Western Washington University Acceptance Rate
Bellingham, Washington · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 14,243
- Admitted
- 13,005
- Yield
- 24.5%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
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, Western Washington University's acceptance rate has risen from 84.6% in 2014–15 to 91.3% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 9,285 to 14,243 (+53%) over that period.
Its 91.3% rate makes Western Washington University more selective than about 17% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 19 tracked Washington schools, it is more selective than about 16%.
Western Washington University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 24.5% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 9,285 | 7,852 | 84.6% | 2,786 |
| 2015–16 | 9,933 | 8,183 | 82.4% | 2,809 |
| 2016–17 | 10,519 | 8,743 | 83.1% | 2,888 |
| 2017–18 | 11,244 | 9,534 | 84.8% | 3,114 |
| 2018–19 | 11,124 | 9,751 | 87.7% | 3,147 |
| 2019–20 | 10,513 | 9,502 | 90.4% | 3,116 |
| 2020–21 | 10,219 | 9,556 | 93.5% | 2,494 |
| 2021–22 | 10,580 | 10,167 | 96.1% | 2,874 |
| 2022–23 | 11,864 | 10,997 | 92.7% | 3,223 |
| 2023–24 | 14,243 | 13,005 | 91.3% | 3,184 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 8,623 | 7,939 | 92.1% |
| Men | 5,586 | 5,039 | 90.2% |
| Unknown | 34 | 27 | 79.4% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 570–690 | 9% |
| SAT Math | 540–660 | |
| ACT Composite | 23–29 | 3% |
How Western 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 Western Washington University's acceptance rate?
Western Washington University's acceptance rate is 91.3% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (13,005 admitted of 14,243 applicants).
Is Western Washington University test optional?
Western Washington University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Western Washington University?
Western Washington University received 14,243 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 13,005.
What SAT score do you need for Western Washington University?
Admitted students at Western Washington University typically scored 570–690 on SAT Reading/Writing and 540–660 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Western Washington University getting harder to get into?
Western Washington University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 84.6% in 2014–15 to 91.3% 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: wwu.edu/.