About Central Washington University

Central Washington University builds lives and prepares students for the future. CWU is a master’s degree-granting institution with more than 10,100 students. Founded in 1891, CWU offers more than 160 undergraduate and master’s degrees, as well as 11 pre-professional programs. The Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of placebound students at six university centers  and a handful of teaching sites throughout the state. Central’s student to faculty ratio is 21 to one. More than 78 percent of CWU students receive some form of financial assistance.