Central Washington University Acceptance Rate
Ellensburg, Washington · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 6,829
- Admitted
- 6,161
- Yield
- 25.5%
- Test policy
- Test-blind
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Central Washington University's acceptance rate has risen from 86.5% in 2014–15 to 90.2% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 4,120 to 6,829 (+66%) over that period.
Its 90.2% rate makes Central Washington University more selective than about 21% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 19 tracked Washington schools, it is more selective than about 26%.
Central Washington University has been test-blind (scores not considered) since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 25.5% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 4,120 | 3,562 | 86.5% | 1,363 |
| 2015–16 | 4,934 | 4,027 | 81.6% | 1,661 |
| 2016–17 | 7,255 | 5,783 | 79.7% | 1,911 |
| 2017–18 | 8,597 | 7,423 | 86.3% | 2,133 |
| 2018–19 | 10,148 | 7,932 | 78.2% | 2,244 |
| 2019–20 | 11,017 | 9,356 | 84.9% | 2,172 |
| 2020–21 | 13,263 | 11,405 | 86% | 1,723 |
| 2021–22 | 10,767 | 9,523 | 88.4% | 1,371 |
| 2022–23 | 6,409 | 5,992 | 93.5% | 1,410 |
| 2023–24 | 6,829 | 6,161 | 90.2% | 1,568 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 3,876 | 3,530 | 91.1% |
| Men | 2,895 | 2,581 | 89.2% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-blind (not considered).
How Central Washington University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Central Washington University's acceptance rate?
Central Washington University's acceptance rate is 90.2% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (6,161 admitted of 6,829 applicants).
Is Central Washington University test optional?
Central Washington University is test-blind: SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission.
How many people apply to Central Washington University?
Central Washington University received 6,829 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 6,161.
Is Central Washington University getting harder to get into?
Central Washington University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 86.5% in 2014–15 to 90.2% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.cwu.edu/.