by our College Data Analytics TeamWant the scoop on Central Washington University Graduate School? We’ve put together a comprehensive report on the school that covers what degree programs CWU offers, if the school is ranked, how diverse it is, and much more. Use the following list to jump to the section on the page with details on that topic.
College Factual began producing its annual Best Quality Schools rankings as a means to assist students in finding top-quality graduate colleges and universities that are invested in preparing their students for their future endeavors.Factors that go into these rankings include how much money students make after graduation, the number of FTE students per instructor, and how much debt students take on to attend the school.
In College Factual’s 2026 ranking of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in the U.S., Central Washington University landed the #257 spot out of the 4,630 schools analyzed for this list.For the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Washington, CWU came in at #9.
### Best Graduate Schools RankingOut of 4,630 schools analyzed in the 2026 Best Graduate Schools in the United States ranking, CWU came in at #257. In addition, CWU took the #9 spot for Best Graduate Schools in Washington.
Central Washington University was the school of choice for 494 graduate students in the last year for which we have data.Since diversity is such an important part of the grad school experience, College Factual looked deeper at the demographics of these students.Here is what we found.
The total graduate student population at CWU is made up of 64.6% women and 35.4% men. Note that these percentages may differ for certain degree programs.
Of all the graduate students at CWU, around 32.6% belong to a racial-ethnic minority group.CWU is popular with people from outside the United States, too. International students make up 5.9% of the graduate student population.For more details on graduate school diversity at the school, check out the chart below. If you click on it, you’ll be taken to a page with more details.
The average tuition and fees for full-time graduate students is not available due to a lack of data.
The typical graduate student at CWU who borrowed carries a median debt of $22,038.
After earning their master’s degree from CWU, graduates go on to jobs with an average early-career salary of $86,731.
Early-career pay varies by field of study. The following table shows the graduate fields of study at CWU with the highest average early-career salaries for recent graduates.
| Graduate Field of Study | Avg Early-Career Salary |
|---|---|
| Educational Administration | $102,389 |
| Accounting | $96,647 |
| Health & Physical Education | $67,447 |
| Computer Information Systems | $60,743 |
| Clinical & Counseling Psychology | $55,244 |
| General Family & Consumer Sciences | $49,785 |
Located in Ellensburg, Washington, Central Washington University is a public institution.The surrounding location of Ellensburg is ideal for students who enjoy the charms of a college town. Get more details about the location of Central Washington University.
Contact details for CWU are given below.
| Contact Details | |
|---|---|
| Address: | 400 East University Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926 |
| Phone: | 509-963-1111 |
| Website: | www.cwu.edu |
| Facebook: | www.facebook.com/cwu.wildcats |
| Twitter: | twitter.com/CentralWashU |
Around 70.4% of CWU graduate students took at least one course online.Roughly 47.0% of all grad students took courses exclusively online.
The only degree programs listed here are those in which master’s degrees were awarded.
| Masters Degree Program | Annual Graduates | Avg Early-Career Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 10 | $96,647 |
| Behavioral Science | 5 | — |
| Chemistry | 4 | — |
| Child Development & Family Studies | 10 | — |
| Child Development & Psychology | 5 | — |
| Clinical & Counseling Psychology | 19 | — |
| Computer Information Systems | 50 | — |
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | 5 | — |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 2 | — |
| Educational Administration | 7 | $102,389 |
| Fine & Studio Arts | 2 | — |
| General Biology | 6 | — |
| General Education | 52 | — |
| General English Literature | 7 | — |
| General Family & Consumer Sciences | 3 | — |
| Geological & Earth Sciences | 9 | — |
| Health & Physical Education | 33 | $67,447 |
| History | 4 | — |
| Music | 44 | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation | 11 | — |
| Nutrition Science | 5 | — |
| Public Health | 7 | — |
| Quality Control Technology | 1 | — |
| Teaching English or French | 1 | — |
| Writing Studies | 1 | — |
Listed here are the programs in which Central Washington University awarded a post-masters certificate.
| Post-Masters Certificate Program | Annual Graduates | Avg Early-Career Salary |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 4 | — |
| Health & Physical Education | 4 | — |
| Security Science and Technology. | 2 | — |
| Special Education | 3 | — |
Footnotes
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
References