central washington university admissions essay

Central Washington University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Courtesy of Central Washington University

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Central Washington University is a public university with an acceptance rate of 64%. Located in Ellensburg, Washington, a small historic city just east of the Cascade Mountains, CWU's location is ideal for students who enjoy outdoor activities. The university also has six off-site centers located throughout Washington State. Students can choose from over 135 majors and numerous pre-professional programs. Business and education majors are both popular among undergraduates. On the athletic front, the CWU Wildcats compete in the NCAA Division II  Great Northwest Athletic Conference .

Considering applying to Central Washington University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, Central Washington University had an acceptance rate of 64%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 64 students were admitted, making CWU's admissions process somewhat competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Central Washington University requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 86% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of Central Washington University's admitted students fall within the bottom 29% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to CWU scored between 470 and 570, while 25% scored below 470 and 25% scored above 570. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 460 and 560, while 25% scored below 460 and 25% scored above 560. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1130 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Central Washington University.

Requirements

Central Washington University does not require the SAT writing section. Note that CWU does not superscore SAT results; your highest composite SAT score will be considered.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Central Washington University requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 22% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of Central Washington University's admitted students fall within the bottom 33% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to CWU received a composite ACT score between 17 ad 23, while 25% scored above 23 and 25% scored below 17.

Central Washington University does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score will be considered. The optional ACT writing section is not required by CWU.

In 2018, the average high school GPA of Central Washington University's incoming freshmen class was 3.06, and over 43% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.0 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to Central Washington University have primarily B grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Central Washington University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Central Washington University, which accepts over half of applicants, has a somewhat selective admissions pool. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the school's average range, you have a strong chance of being accepted. However, CWU also uses a  holistic admission  approach that considers academic achievement in  rigorous coursework . Potential applicants should have a minimum of four years of English and math, two years of science and foreign language, three years of social science, and one year of arts (visual, fine, or performing).

Applicants who have completed the required coursework and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are not required to complete a personal statement or essay to gain admission. Students with a cumulative GPA between 2.5 and 2.9 will be considered through a comprehensive review process which includes GPA, test scores, grade trends, and course rigor. A personal statement may also be required. Applicants with a cumulative GPA between 2.0 and 2.49 as well as those who do not meet the required course requirements will be considered through the comprehensive review process including the required personal statement.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. Most have high school GPAs of B- or better, SAT (ERW+M) scores in the 900 to 1300 range, and composite ACT scores in the 16 to 27 range.

If You Like CWU, You May Also Like These Schools

• University of Washington - Seattle
• University of Idaho
• Oregon State University
• Washington State University
• Seattle Pacific University

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Central Washington University Undergraduate Admissions Office .

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Central Washington University Admissions

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• Recommendations Recommended

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Central Washington University

Central Washington University has a long history of preparing graduates for successful careers in an ever-changing world. Beginning in 1891 as a teachers' college, we have continued our commitment to scholarship, public service, and our students’ success. Each year, our students graduate from CWU as well-educated citizens ready to move the world forward.  Wherever you are in your academic journey, we know you will do something great. Our many majors and degrees, university centers, online offerings, and specialized programs ensure there's a path — in fact, many paths — right for you.

Academic programs.

• Art & Design
• Communication
• Engineering
• Finance/Accounting
• Government/Political Science
• Health Science
• Liberal Arts
• Paramedicine,
• Performing Arts
• Social Science
• Theatre Arts
• Visual Arts

Student experience

• Co-op/Internship Opportunities
• Disability Services
• Distance/online learning
• Intramural/Club Sports
• Military/Veteran Services
• On-Campus Housing
• ROTC Program
• Study Abroad
• Undergraduate Research

Admissions office

400 East University Way Ellensburg , WA 98926-7463 , United States of America

Phone number

509-963-1211

For first-year students

Admissions website.

www.cwu.edu/admissions/

Financial aid website

www.cwu.edu/financial-aid/

For transfer students

View more in this region

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Central Washington University Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are Central Washington University's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Central Washington University and build a strong application.

School location: Ellensburg, WA

Admissions Rate: 90.1%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Central Washington University is 90.1% . For every 100 applicants, 90 are admitted.

This means the school is a nearly open admissions school. They accept nearly all students, so for the most part, you just need to submit an application to get in. But if you don't meet all their application requirements, you'll be one of the very few people who gets rejected.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Central Washington University GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.09

The average GPA at Central Washington University is 3.09 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.09, Central Washington University accepts below-average students . It's OK to be a B-average student, with some A's mixed in. It'd be best to avoid C's and D's, since application readers might doubt whether you can handle the stress of college academics.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

Central Washington University hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Central Washington University will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

Central Washington University SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1031

The average SAT score composite at Central Washington University is a 1031 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Central Washington University Lightly Competitive for SAT test scores.

Central Washington University SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 930, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1130. In other words, a 930 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1130 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Central Washington University ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Central Washington University likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 19

The average ACT score at Central Washington University is 19. This score makes Central Washington University Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 17, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 23.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 17 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Central Washington University, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 17.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

Central Washington University considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

This school offers nearly open admissions, which means they give almost every student an offer of admission. To be safe, you should aim for a 930 SAT or a 17 ACT or higher . If you can achieve this, you're pretty much guaranteed a spot in the incoming class.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Central Washington University here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for some freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $50
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office September 1

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies 3

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes March 1 Rolling

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 400 Ellensburg, WA 98926
• Phone: (509) 963-1111 x1111
• Fax: (509) 963-3022
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Central Washington University, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Central Washington University.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Central Washington University. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Central Washington University, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Central Washington University, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Central Washington University is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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Central Washington University | CWU

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Central Washington University, Admission Essay Example

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You are free to use it as an inspiration or a source for your own work.

Real Estate professionals will tell you that the three most important things buyers look for are location, location, and location. When I began to look seriously at colleges, my family and I quickly determined that I needed to stay fairly close to home. We marked a circle on the map. Ellensburg is right in the middle of what we drew. All of my family and extended family live in Washington State.

I went through most of my high school experience without ever thinking about college. This lack of focus brought on grades that were less than exceptional during my sophomore and junior years. My grades suffered. I did not work toward concrete goals. Last summer a change came over me. I decided that I wanted to attend college and to prepare myself for a challenging, inspiring, and fulfilling career. I knew that, during my final year in high school, I would be a different student in the classroom. I am pleased to say that I have been –a much better one.

Because of my efforts, I have proven to myself and to my teachers that I am capable of intellectual rigor. During this time, I have improved my grade point average (GPA) to a 3.5. The cumulative GPA for my high school years is now a 2.5. My Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores are 16- English, 16-Math, 22- Reading, and 18- Science. The overall SAT score is 18.

In this final semester of my senior year, I project a 3.7 GPA. I am very proud of this, because it shows how much I can do when I put my whole self into something worthwhile. In recognition of my diligence, one of my teachers has nominated me for inclusion at the Young

Leaders of America Council in Washington, D.C. this summer. While I do not know yet if I will gain acceptance, just being nominated is quite an honor.

For most of my life, I have been involved in sports. Through school, I have participated in basketball, traveling basketball, and football teams. I have nothing but good memories from these experiences. I even went out on my own for a time and competed in off-road bicycle, or BMX racing. Regardless of the sport, my coaches were consistent in telling me that I was a team leader, on and off the field of play.

I take my leadership abilities to my community, where I remain active in local activities. I enjoy volunteering for things that help others. This is my hobby I guess you could say. I love coaching little league teams. I feel that, by coaching and working with children, I am giving back to the town that has given me so much through my growing years. I enjoy officiating games. Officiating helps me to see competition from a different vantage point. I also work with preschoolers as a teacher’s aid. This has been a real learning experience.

When you take into account my academic preparation, my contributions to my community, and my skills as an athlete and a leader, I trust you will find that I am the kind of person/student that you want at Central. You could give me much more than an excellent location from which I can grow into manhood. You could expose me to new teachers and friends who will be lifelong influences on my life. I could give you my best in terms of loyalty, commitment, and energy. I am excited about the prospects of spending the next few years with you as part of the community known as Wildcats.

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• Faculty & Staff

Students admitted to the UW now have until June 1 to commit, a result of FAFSA delays. We anticipate that financial aid offers will be sent in late April or early May.

Freshman writing section

At the UW, we consider the college essay as our opportunity to see the person behind the transcripts and the numbers. Some of the best statements are written as personal stories. In general, concise, straightforward writing is best, and good essays are often 300-400 words in length.

Please note that the UW essay questions must be answered within our application. For the Common App, that means within our UW questions. We do not consider the Common App essay.

Essay prompt [required]

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

Maximum length : 650 words

Short response [required]

Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW.

Maximum length : 300 words

Tip :  Keep in mind that the UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints.

Additional information about yourself or your circumstances [optional]

You are not required to write anything in this section, but you may include additional information if something has particular significance to you. For example, you may use this space if:

• You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education
• Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations
• You have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended

Maximum length : 200 words

Format for the essays

• Content is important, but spelling, grammar and punctuation are also considered.
• We recommend composing in advance, then copying and pasting into the application. Double-spacing, italics and other formatting will be lost, but this will not affect the evaluation of your application.
• We’ve observed most students write a polished formal essay, yet submit a more casual short response. Give every part of the writing responses your best effort, presenting yourself in standard, formal English.
• Proofread, proofread, proofread!

Tip :  Write like it matters, not like you’re texting. This is an application for college, not a message to your friend. Get some hints in the video:

All writing in the application, including your essay/personal statement and short responses, must be your own work.  Do not use another writer’s work and do not use artificial intelligence software (ChatGPT, Bard, etc.) to assist or write your statement.

Per Washington state law and University of Washington policy , all admissions staff are mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. Any statements in written materials that give admissions staff reasonable cause to believe abuse or neglect of someone under the age of 18 may have occurred must be reported to Child Protective Services or the police. Learn more about University reporting requirements . 

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Our main campus is located in historic Ellensburg, Washington and we have six satellite locations across the state. Explore our locations and find the campus or center that's most convenient for you.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Pierce county.

CWU's residential campus encompasses 380 acres, with modern learning facilities, residence halls, and athletic facilities.

CWU-Des Moines offers diverse programs, updated facilities, and supportive faculty near the business and tech hub of Seattle.

CWU-JBLM offers programs for military, their families, and civilians to achieve their academic goals while serving our nation

CWU-Lynnwood offers a unique learning environment in Lynnwood, WA, for those seeking advanced education and career prospects.

CWU Moses Lake offers academic programs and certificates in Moses Lake, WA, providing supportive learning closer to home.

CWU-Pierce County is located at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood, Washington.

CWU-Sammamish, located in Sammamish, WA, offers a personalized education in modern facilities with access to nearby tech hubs

CWU-Wenatchee offers top facilities and academics to foster a supportive learning community in the scenic Wenatchee Valley.

CWU Yakima, in Yakima, WA, provides a supportive learning environment emphasizing community engagement and quality education.

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CWU to host more than 80 agencies for Law and Justice Career Fair

CWU musician shines at National Trumpet Competition

April 1, 2024

by David Leder