CWU Demographics: How Diverse Is It?

Very High Overall Diversity

We combine factors of racial, geographic, gender and age diversity to create an overall diversity ranking for each school.

Highly diverse across all factors, Central Washington University is ranked #465 nationwide.

This School is Considered Above Average in Racial Diversity

Ethnically-diverse colleges offer students the ability to study and collaborate with undergraduates from racial and ethnic groups that are different from their own.

Central Washington University is ranked #783 in ethnic diversity nationwide with a student body composition that is above the national average.

CWU ranks above average in racial representation.

The faculty's racial diversity is on par with the national average.

Equal Balance of Male and Female Students

If you desire a campus with a nice mix of males and females, this may be the school for you.

At Central Washington University, the disparity between men and women on campus is far lower than the national average. The undergraduate student body at CWU is equally balanced.

This university is ranked at #214 in male to female diversity nationwide. The undergraduate population is comprised of 5,482 males and 5,937 females.

The male to female ratio at CWU is excellent.

The ratio of male to female faculty at CWU is excellent.

Geographic Diversity is Normal

Would you prefer a college that attracts students from all across the United States, or would you prefer a local college that primarily pulls students from your home state?

To create the geographic diversity for each school, we looked at where every student resided before they attended college.

Over 90% of the students attending Central Washington University come from within Washington. This places CWU at the national average and gives it a national geographic diversity ranking of #1,449.

What is the Age of Everyone at This School?

Are you looking for a college where the student body represents a mix of different ages and generations, or would you prefer a college where most students are about your own age?

The traditional student is between the ages of 18-21. At Central Washington University, 55.8% of students are in the age 18 to 21 bracket, compared to the national average of 60%. We rank CWU #2,374 in the nation for student age diversity.

Questions About Diversity

• What do we mean when we refer to diversity in college?

  The root word of diversity is from the Latin, "diversus" which means "various". Today we use it to describe an amalgamation of people, traditions, ideas and cultures. Students who express that diversity in school is important to them are looking for institutions to provide a variety of curricular and non-curricular opportunities to learn from and learn with people of different ethnicities, races, ages, abilities, sexual identities, classes, and religions.

• Is CWU attracting students from all economic backgrounds?

  Schools with excellent ethnic and location diversity still may not be diverse when it comes to other factors, such as economic backgrounds. Get a better idea of how CWU supports low-income students by visiting the Financial Aid Page.

• Is Diversity Important to CWU?

  The college years provide a one of a kind opportunity for students to have exposure to other cultures and backgrounds. Students should look for a university administration that is not only promoting diversity institutionally, but also fostering a climate where students can exchange different perspectives and ideas in positive and meaningful ways.