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Summary
Washington State University is a public institution that was founded in 1890. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,816, its setting is rural, and the campus size is 1,742 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Washington State University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 115. Its in-state tuition and fees are $10,799 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $22,077 (2011-12).
The main campus of Washington State University is located in Pullman, though there are also regional locations throughout the state in Spokane and the Tri-Cities, as well as in Vancouver. The school has a large Greek community that recruits more than 40 percent of the student population. In addition to fraternities and sororities, there are about 300 other student clubs and organizations to check out. The school’s sports teams, including the Washington State University football squad, compete in the NCAA Division I Pac-12 Conference. Freshmen must live on campus, unless they’re older than 20 or are married. Students with children or who are enrolled in graduate school may apply to live in university-owned apartments.
The university is committed to research, and there are opportunities for students to get involved in projects as undergraduates. Washington State also offers a wide variety of graduate school options, including degree programs through the College of Business, the College of Engineering, and the College of Education. Notable alumni of Washington State University include former CBS newscaster Edward R. Murrow and Far Side cartoonist Gary Larson.
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As a leading national research university, Washington State University provides an exceptional education to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Students work side-by-side with professors whose scholarship and research are at the frontiers of knowledge. Among the faculty are members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and recipients of numerous national awards and fellowships. WSU is Washington's only land-grant research institution. It emphasizes hands-on learning both in and out of the classroom. Undergraduate students experience groundbreaking research firsthand and gain an edge in applying for distinguished national fellowships and to exclusive graduate and professional programs. Many undergraduates present papers at conferences and publish their research findings in scholarly journals. They enter national competitions in areas as varied as mock trial, interior design, business plans, and robotics. The University has a spirited sense of community that infuses academics throughout its residential main campus in southeastern Washington. Freshman Focus living-learning communities bring academics into the residence halls, and a Common Reading program for freshmen stimulates discussion in the classroom and across campus. The University emphasizes international experiences for students and offers more than 1,200 choices for education abroad. Additionally, students volunteer more than 50,000 hours of service in a typical academic year through the Center for Civic Engagement. Fortune 500 and other employers actively recruit interns and graduates, whom many consider the best qualified in the state. Across the University's twelve colleges, many academic programs rank among the nation's finest. Particularly well known is the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, named for the University's distinguished alumnus, where students gain hands-on experience at student-run television and radio stations. The Honors College is one of the oldest and most respected university-wide programs for high-achieving students, with an enriched liberal arts curriculum and a global perspective. Talented graduate students from around the world come to the University to work alongside its pioneering faculty. In the molecular biosciences, faculty members are noted worldwide for their work in protein biochemistry, DNA repair, structural biology, and reproductive biology. The physics department has world-renowned research groups in astrophysics, material and optical physics, matter under extreme conditions, and novel states of matter. Professors in the plant sciences and zoology stand among the most productive, widely published scholars in the nation. Veterinary and health science research conducted in WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine and School for Global Animal Health is among the most frequently cited by peer scientists in peer-reviewed publications. In the liberal arts, the English department is home to nationally recognized authors and alumni. Research conducted in the Department of Sociology and the communication college influences policy that touches lives nationwide. Distinctive facilities include the Smith Center for Undergraduate Education, with the latest teaching technologies; the award-winning Student Recreation Center; modern student dining facilities, and a fully renovated student union building with a state-of-the-art auditorium, meeting rooms, lounges, and food court. In Martin Stadium, Beasley Coliseum, and other athletic venues, the Pac-12 Cougars challenge top men's and women's teams to the cheers of devoted fans. The location of the main campus in the small college town of Pullman means that Cougar spirit permeates life on and off campus. The University also has regional campuses in Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and Vancouver, and has nationally recognized online learning programs available worldwide. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1890 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | rural |
| 2010 Endowment | $668,823,818 |
Applying
When applying to Washington State University, it's important to note the application deadline is rolling. The application fee at Washington State University is $50. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 69.5 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 69% |
| Application deadline | rolling |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | N/A |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Washington State University is 15:1, and the school has 36.8 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Washington State University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Health Professions and Related Programs; and Engineering. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 83.0 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 15:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 40% - Medium | ||||||||||
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Student Life
Washington State University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,816, with a gender distribution of 48.3 percent male students and 51.7 percent female students. 33.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 67.0 percent of students live off campus. Washington State University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at Washington State University.
| Total enrollment | 26,308 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
Washington State University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. Washington State University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Washington State University, 21 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Washington State University.
| Students who have cars on campus | 21% - Low |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Washington State University, 55.5 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $9,011.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $10,799 (2011-12) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $22,077 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $9,662 (2011-12) - Medium |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
