Admissions

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Central offers admission to qualified students as they apply. All applicants must submit a completed CWU online or paper admissions application (the online application is preferred) along with a non-refundable application processing fee of $50. To apply online visit www.cwu.edu and click on Apply Online.

For fall quarter, the Office of Admissions responds to applications after Nov. 1 for students who apply before Oct. 15 and within four to six weeks for those who apply later. The priority deadline for fall quarter application for freshmen and transfers is April 1. For the most current information and admissions deadlines for other academic quarters, please visit www.cwu.edu/~cwuadmis/.

Freshmen applicants (students currently enrolled in high school or high school graduates who have earned fewer than 40 college credits after high school graduation) must send official copies of all high school and college transcripts, as well as ACT or SAT scores, to the Admissions office. Freshmen applicants are offered initial admission if they meet a minimum admissions index, which is determined by a formula that weights high school GPA and standardized test scores in a ratio of approximately 3:1. The formula was developed by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB). For the 2007-08 academic year, the minimum admissions index is 28. Freshmen applicants must also complete the following core courses in high school.

Central Washington University recommends that students take additional courses beyond the minimum in order to prepare them for university-level work.

Regardless of the number of college credits completed, students earning college credit while in high school will be considered freshmen for admissions purposes as long as they do not take coursework after graduation from high school (including summer). Running Start students and others with college credit are eligible for all freshmen scholarships and must live on-campus for their first year. CWU acceps most college credit earned while in high school, including programs such as:

• Advanced Placement (AP)
• College in the High School
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• CWU Cornerstone
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Running Start

Admissions applications from homeschooled students are evaluated on an individual basis. Students will be required to submit ACT or SAT scores, as well as any high school, homeschool, or college transcripts available. They may also be asked to submit additional information or essays.

Equivalency Guides and Policies

Transfer students who have earned 40 or more college-level credits (27 semester credits) must send official copies of all college transcripts to the Admissions office. Generally, transfer students who have completed at least 40 college-level transferable credits with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA will be admissible. Students who have completed college-level math and English and those who have completed a Direct Transfer Associated degree (DTA) will do better in the comprehensive review process. A current list of DTA degrees is available online at www.cwu.edu/~cwuadmis/dta.html. For current information and application deadlines, visit www.cwu.edu/~cwuadmis.

If your GPA is below 2.5 from any previous college attended, you are required to answer the application essay questions, and your application will go through the comprehensive review process. The admissions review committee takes into account your grade trend, the number of transferable credits you have completed and type of coursework completed, including college-level English and math completion.

Central recognizes that many factors affect grades and test scores, so the University utilizes a comprehensive admissions review process. Freshmen applicants whose admissions index is below 28, or who are missing any of the high school core course requirements or transfer applicants whose GPA is below 2.5 from any previous college attended will need to complete the essay portion of the admissions application. The application will go through the comprehensive review process.

The essay questions, included on both the online and printed version of the application, are:

• How have your past experiences influenced your academic record?
• What are you presently doing to ensure your academic success?
• What are your academic goals and how will CWU help you accomplish these goals?

You are encouraged to include your involvement and leadership contributions in your home, school or community in your essay.

Other students who may be reviewed through the comprehensive review process include those who are 18 or older and have neither completed high school nor completed 40 college-level credits but have earned General Education Development (GED) certificates, as well as students 25 or older who have poor academic histories and have not attended school recently. Applicants may be required to complete supplemental application forms and/or submit additional information or essays.

Central welcomes qualified students from other countries. Students demonstrating the greatest potential for success at the university level may be admitted after a thorough review and evaluation of their entire academic background.
Because educational systems vary widely around the world, there is no single, uniform admission requirement for international students. However, they must meet the following minimum requirements for admission purposes:

1. Completion of the academic coursework and national examinations necessary to satisfy admission requirements to colleges and universities in their native country.
2. Competency in English is required before an I-20 can be issued.  If English is not their first language, competency in English must be demonstrated through one of the following:

• English Composition Courses
  Receive a 3.0 (B grade) in each of two college level English composition courses from an accredited United States college or university. Contact the Office of Admissions at international@cwu.edu to find out what courses are acceptable.
• Undergraduate English as a Second Language (UESL) Program Recommendation
  Receive a recommendation from CWU’s UESL Program after successful completion of their highest level. CWU also offers Conditional Admissions to students who meet all of the requirements other than English proficiency. Contact the UESL office for more information and application materials.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Receive a TOEFL score meeting the following criteria:
A score of 525 or above–Paper-based TOEFL
A score of 195 or above–Computer-based TOEFL
A score of 71 or above –Internet-board TOEFL

Students who originate from one of the following countries are considered to have met English Proficiency Standards: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and English-speaking provinces of Canada. These students are exempt from furnishing proof of English proficiency documents.

3.    International students transferring from U.S. institutions must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 in transferable college level courses and meet the academic requirements for college entrance in their native country.
Please Note:  Though not required for admission purposes, adequate financial support, verified by the Confidential Financial Statement form and a current bank letter or scholarship award, is required of all international applicants.
There are three ways of applying to Central Washington University:

1.  Apply online.
With this option you will submit your application electronically with the online application form and pay your $50 application fee electronically using a credit card. 

2.  Download and print copies of required application forms.
Links to downloadable forms in PDF (Portable Document File) format are found online on the CWU website. Once completed, your forms and supporting documents should be returned to the CWU Office of Admissions in person or through the mail.

3.  Request needed forms be sent to your address.

Contact the CWU Office of Admissions at admissions@cwu.edu with your request. Once completed, your forms and supporting documents should be returned to the CWU Office of Admissions in person or through the mail. 

All supporting documents should be sent a minimum of 90 days in advance of the quarter for which the applicant seeks admission.

Students who submit international college or university transcripts must have an official course-by-course translation and evaluation done by one of the following foreign credential evaluation companies:

Foundation for International Services (FIS) Inc. at www.fis-web.com/eval.html
AACRAO Foreign Credentials Evaluation Services www.aacrao.org/international/foreignEdCred.cfm
World Education Services (WES) www.wes.org/students/index.asp

Students who interrupt their CWU studies for one or more quarters (excluding summer) must re-apply for admission to the university and pay the application fee. For more information, check the admissions Web site at www.cwu.edu/~cwuadmis. If the student has attended any institution during his or her absence from CWU, the student must send official transcripts of all post-CWU coursework to the Office of Admissions at the time they re-apply. Eligibility for re-admission will be based on prior academic performance at the university and any courses completed since last attending CWU. If a student left on academic or disciplinary suspension, they should contact the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management for reapplication instructions thirty (30) days prior to the start of the quarter for which the student is applying.

Pay Online

Students who are offered admission to the University must confirm their intention to enroll by paying a non-refundable $55 confirmation fee before they can begin the orientation, registration and advising process. The university will not withdraw an offer of admission for fall quarter until after May 1. Students who have not confirmed may be denied admission after that time if enrollment limits have been reached. Students who choose not to accept offers of admission must notify the Admissions office in writing. An offer of admission is only valid for the academic quarter indicated in the acceptance letter. A student who chooses not to accept an offer of admission may reapply for a subsequent quarter.

Offers of admission may be withdrawn by the Admissions office if a student’s academic work between the time of application and the quarter for which the student has applied results in the student not meeting the admissions criteria.

Non-Matriculated Student Application

Students who are not seeking degrees or certificates may be allowed to enroll in courses as nonmatriculated students. These students do not need to go through the regular admissions process but should apply through Registrar Services and may be allowed to register on a space-available basis. Credits earned as a nonmatriculated student may not be used to satisfy degree or certificate requirements unless the student applies and is accepted as a matriculated student, in which case a maximum of 45 credits may be applied. Exceptions may be made for non-matriculants in collaborative certificate programs.

Students who have previously attended Central as matriculated students and have not obtained a degree, and students who have applied and been rejected for undergraduate matriculated status will not be allowed to enroll as nonmatriculated students. Nonmatriculated students are not eligible for most financial aid, veteran’s benefits, credit evaluations, or other services regularly provided for matriculated students.

Students who have not yet graduated from high school may be allowed to enroll as non-matriculated students for courses that they need to advance academically, provided that such academic opportunities are not readily available to them elsewhere. To be eligible for the High School Enrichment Program, students must have demonstrated superior academic performance or preparation in the area of study for which they are applying. High School Enrichment Program applicants must submit either ACT, SAT or COMPASS scores and official copies of their high school transcript. In addition, they must submit a letter to the registrar explaining their reasons for wanting to attend specific courses at the University and offering reasons for their potential to succeed. They must also meet with the registrar and have the approval of their high school principal and the course professor.

The Central Visitation program is a student-run program designed to give prospective students an insight into campus life from a studnet’s perspective. Our staff is trained to know all aspects of CWU. The staff understands that visiting campus is one of the most important steps in the college decision-making process.

The Central Visitation program offers a variety of programs to help you explore CWU:

• Campus Tour: Campus walking tours are offered Monday through Friday at 10am and 2pm. Weekend tours are offered Saturday at 11am. Check the Web site for a list of available dates. Tours check in and start from the new Student Union and Recreation Center and continue with a full tour of campus. Tours are expected to last at least one hour and 15 minutes depending on the size of the group. Please remember to wear appropriate shoes and clothing for the time of year.
• Cat Track: The Cat Tracks is a day-long, comprehensive visit to CWU. This student-run program is a great way to experience campus life firsthand while learning about a specific program. Space is limited so be sure to sign up early.
  

For the most current information, dates and times visit www.cwu.edu/~cwuadmis/visit.html or call 1-866-CWU-4-YOU (1-866-298-4968).