516 High Street
Bellingham, WA  98225

As a public institution of higher education, Western Washington University (WWU) in Bellingham, WA is committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and community service in a student-centered environment, with a liberal arts foundation and opportunities to develop professional skills. Since the first class of 88 students entered what was called New Whatcom Normal School in 1899, the University has grown into the third-largest institution of higher education in the state.

Western Washington University is organized into the Graduate School and seven undergraduate units--the College of business and Economics, the College of Fine and Performing Arts, Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Huxley College of the Environment, the College of Sciences and Technology, and Woodring College of Education, offering a total of 160 academic majors. Undergraduates take advantage of unique opportunities to engage in research and showcase their work regionally and nationally--experiences frequently reserved for graduate students at larger institutions.

The University enrolls around 14,500 students, 94 percent of whom are undergraduates. Students can choose from more than 200 student clubs in several categories, such as arts and music, cultural, academic, political, recreational, religious, service, and special interest. The WWU Vikings compete in NCAA Division II basketball, crew, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball.

Quick Facts:

• For 13 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked WWU as the best regional public university in the Pacific Northwest and second in the western United States.


• Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine has ranked WWU 38th on a list of 100 Best Values in Public Colleges in the United States.


• At Western Washington University, 90% of faculty hold the highest degree in their field. The student-to-faculty ratio is 19:1 and the average class size is 30 students.


• 92% of freshmen and 3,800 students overall enjoy the value, convenience, and community found in one of 16 university residences at WWU.


• Dedicated to empowerment, identity development, cultural celebration, and community building, the Ethnic Student Center (ESC) serves as home to an active network of student clubs. The ESC inspires students at this Washington College to celebrate their own heritage as well as explore those of their peers, resulting in an environment of cultural respect and appreciation.


• Bellingham, WA is a coastal city of about 75,000 residents and is located 90 miles north of Seattle and 55 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. The city boasts a thriving arts scene, great restaurants, live music venues, city parks, and one of the best farmers' markets in the Pacific Northwest. Outside, National Geographic Adventure, and other magazines have ranked Bellingham among the top destinations in the country for outdoor enthusiasts due to the region's access to snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, kayaking, sailing, and rock climbing.


• From year-long immersion experiences to shorter faculty-led trips around the globe, Western Washington University's Office of International Programs and Exchanges helps students find the perfect program abroad to enhance their education. WWU students have had amazing experiences in more than 80 countries, including Mexico, Nepal, Spain, Ecuador, England, France, Vietnam, Australia, Italy, South Africa, and Chile.

This school profile has been compiled and updated by The CollegeBound Network. The school is not affiliated with The CollegeBound Network and shall not be considered a sponsor of this program.