We are going to walk through it the same way you would walk through a map before a trip: first, who it is; then, how large it is; then, what students study there; then, how difficult it is to get in; what it really costs; how it is paid for; what is on campus; and finally, how likely a student who enrolls is to finish. Each piece is an official data point. None tells you what is right for your child. You decide that, together, after reading this.
Who this university is, in a few words
Eastern Washington University is a four-year public institution. The federal government, through the IPEDS system, classifies it as a university whose offerings extend through the doctoral level, although most of what it awards is at the bachelor’s level or above. That does not tell you whether the specific major your child is interested in is available there or whether it connects to a graduate program: confirm that by asking about the exact program.
The Carnegie Classification—the system that organizes the country’s universities by what they do—describes it as a medium-sized, four-year, primarily residential master’s university with larger programs: when that data was collected, between 25 and 49 out of every 100 undergraduate students lived in institution-owned or -controlled housing. The same system places it among institutions that enroll many transfer students. If your child plans to come here after studying somewhere else, that label is a signal to ask in writing which courses will count and which will not—not to assume that “transferring here is easy.”
Carnegie also places it in its “inclusive” category, a label that groups together both schools that did not report admission scores and those that demonstrated broad access. The label alone does not distinguish which of the two applies to Eastern Washington University; later, the admission numbers will show you the answer much more clearly.
One point worth stating directly: Eastern Washington University has none of the three specific designations tracked by the government—it is not a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 universities in this national directory, 138 have at least one of the three. Eastern Washington University’s lack of such a designation says nothing about which communities it serves today or how your child will feel there. Ask about that directly by speaking with someone who already studies on campus.
Where it is, in practical terms. Cheney is in Spokane County, Washington, in a town setting near an urban area but not within it. If your family does not live nearby, this is a signal to calculate separately where your child would live and how they would get to campus—the census code locates the school’s address, not yours or the route between them.
A large community, with more graduate enrollment than it first appears
Eastern Washington University reported 10,741 students in the official fall count. It is a large school—the government places it in the 10,000 to 19,999 range—and among similar schools in this census, its size is one of the most common: neither among the giants nor among the small schools.
But that large number conceals something important: it is divided into 7,246 undergraduate and 3,495 graduate students. If your child is entering a bachelor’s degree program, the number that matters to them is 7,246, not the total. A substantial portion of this community has already completed a bachelor’s degree and is continuing its education.
Of every 100 undergraduate students, 18 identified as Hispanic or Latino in fall 2023—an evident presence, above the midpoint among a group of 519 comparable public schools, though not in the highest quarter. They are not the majority, but neither would it be unusual for your child to feel part of that community. There are more women than men among undergraduates: 56 out of every 100. And 15 out of every 100 are between 25 and 64 years old—there is a real mix of ages, not only recent high school graduates.
One figure to remember: of every 100 first-time students, 92 reported a permanent address in the same state. Almost all are local. If your child’s permanent address is in another state, that matters greatly for what comes later—the price.
How the academic calendar works and how broad the academic offerings are
Eastern Washington University operates on a quarter system: the year is divided into three terms of about 12 weeks, with the possibility of a fourth term during the summer. The dates are fixed and the same for everyone.
The institution stated that it accepts credit from AP exams and also what IPEDS calls “credit for life experiences”—learning acquired through independent study, adult courses, work experience, portfolios, or previous licenses or certifications, including military opportunities. It also reports accepting credit for military training and enrolls high school students in college courses through a formal dual-enrollment program. All of this is real, but stating that AP credit is accepted does not mean credit is granted for every exam: request the written equivalency evaluation before enrolling, and do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand. If your child is considering transferring between this institution and another, verify both institutions’ calendars and transfer policies in writing—this designation does not guarantee that they align.
As for what students study: between July 2022 and June 2023, Eastern Washington University awarded 1,874 bachelor’s degrees, distributed across 25 fields of study (CIP). No field accounts for a large share—not even the field with the most degrees, business and management, which represented only 17 out of every 100. Compared with 514 similar schools, it falls in the quarter with the greatest variety of fields represented in its offerings. Its offerings are broad, although 25 fields with a row in the report do not equal 25 specific majors: verify the exact program your child is interested in.
One number worth examining closely: 20 full-time-equivalent students for every full-time-equivalent instructional staff member. It is a high ratio—among the highest in a group of 519 comparable schools. But be careful: this is not a class size. It is an institution-wide aggregate ratio. If class size matters for your child’s specific major, request it separately—IPEDS does not report it here.
The institution also reports structured opportunities: study abroad, a complete program that can be taken exclusively during evenings or weekends, and preparation and certification pathways for those seeking to become teachers, including state approval of that teacher-education program.
Getting in here is more likely than at most comparable universities
Here is one of the most important data points in the entire article. In the 2023 admission report, Eastern Washington University stated that it does not have open admissions—it reviews application components before saying yes. Of nine possible considerations, it marked four as required: the high school record, high school GPA, completion of the college-preparatory program required by the university, and an English proficiency exam for applicants for whom it applies. By contrast, it stated that the following were not considered in the decision: class rank, the personal essay, letters of recommendation, a portfolio or competency exam, work experience, and legacy status. The application fee is $60.
And now the figure that probably matters most to you: during the 2023 cycle, Eastern Washington University received 6,415 first-time applications and offered admission to 5,887. That is 92 out of every 100. Compared with 519 selective public schools in this census, it ranks on the high side: seven out of ten of those schools admitted an equal or lower percentage. Even so, 528 applicants did not receive an offer—admission is likely, not automatic, and the complete application must be submitted on time.
But here comes a hard truth that you cannot skip: out of every 100 admitted students, only 23 actually enrolled the following fall. The other 77 had a place here and did not take it. That is not a mark against the school—the federal record does not say why each person made their decision—but it also tells you nothing about what your family will be offered. What truly matters is the letter showing the net price, which arrives after admission. With that number in hand, you decide whether this school stays on the list.
One more practical fact: Eastern Washington University does not consider the SAT or ACT in the admission decision, even if scores are submitted. That does not cover scholarships or placement—ask about those separately.
Regarding transfers, there are two sides of the same coin. On one hand, many transfer students arrive: 630 undergraduate students enrolled for the first time in fall 2023 after having studied at another institution. On the other hand, quite a few also leave: when following the first-time, full-time cohort that entered in 2017, 27 out of every 100 transferred to another school without completing here—slightly above the midpoint among a group of 395 comparable schools. That figure matters when you compare graduation rates later: someone who leaves does not count as a graduate of this institution, even if they complete their degree somewhere else.
The sticker price, and why the gap between states matters so much
For the 2023–24 year, the cost of attendance published by Eastern Washington University for a first-time, full-time student living on campus was $27,898 at the in-state rate and $45,437 at the out-of-state rate. It is a budget used to calculate aid, not a bill.
The breakdown: $8,353 in tuition and fees at the in-state rate ($25,892 at the out-of-state rate), $14,880 for on-campus housing and food, and $798 for books and supplies, plus an estimate of other expenses.
Here is something you cannot overlook: the annual difference between the in-state and out-of-state rates is $17,539. Ask the institution what requirements it uses to classify your child’s residency and when they take effect—the rules are not the same everywhere. Compared with 483 similar schools, this cost of attendance at the in-state rate ranks above the midpoint of the group.
What students actually pay, based on family income
At Eastern Washington University, among 219 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received Title IV federal aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $8,578. Among 181 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $12,004; among 164 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $20,564. For dependent students, the band combines their parents’ income and their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income band (219 students) and the average for the highest-income band (164 students) is $11,986. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship, the average was $13,786.
The advertised price is not the same as the price paid. Here, for students with low income, the average net price was $8,578 in the 2022-23 academic year.
The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received Title IV federal aid; at this public institution, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average for students with grants or scholarships, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships; it also uses that rate. If your family lives outside the state or district, the calculation is different. Ask for it before applying.
The aid students receive, and the debt that is common here
At Eastern Washington University, 74 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received aid that does not have to be repaid—a grant or scholarship—with an average of $9,475 per year among those who received it. Out of every 100, 38 received Pell Grants, the federal aid for low-income families.
Regarding loans: 68 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan during the 2022-23 school year—the majority. Compared with 519 similar public schools, it is among those with the highest shares of students with loans: at least nine out of ten schools in that group had a lower proportion. Those who borrowed averaged $3,337 during the year. If your child borrowed a similar amount in each of the four years, the total would be around $13,348, not including interest—and that decision is made before the first signature, not at the end.
Financing through debt is common here. That does not determine whether your child will need it—that comes from their aid letter and the difference between the net price and what the family can pay. If debt appears in their letter, request the estimated monthly payment before accepting. And remember: that average does not include Parent PLUS loans, bank debt, or credit-card debt, and it is not the total debt students have when they graduate—that would require adding together all four years, and that number is not in this report. The institution also reports offering a tuition payment plan if you prefer to spread the cost across the year.
Housing, ROTC, athletics, online study, and the library
Eastern Washington University has institution-controlled housing and does not require all first-time, full-time students to live there—that does not rule out the possibility that a specific program may require it. It offers meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies by plan. IPEDS reports a maximum housing capacity of 1,788 students. The presence of housing does not guarantee a bed: request the price, deadline, and whether space is guaranteed or there is a waitlist in writing.
There is an ROTC opportunity, with the Army branch confirmed in writing. Navy and Air Force are not marked—that does not mean they are impossible options; it means you need to ask directly.
The university competes in intercollegiate athletics and is affiliated with the NCAA, with membership reported for football, basketball, and cross-country/track and field. If your child wants to play, contact the coach for that sport directly: ask whether there is a place available, which division they compete in, and whether an athletic scholarship is available.
Regarding distance education: 13 out of every 100 undergraduate students took their entire course load online in the fall count; the other 87 took at least one in-person class. The institution also reports at least one complete program that can be taken through distance education, although the data does not confirm whether that program is undergraduate or graduate—confirm it for your child’s specific major.
The library operates with paid staff, annual expenditures above the $100,000 threshold tracked by the government, physical and digital collections, and interlibrary lending. The institution also reports combined academic and career counseling, employment services, on-campus childcare, a designated contact for veterans and military service members, a student veterans organization, and a services page for people with disabilities. The fact that these services are reported says nothing about their quality or effectiveness—you learn that by speaking with someone who uses them today.
How many stay, and how many finish
Here is the part that carries the most weight when planning for the future. Of the cohort that entered in fall 2022 (1,336 first-time, full-time students), 67 out of every 100 met the retention criterion—they were still enrolled or had already graduated one year later. Compared with 519 similar schools, that figure ranks in the lower part of the group. That does not mean the rest “gave up”—the rate does not distinguish among transfers, pauses, or other reasons.
Regarding graduation: of the 1,612 students who entered in 2017, 761 had earned a degree from this school six years later—47 out of every 100. At four years, the timeframe most families budget for, the figure is 30 out of every 100, 17 points lower. Compared with 518 similar schools, it ranks below the midpoint of the group.
Put plainly: after six years, it is nearly an even split between those who graduate from here and those who do not. The report does not say why. Before deciding, it is worth asking directly what concrete support the school offers and how long students typically take to complete the specific major your child is interested in—because each additional semester has a real cost.
A broader measure, at eight years: from a cohort of 3,723 students who entered between July 2015 and June 2016 (including part-time students and those with prior experience), 58 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school as of the August 2023 reporting cutoff. Among Pell Grant recipients, the figure was 55 out of every 100—five points lower. A share of 22% had an “unknown” enrollment status—the report did not determine whether they remained enrolled elsewhere or why. These two figures, retention and graduation, do not explain any individual’s outcome; they describe an entire cohort, not your child’s path.
What you already know, and what remains yours
None of this tells you whether Eastern Washington University is the right university for your child. That depends on three things only your family can bring together: what the university actually offers—which you now understand better—what your child wants to study and has built so far, and what you are able and willing to pay. If your child is just beginning to build their list, ask what they want to study and how far away they imagine living. If they are about to decide, request the letter showing the net price before ruling anything out or confirming anything. If you are considering a transfer, verify calendars and credit equivalencies in writing.
Your child is responsible for their effort, their curiosity, and the direction of their life. You are responsible for understanding the money, helping with major decisions, and asking the right questions in time. You do not walk the path for them. You walk it with them.
Source note: the information in this article comes from official data reported by Eastern Washington University to the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS system and from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, corresponding to the years and cohorts identified in each section. Best College Aid does not represent Eastern Washington University or the United States government.