University of Minnesota-Rochester specializing in Health Sciences, Nursing, and Biology. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your decision in choosing the best fit for your academic and personal aspirations.
University of Minnesota-Rochester logo

University of Minnesota-Rochester

Western Washington University logo

Western Washington University

Overview

Location Rochester, Minnesota Bellingham, Washington
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 75.0% 81.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 80.2% 96.1%
Application fees $30
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $100
SAT range N/A 1090 - 1310
ACT range 22 - 29 22 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 1.0% 16.0%
Students submitting ACT score 30.0% 3.0%
Total number of applicants 1,123 10,580
Total number of admissions given out 901 10,167
Admitted students who chose to enroll 174 2,874
Yield rate 19.3% 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 $28,426
In state: $26,634

Out of state: $43,861
Average net price $14,198 $11,388
Tuition $12,376
In state: $7,572

Out of state: $24,799
Room & board $13,079
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

74.0%
Average amount $11,299
82.0%
Average amount $7,112
Students receiving federal student loan 52.0%
Average amount $5,132
29.0%
Average amount $4,929
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $12,843
3.0%
Average amount $15,435

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 646
Men 20.6% Women 79.4%
14,019
Men 42.6% Women 57.4%
Graduate students N/A 1,106
Men 36.4% Women 63.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 22.5% N/A
International students 0.5% 1.0%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Small
Dormitory capacity 334 3,985
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Minnesota Wisconsin North Dakota California Illinois N/A

Academics

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

Outcome

Graduation rate 46.6% 67.7%
Dropout rate 6.8% 30.6%
Transferred out 46.6% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,065
  • Year 2: $49,270
  • Year 3: $62,760
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