History, Affiliations and Rankings

Western Washington University was founded in 1886 by Phoebe Judson as the Northwest Normal Institution in Lynden, Washington, as a teachers' school. The school was finally transferred to Bellingham thanks to the efforts of William R. Moultray and George Judson. 

The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Recreation and Parks Association, the American Speech and Hearing Association, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, the American Chemical Society, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board, and more. 

Western was one of just two public universities to make the top 25 Master's-Granting Universities (West) list. This list includes colleges that do not provide doctorate degrees but do offer master's programmes. Its acceptance rate is 72%. In 2013 and 2014, Western Washington University was ranked #1 among the top medium-sized schools and institutions with graduates participating in the Peace Corps. By aggregated alumni prominence, Western Washington University is ranked 1177th in the globe, 432nd in North America, and 406th in the United States.

Infrastructure, Campuses and Courses

WWU is located in Bellingham, Washington, a 90,000-person city with views of Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands. The institution lies 90 miles (140 km) north of Seattle, 55 miles (89 km) south of Vancouver, British Columbia, and an hour's drive from 10,778-foot Mount Baker. An electronic music studio, an air pollution lab, a motor vehicle research lab, a Marine research lab, a wind tunnel, an electronic microscope, and a neutron generating lab are all located on the Western Washington University campus. The Sehome Hill Arboretum borders campus and offers easy access to 180 acres of woods, six miles of trails, and quiet study nooks.

Western Washington University provides over 175 undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programmes. College of Business and Economics, College of Fine and Performing Arts, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, Huxley College of the Environment, Woodring College of Education, Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Graduate School are the six colleges that make up the university. WWU also offers various degree types in the interest area of Arts and Humanities, Business, Environment, Education, Health and Behavioral Sciences, Science and Technology, and Social Sciences.

Accomplishments and Alumni 

The Sierra Club has rated  Western Washington University as one of the most sustainable, "green" campuses in the country. Aside from that, the U.S. News & World Report has ranked WWU as the best master's awarding institution in the Pacific Northwest. The institution has an illustrious list of notable alumni which include Ryan Couture (son of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture and a professional mixed martial artist), Eric Dinerstein (former World Wildlife Fund head scientist and the author and director of Biodiversity and Wildlife Solutions with RESOLVE), Julie Larson-Green (the Chief Experience Officer of Microsoft's "My Life & Work") and many more.

Student Diversity and Visiting Companies

Western Washington University ranks 614 out of 2,183 when it comes to geographic diversity. Almost 13% of WWU students come from out of state, and 0.48% come from out of the country. The university consists of a total of 15,197 students among which, 93% are Undergraduate students, 28.6% are students of colour, and 57% are female students. The university’s top recruiters are Microsoft, Windermere, City of Seattle, MultiCare and more.