Washington State University

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Washington State University College Degree Programs

Washington State University appears in our ranking of the 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the West.

Students at Washington State University can enroll in 95 different majors, 86 minors, and more than 100 specializations within those majors, so the university offers students many ways to tailor their degrees to a specific focus. There are also more than 140 degree programs at the graduate level, which includes more than 60 doctoral programs and almost 80 master’s degree programs. There are also professional degrees in veterinary medicine and pharmacy.

Colleges in which a student may enroll when they attend Washington State University include the Carson College of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Nursing, and the College of Veterinary Medicine. Students may also enroll in the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, the Honors College, or the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.

Students who are still in high school can qualify for dual enrollment through the university’s concurrent enrollment process. The program is handled by the Washington Student Achievement Council and allows students to earn high school and college credits at the same time. The option can help students finish their degrees faster after they graduate from high school and enter college. The program students will use for dual credit is the College in the High School program.

The most popular majors for students at Washington State University include those in business, engineering, the social sciences, health professions, and psychology. Around one-fifth of the students enrolled at the university are in business, management, and marketing programs. The university enjoys a freshman retention rate of 79 percent, and the university’s student-to-faculty ratio is 16:1.

Some of the majors students can choose if they have an interest in business include those in accounting, finance, international business, management information systems, or marketing. Degrees for students interested in agriculture and natural resources include earth science, field crop management, human development, animal sciences, and agricultural education. Students who enroll in degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences can choose from degrees in areas like mathematics, chemistry, art, and criminal justice.

About Washington State University

Washington State University was founded in 1890 and was one of the first land-grant universities established in the western United States. When it was established, the school was known as the Agricultural College, Experiment Station and School of Science of the State of Washington. Washington became a state just five months before the university was founded, and the school was founded with money from the Morrill Act.

Today, the school has more than 30,600 students attending across its campuses and its online school and operates campuses in cities like Vancouver and Spokane. Students who play on the university’s sports teams are known as the Cougars, and they play in the Pac-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. The school’s mascot is known as Butch T. Cougar, and the school’s official colors are crimson and gray.

Washington State University Accreditation Details

The regional accreditation body for Washington State is the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and the organization has accredited Washington State University. Accreditation is a combination of peer review and self-regulation that ensures universities fulfill their stated purpose and goals for student education and operations. The university features several individual programs that have been accredited by various accrediting and reviewing agencies.

Accreditations include those from the American Chemical Society (ACS) for the bachelor’s degree program in chemistry, the National Association of Schools of Music for the undergraduate and graduate programs in music, and the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration for the MPA degree in public affairs that’s offered at the Vancouver campus. Additional agencies accrediting programs include the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Washington State University Application Requirements

Steps for applying to Washington State University include filling out the official application and sending it to the university by the priority application date of January 31. Students who don’t make the application deadline will have their applications reviewed, but they may only be admitted if there is space available. Students who are still in high school at the time of application will send their official standardized test scores to the university, as well as transcripts.

Admission to graduate school at Washington State University begins with an application, too, but students may need to examine their current status for information on how to apply. Applications are accepted under general admission, undeclared graduate status, visiting status, or the graduate-level certificate programs. Students can apply to more than one program and will pay $75 for the first application, $5 for the second application, and $75 for every application thereafter.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Residents of Washington State University will pay a tuition of $10,510 for tuition, and non-residents will pay $25,088 for tuition. All undergraduate students will pay $1,330 for mandatory fees, $6,822 for a place in a residence hall, and $4,300 for a dining pass. Books are estimated to cost an additional $960. The total cost of attendance for undergraduate students is estimated at $23,922 per year, and the total cost of attendance for non-residents is estimated at $38,500 per year.

Tuition for graduate students at Washington State University is $5,255 for residents and $12,544 for non-residents for one semester of study. Mandatory fees add an additional $665 to the total, and room and board charges come to $5,824. Books are estimated to cost an additional $480 per semester, transportation is estimated at $717, and the university suggests miscellaneous living expenses will add about $1,000 to the total.

There are four steps to applying for financial aid at Washington State University, and students begin the process by submitting a FAFSA form. Students should also submit the Washington State financial aid form to qualify for state aid, as well as federal aid. Students are encouraged to search and apply for scholarships when they apply for financial aid, even if they don’t know if they’ll qualify for help.

Students may receive a combination of loans, scholarships, and grants when they attend the university. Some of the scholarships a student may qualify for if they’re a resident of Washington State include the Crimson Transfer Award, the Distinguished University Achievement Award, and the Regents Scholars Program. Students who attend Washington State University may also apply for the National Merit Corporation Scholarship or the University Achievement Award.