May 15, 2026

2026-2027 University Catalog

Student Engagement and Success

The Office of the Vice President of Student Engagement and Success oversees the areas of Student Engagement and Success, Student Development and Belonging including: Student Involvement, Campus Activities, Multicultural Center, Veteran and Military-Connected Student Center, Career Services, and Student Rights and Responsibilities as well as serves in an advising capacity to the Associate Students of CWU; Health and Wellness including: the Student Health Services, Student Counseling Services, Office of Health Promotion, the Recreation Center, and Office of Case Management; Enrollment Management, including: Admissions, Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, Orientation and Transition Programs, Jumpstart and the Transfer Center; and the Federal Grant Programs including: the College Assistance Migrant Program, the High School Equivalency Program, Student Support Services/TRIO, and the Educational Opportunity Center. The Office of the Vice President of Student Engagement and Success provides support and coordination of a number of student and university-wide committees affecting the student experience. The Office of the Vice President of Student Engagement and Success provides students educationally purposeful programs, events, and services and activities that promote academic, personal, and professional growth within and beyond the classroom.

Associate Vice President for Student Development and Belonging

ASCWU - Student Government
The Associated Students of Central Washington University (ASCWU) student government are elected by the CWU student body to represent all students equally and fairly and to ensure that their voices are heard. Executive responsibility is vested in the six-member ASCWU-Executive Board and supported by the Student Senate and the Equity and Services Council, with the Vice President of Student Engagement and Success and Assistant Director of Student Involvement serving as the primary advisor(s). As a vehicle from which students may share different views, the ASCWU Student Government is an integral part of the shared governance of CWU. The ASCWU Student Government recognizes and recommends student appointments to university committees and boards in order to serve and represent a variety of student needs and interest areas.

Location: SURC 236
Phone: 509-963-1693
Email: ascwu@cwu.edu
Website: https://www.cwu.edu/student-life/student-government/

Career Services

Career Services offers career counseling and professional development opportunities to all CWU students, alumni, faculty, and staff. CWU Career Services is dedicated to empowering our diverse students with the skills, knowledge, and experiences necessary to thrive in today’s demanding global job market. Through a robust suite of equitable initiatives, we foster career readiness, professional development, and resilience, ensuring all Wildcats are well-equipped for success.

Career Counseling: Meeting 1:1 to help students make major and career decisions through online assessments and identifying skills, strengths, values, and interests. Counselors are also able to assist with applying to graduate school and post-bachelor studies. Counselors are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, plus some extended hours by appointment, to meet students in person or online. See our web page to book an appointment or call our office for assistance.
Job Search Preparation: Career Services staff assist students with job search preparation in a variety of ways, including career exploration, resumes and other professional documents, interviewing skills, job search strategies, and salary negotiation. Career workshops are offered throughout the year, with topics such as AI Tools for Job Searching, Avoiding Job Scams, and more.
Internships: An internship is a pre-approved work-experience that pairs hands-on work in the field with a specific course and pre-approved academic assignments/objectives to count for academic credits. The student works with their department faculty and Career Services to prepare for the process that leads to a successful, credit-bearing academic/work experience.
Virtual Career Center: Career Services website has become a virtual career center, available to everyone in our Wildcat community 24:7. Updated regularly with new content, the virtual career center provides resources organized by industry, college, identity, and more.
Career Fairs and Professional Development Opportunities: The department organizes events throughout the year for students to network with employers, find jobs and internships, and learn professional skills.
Professional Clothing Closet: Career Services hosts a Professional Clothing Closet, which provides free interview-appropriate clothing to students for professional opportunities. The Professional Clothing Closet is open for drop-ins during regular business hours in Bouillon 206.
Handshake: Handshake is a website and app which contains job and internship postings. The site is also a resource for career development events and on-campus career fairs. Students can access their account through MyCWU using their long form email address (firstname.lastname@cwu.edu).
UNIV 103: For those who are not certain which major, or career path is right for them, Career Services offers a two-credit course, called Career Exploration, on the Ellensburg campus. One-on-one counseling can achieve similar results over time if a student cannot take the class.
UNIV 301: This two-credit career management class helps students prepare for the transition from the classroom to the workplace. The focus of the course is on job search skills in pursuit of fulfilling employment.

For further information: https://www.cwu.edu/career or email career@cwu.edu

KCWU-FM (88.1 the ‘Burg)
KCWU-FM, also known as 88.1 The ‘Burg, is CWU’s student run, professionally managed, nationally award-winning and FCC-licensed radio station. The state-of-the-art, industry standard station is a living media laboratory located on the first floor of the Student Union and Recreation Center. Utilizing high impact practices, student broadcasters master speaking and presentation skills while performing as music DJs, newscasters, sportscasters, and talk show hosts. Students learn production, audio editing, promotion, branding, marketing, and event management skills. The multi-platform new media approach of on-air, on-line, and in-person serves CWU and the Ellensburg community, fostering a culture of professionalism, diversity, and inclusion. Students from all majors and backgrounds are encouraged to get engaged with or tune into KCWU.

Location: SURC 120
Phone: 509-963-2282
Email: kcwu@cwu.edu
Website: https://www.881theburg.com/

Campus Activities

Campus Activities offers a variety of events including music, comedy, speakers, concerts, performances, movies, game nights and other social events, as well as signature university events such as Homecoming week activities and entertainment, Family Weekend, and Student Appreciation Day. This program provides opportunities to build connections with others through activities in a multitude of formats both large and small.

Location: SURC 272
Phone: 509-963-1684
Email: campus.activities@cwu.edu
Website: https://www.cwu.edu/student-life/slice/campus-activities/

Publicity Center
The Publicity Center offers a full slate of creative services to promote campus events, programs, and departments, and is also home to Hype, a multi-platform communication approach to spreading the word about campus events and opportunities for students to get involved outside the classroom. Student employees and interns work alongside professional staff with expertise in their fields to gain hands-on experience, improve their professional portfolio/resumes, and develop strong communication, project management and presentation skills. They take pride in collaborating with others to help students find connections through a rich variety of activities, events and resources.

Location: SURC 272
Phone: 509-963-1677

Student Rights and Responsibilities
Student Rights and Responsibilities supports CWU’s community by responding to concerns related to student behavior. An educational lens is used to develop intentional interventions in collaboration with community partners while purposely considering due process, individual students’ circumstances, and the CWU community at large. Student Rights and Responsibilities works to reduce bias and discrimination throughout their processes and interventions while helping students become inclusive intentional members of a diverse society. Student Rights and Responsibilities serves the entire university community and responds to reports of student concerns, including Concern and Support reports, for all CWU locations and students.

Location: Bouillon 205
Phone: 509-963-1817
Email: Student.Conduct@cwu.edu
Website: https://www.cwu.edu/student-life/student-support/student-rights/

Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement

Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement (SLICE). actively serves the CWU community by developing opportunities that cultivate individual and collective engagement within leadership, civic and engagement, community engagement, campus activities, and club experiences. Our purpose is to encourage a sense of belonging, identity exploration, and promote positive social change within individual communities, the university and beyond.

Endowments by David Wain Coon and Don and Verna Duncan, support leadership and community engagement opportunities for students to expand and develop their leadership capacity and engage with the campus and surrounding communities through service.

The Registered Student Organization (RSO) program, coupled with Leadership and Community Engagement, strives to create a holistic collegiate experience through co-curricular student club focused opportunities that foster passion exploration, leadership development and the cultivation of habits of lifelong learning.

Location: SURC 250
Phone: 509-963-1850
Email: slice@cwu.edu
Website: https://www.cwu.edu/student-life/slice/index.php

Veteran and Military-Connected Student Center
CWU’s Veteran and Military-Connected Student Center opened in 2009 to support veterans, service members, and their family’s entering college. We provide outreach to prospective students, assistance in navigating funding options, and programming that builds support and awareness for our community. Services include assisting with veteran education benefit applications, certifying enrollment, and locating additional resources.

Find more information at https://www.cwu.edu/about/offices/veteran-military-center/, or call 509-963-3028, or email: va@cwu.edu.

Multicultural Center

Located in Black Hall 101, the Multicultural Center is a vibrant hub where students find community, connection, and a strong sense of belonging. We offer dynamic cultural celebrations, identity-based programs, leadership opportunities, and meaningful ways to get involved on campus. Our center features flexible meeting spaces, a cozy living room for community connection, a dedicated reflection and prayer room equipped with a foot-washing station, a community kitchen, and an all-gender bathroom, all with the goal of creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students. Whether you’re looking for support, space to gather, or opportunities to engage, the Multicultural Center is here for you. Stop by and discover how we can help you thrive.

Location: Black Hall 101
Phone: 509-963-2127
Email: diversity@cwu.edu
Website: https://www.cwu.edu/about/multicultural-center/index.php

Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management

Admissions

General Information
Central Washington University (CWU) offers admission to qualified students as they apply. All applicants must submit a completed CWU application along with a non-refundable application processing fee or fee waiver. Please contact Admissions for more information on fee waivers.

CWU has a rolling admission policy which means that students may submit an application for any quarter at any time before that quarter starts. CWU sets the priority application date for fall quarter as March 1 for first-year and transfer students. This coincides with the Scholarship Central application. Applicants who apply for fall quarter will be notified of an admissions decision within one to two weeks after all application materials are received. Applications received after March 1 will be processed on a space-available basis. For the most current information and admissions deadlines for other academic quarters, please visit https://www.cwu.edu/admissions-aid/index.php.

For initial admission, applicants must meet minimum standards as established by the Washington Student Achievement Council. The Academic Affairs Committee may recommend more stringent standards as well as standards for automatic admission. Standards for initial admission will be established by the Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate in consultation with the Vice President of Student Engagement and Success. Adherence to established standards of admission will be monitored by the Academic Affairs Committee.

First-Year Applicants
First-year applicants are students who will graduate from high school and enroll the summer or fall immediately following high school graduation, regardless of number of college credits earned while in high school through Running Start, College in the High School, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), etc. or those who have earned fewer than 40 quarter hour college credits from an accredited two-or four-year college or university after high school graduation.

CWU offers guaranteed admission for students with 3.0 or higher high school cumulative GPA and completion of College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs). See below for more information on CADRs. For those who do not meet these criterias, CWU offers a comprehensive review process that takes into consideration: high school GPA, a personal statement, high school grade trends, and course rigor. At least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all high school and any applicable college work is required. Note: ACT/SAT scores are not required.

Applicants with a 3.00 cumulative GPA or higher who have satisfied the State of Washington CADR requirements will be admitted. A personal statement is not required.
Applicants with a 2.99-2.50 cumulative GPA who have satisfied the CADRs will be evaluated through the comprehensive review process that considers factors such as a personal statement, grade trends, and the rigor of the courses completed. A personal statement may be required.
Applicants with a 2.49-2.00 will be evaluated through the comprehensive review process that considers factors such as a personal statement, grade trends, and the rigor of the courses completed. A personal statement is required. First-year applicants deficient in any of the CADR areas up to, but not exceeding 3 Distribution Requirements, may be considered through the alternate admissions standards (CWU 504-20). Students considered for admission through the alternate admissions standards will be subject to the comprehensive review process and may be required to submit a personal statement.

Students denied admission may submit an appeal. Appeals are reviewed as per CWU 501-20 Admissions Appeals.

Official application materials must be received by the Office of Admission, including all high school and college transcripts.

College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs)
CADR refers to college admission criteria. Each school district determines which of its courses meet CADR guidelines. Students are encouraged to take additional courses above and beyond the minimum CADRs.

English: 4 credits, including 3 credits of literature and composition.
Math: 3 credits plus 1 credit of a senior year math-based quantitative course. Acceptable courses include algebra I, algebra II, geometry, pre-calculus and above, math analysis, statistics, applied math, appropriate career and technical courses, or an algebra-based science course such as chemistry or physics. If you take and pass pre-calculus or math analysis of calculus prior to your senior year, you’re exempt from this requirement.
Social Science: 3 credits. Acceptable courses include world history, US history, anthropology, contemporary world problems, economics, geography, government, political science, psychology, sociology.
Lab Science: 3 credits (two credits must be earned in lab courses including one credit in an algebra-based lab science and one course in biology, physics or chemistry).
World Language: 2 credits of the same world language, Native American language or American Sign Language.
Arts: 1 credit. Acceptable courses include classes in fine, visual, or performing arts or 1 credit beyond the minimum in any other required CADR areas.

College Credit Earned While in High School
Regardless of the number of college credits completed, or if an associate degree is earned, students earning college credit while in high school, including coursework taken during summer after graduation, will be considered first-year for admissions purposes. Running Start students and others with college credit are eligible for all freshmen scholarships and must live on campus for their first year. CWU accepts 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

Home-school Applicants
A home-schooled student is any applicant who will complete their high school coursework at home and will not receive a diploma from an accredited high school. An applicant is qualified for first-year admission if they:

Present evidence of their completion of the academic CADR courses by submitting an official home-school transcript. Transcripts must be signed by a parent or guardian in order to be official.
Provide the GED as proof of high school completion. A GED is not required but may be submitted for eligibility for Federal Financial Aid and to participate in varsity athletics.
Submit any official college transcripts (if applicable). Regardless of the number of college credits completed, students earning college credit in high school will be considered first-year for admissions purposes as long as they do not take coursework after graduation from high school (excluding summer).

All home-schooled students will be reviewed by the Admissions Review Process on an individual basis.

Transfer Applicants
Applicants who have completed a transferable associate degree from an accredited post-secondary institution with a cumulative transfer GPA of at least 2.0, will be admitted as space allows.

Applicants without a transferable associate degree, but with at least 40 quarter (27 semester) transferable credits at time of application, from an accredited post-secondary institution may be admitted as space allows provided they have at least a 2.50 cumulative GPA in transferable courses. Applicants whose cumulative transfer GPA is lower than 2.50 will be evaluated through the comprehensive review process (see CWU 504-20). A personal statement may be required.

Applicants with fewer than 40 quarter (27 semester) transferable credits at time of application will be considered for admission if they also meet the first-year requirements. (See CWU 504-20)

Students with a cumulative transfer GPA below a 2.00 may be admitted through the comprehensive review process (see CWU 504-20). For students with a cumulative transfer GPA of less than 2.00, college-level credits earned below a 2.00 may be disregarded for admissions purposes only, provided the work was completed at least four years before the time of enrollment at CWU. Application of this policy is contingent upon evidence of extenuating circumstances and/or future academic success.

Applicants Without High School Diplomas (including alternatively graduated applicants).

Applicants who have not earned a high school diploma may be offered admission to the university under the alternative admissions process outlined below.

Alternative Admissions
Applicants who do not meet admission criteria may be considered for admission by the admissions review committee through an alternative admissions pathway. Such applicants include, but are not limited to, applicants who have been home-schooled, persons who are 18 or older and have neither completed high school nor 40 credits of college work elsewhere but have earned the GED, applicants deemed deficient in high school course requirements, and applicants who are 25 or older who have poor academic histories and who have not attended school recently. Applicants considered through the alternative admissions pathway will be subject to the comprehensive review process and are required to submit a personal statement. Applicants without an associate degree must satisfy the foreign language admission requirement prior to completing a total of 135 credits.

International Students
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. International students must meet the following minimum requirements for admission purposes:

1. Evidence of completion of the academic course work and national examinations that would qualify them to apply to colleges and universities in their native country.

2. If English is not the first language, competency in English demonstrated in one of the following ways:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum score of 525 paper-based, 195 computer-based, and 71 internet-based.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum score of 6.0.
Duolingo English Test minimum score of 100
Completing two English department approved composition courses each with minimum grade of 2.0, “C” or equivalent rating from a regionally accredited U.S. college, university, or an approved university partner.

3. If English is the first language, the foreign language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree can be fulfilled by completing the basic skills foreign language requirement, passing the CLEP®, passing a foreign language course challenge exam, or obtaining approval from the chair of World Languages.

4. Applicants transferring from U.S. institutions must have a minimum grade point average in transferable courses as established by the Academic Affairs Committee or DTA associate degree from an accredited Washington State community college (or approved out-of-state transferrable associate degree).

5. Adequate financial support for the student’s intended studies. Financial support will be judged based on applicant’s confidential financial statement and a current bank letter or guaranteed source of funding.

6. If all of the above conditions are met, the student is recommended for admission by the international admissions counselors, and the Office of International Studies and Programs may issue the INS certificate of eligibility for F-1 status (Form 1-20).

Exceptions to the above admissions requirements must be approved by the admissions review committee in consultation with the Director of International Studies and Programs.

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.

International Transfer students who are 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. 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.

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. Evaluation may be done by university personnel or one of the following foreign credential evaluation companies: Foundation for International Services (FIS) Inc. at https://www.fis-web.com/ or World Education Services (WES) at https://www.wes.org/.

Re-admission of Former Students
Students who interrupt their CWU studies for more than one quarter (excluding summer) must re-apply for admission to the university and pay the application fee. If the student has attended any institution during their 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. For Students left on academic or disciplinary suspension, any questions about their return to CWU, should be addressed to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

Confirmation of Admission
Students who are offered admission to the university must confirm their intention to enroll by utilizing the “accept your admission” button sent to them via email. This will begin the advising, registration and orientation process. The university may withdraw an offer of admission for fall quarter if confirmation is not complete by 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 should notify the Office of Admissions by emailing admissions@cwu.edu. 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 re-apply for a subsequent quarter.

Revocation of Offer of Admission
Offers of admission may be revoked by the Office of Admissions 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 or other university standards.

Non-matriculated Student Application
Students who are not seeking degrees or certificates may be allowed to enroll in courses as non-matriculated students. These students do not need to go through the regular admissions process but should apply through the Office of the Registrar by completing the non-matriculated application form. Non-matriculated students register during open enrollment a space-available basis. Credits earned as a non-matriculated 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-matriculated students in collaborative certificate programs.

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

High School Enrichment Program
Students who have not yet graduated from high school may be allowed to enroll as non-matriculated students. High School Enrichment Program applicants must submit official copies of their high school transcript and complete the high school enrichment application available from the Office of the Registrar. High school enrichment applications must be approved by the student’s high school principal and the CWU Registrar; regular tuition and fees apply for students attending under this program. For further information, please call 509-963-3001 or e-mail reg@cwu.edu.

Orientation and Transition Programs

Orientation and Transition Programs, At Central Washington University, we place special emphasis on each student’s transition to the CWU campus. Through research and our own experience, we know that the foundations built through these intentional experiences are key to a student’s success. Once you are admitted to CWU, Orientation will pick up where the Admissions Office leaves off for both first year and transfer students. Making the commitment to spend your college career at CWU is a major decision. With this in mind, it only makes sense that the CWU community welcomes you and your support networks by providing a comprehensive set of orientation experiences as you move through this transition. An Orientation fee will be charged to all first-year and transfer students during the first Fall quarter on campus.

Location: Bouillon 202 Phone: 509-963-1507
Visit us online at https://www.cwu.edu/admissions-aid/orientation/index.php

Wildcat Preview Days is an optional event for prospective and admitted students and their support networks. You will be introduced to academic majors and campus resources, learn about clubs and organizations, and explore campus!

Inica Tu Futuro is a Spanish language track offered at each Wildcat Preview Day for Spanish speaking students, parents, and support networks. Representatives from campus departments showcase all that CWU has to offer.

Orientation whether you attend a New Student Orientation or Transfer Student Orientation, navigating your way as an incoming student just got easier and more fun! New Student Orientation provides valuable information, tools, and Wildcat spirit as you begin your path to success at CWU. New Student Orientation is a REQUIRED step in the onboarding and orientation process as a first year Wildcat. Transfer Student Orientation will focus on your personal transition to CWU and the greater Ellensburg community in partnership with the Transfer Student Center. Parents and Support Networks are encouraged to attend.

Todos Somos Familia is a Spanish language orientation during each New Student Orientation for Spanish speaking parents and support networks. Parents and support networks will receive valuable information about what to expect at CWU.

Week of Welcome is the second REQUIRED Orientation and Onboarding program for first-year and transfer students that will help you feel at home at Central. You will continue to build connections with other students, become familiar with campus, gain wellness strategies, and learn about CWU procedures, expectations, and how to contribute to the community. We want to help prepare you for a successful academic experience. In addition to many fun activities, we have planned several valuable educational sessions and workshops. Participation is required for all newly admitted Ellensburg first-year students.

University 101: Transition to CWU is brought to you by CWU’s Undergraduate Studies and Learning Commons areas. UNIV 101 is designed to foster a successful transition to CWU. This course will promote a sense of belonging and discovery, stimulate engagement in curricular and co-curricular activities, and connect students to campus resources. Out-of-class student participation in Week of Welcome and throughout the term is required to receive full credit towards your overall grade. Students with fewer than 45 credits are required to take UNIV 101 during their first quarter on campus.

Virtual Orientation is offered for all incoming students for Winter and Spring quarters. This orientation is specifically for incoming first year, transfer students, sites and centers and online student populations. During this opportunity students will learn about CWU departments and campus resources. Sessions are offered via Zoom, twice quarterly.

*Virtual Orientation is NOT intended for Fall Quarter admits nor is allowed as a substitution for New Student Orientation or Week of Welcome programs.*

Transfer Center

The Transfer Center helps transfer students at all CWU locations make a seamless transition from their previous institution to Central. The Transfer Center provides:

personalized advice for pre-transfer planning;
information about the general education program at CWU and which associate’s degrees satisfy which components of it;
information about transfer course equivalences.
referrals to academic departments and other campus resources.
peer mentoring from successful transfer students
programs and events intended to help new transfer students transition to a new university.
a comfortable lounge where students can connect with other transfer students’
amenities such as computers, printers, a fridge and microwave; and
a living/learning community in Stephens-Whitney Hall for transfer students who want to live on campus.

For more information about transfer student services, call 509-963-1390, email transfer@cwu.edu, or visit us in person at Bouillon 210 or online at https://www.cwu.edu/transfer.

Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

Approximately 80 percent of Central Washington University students receive financial assistance each year through federal, state, institutional, and private funding sources. Financial aid may include grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans.

Financial aid is available to matriculated students enrolled in eligible degree or certificate programs. Students are encouraged to apply by all posted deadlines. Automatic merit scholarships do not require a separate application.

Applying for Financial Aid

To apply for federal and/or state aid, students must submit the appropriate annual financial aid application and include CWU’s school code: 003771. Applications should be submitted as soon as possible after they open each year.

FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and other eligible non-citizens at studentaid.gov. Submitting the FAFSA applies students for federal aid (grants and loans) and Washington State grants. A valid Social Security Number must be on file with CWU for the FAFSA to match the student’s record.
WASFA: The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is available to eligible Washington State DREAMers (undocumented students) at wsac.wa.gov/wasfa. Submitting the WASFA applies students for Washington State grants. Students must complete the residency affidavit and may be required to submit Form I-797 to the Registrar’s Office at residency@cwu.edu.

After CWU completes its review of either application, students will receive a financial aid offer or a request for additional documentation. Notifications begin in January and continue weekly.

Types of Financial Aid

Grants: Federal, State, and Institutional grants are awarded based on financial need as determined by the FAFSA or WASFA and do not require repayment. Grants are reduced for enrollment below full-time (12 credits). State grants are available only to Washington residents and require enrollment in a minimum of three credits.
Merit Scholarships are automatically awarded to students who meet eligibility requirements and confirm admission by May 1. Merit scholarships require full-time enrollment (12 or more credits) and apply only to tuition charges. They are non-refundable and may not be combined with other waivers that exceed 80% of tuition.
CWU Scholarships require an application through Scholarship Central. The application is open October 1-March 1 prior to the academic year. Scholarship eligibility may be based on academic achievement, talent, leadership, community service, or financial need. Some scholarships require completion of the FAFSA or WASFA. Applications are submitted through MyCWU under Student Dashboard > Financial > Scholarship Application.
Community-Sponsored Scholarships are awarded by external organizations, each with their own eligibility criteria and application process. Recipients must notify the CWU Financial Aid Office of any community scholarships received. Checks should be sent to:

CWU Cashiers Office
400 E University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7490
Include the student’s name, CWU ID number, and make checks payable to Central Washington University.

Work-Study: Federal and State Work-Study programs provide part-time employment for students with financial need. Work-study positions are available on and off campus and allow students to earn a paycheck to help cover educational expenses. These positions offer valuable opportunities for professional development and career experience. For more information, contact financialaid@cwu.edu.
Loans: Loans are borrowed funds that must be repaid after leaving school. Students should exhaust federal loan options before considering private loans.
- Federal student loans are offered to students who submit the FAFSA, subject to annual and lifetime limits. Federal loans require at least half-time enrollment (6 credits for undergraduate or post-baccalaureate students, 5 for graduate students) and may be prorated for less than full-time enrollment. Loan offers must be accepted in MyCWU, and students must complete the Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling at studentaid.gov.
- Parent PLUS Loans are federal loans borrowed by parents on behalf of dependent students. Beginning July 1, 2026, new Parent PLUS borrowers will be subject to annual and lifetime limits. Parents with existing PLUS loans may continue to borrow above the new limits under legacy provisions for up to three years or until the student’s program is completed, whichever comes first. Applications and Master Promissory Notes are completed at studentaid.gov.
- Graduate PLUS Loans will no longer be available to new borrowers beginning July 1, 2026. Current borrowers may continue to borrow under legacy provisions for up to three years or until completion of their program, whichever comes first. Graduate PLUS Loans are offered through MyCWU. Once the loan is accepted, a credit check is processed automatically, and the borrower must complete a Graduate PLUS Master Promissory Note at studentaid.gov.

Disbursement and Requirements

Financial aid is disbursed quarterly in equal amounts starting the day after the add/drop period each term. Grants and scholarships are accepted automatically. Loans must be accepted, reduced, or declined in MyCWU, and all loan requirements must be completed at studentaid.gov. Students must meet eligibility requirements at the time of disbursement and have an official final high school transcript on file before aid can be released.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to remain eligible for financial aid. CWU evaluates SAP each quarter according to the following standards:

GPA: Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students; 3.0 for graduate students.
Pace: Students must complete at least 67% of attempted credits each academic year.
Maximum Timeframe: Students must complete their degree within 150% of the published program length. Aid will be suspended if it is determined that a student cannot complete within this timeframe.

Students who do not meet SAP standards will have aid suspended until eligibility is regained or an approved appeal is submitted.

Contact Information
The Financial Aid Office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Bouillon Hall 106. For more information, visit cwu.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid-scholarships, email financialaid@cwu.edu, or call 509-963-1611.

Federal Grant Programs

TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)
Deciding where to go to college, understanding your options on how to pay for it and completing all the necessary forms can be complicated. The Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) is set up to help students gather the necessary information to make good decisions about their future educational plans and think clearly through the available options. EOC, a federally funded program is available, principally, to help 1,000 low-income adults who are the first in their family to attend college, work through the admission process. For further information, call 509-574-6895 or e-mail eoc_program@cwu.edu.

TRIO Student Support Services (SSS)
TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) is a federally funded TRIO program under the U.S. Department of Education which endeavors to increase the college retention and graduation rates of first-generation, low-income, and disabled students. TRIO SSS provides holistic advising, tutoring, workshops on academic and life skills, assistance with applying for federal aid and scholarships, a dedicated computer lab, and cultural and educational trips. The program offers some limited grant aid to SSS students who are Pell-eligible, prioritizing freshmen and sophomores. TRIO SSS serves 225 students and operates on an annual federal budget of $348,155. Students who have been admitted to CWU or are currently enrolled can apply to the program at any time; applicants are admitted based on available space. For more information, email triosss@cwu.edu or call (509) 963-2026.

Passport to Careers (PTC)
The Passport to Careers (PTC) program is housed within the Academic Achievement Programs at CWU. PTC is a Washington state publicly funded scholarship and support program for students from foster care and those who have experienced unaccompanied homelessness. Through enhanced financial aid and tailored support services, PTC helps Passport scholars enroll, persist, and complete their post-secondary programs or apprenticeships. PTC at CWU represents a partnership between the university and the College Success Foundation. Eligibility is determined by the Financial Aid Office. For more information, contact Financial Aid, or visit the following:

Washington Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program
https://dcyf.wa.gov/services/foster-youth/etv

Passport to College Promise Scholarship
https://readysetgrad.wa.gov/college/passport-foster-youth-promise-program

State Contact
Dawn Cypriano-McAferty
Program Manager, Washington Student Achievement Council
dawnc@wsac.wa.gov

CWU Campus: (509) 963-2026
Toll-Free: (888) 535-0747
passport@wsac.wa.gov

College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)
The College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) provides financial and academic support services to first-year students from migrant and seasonal farm-working backgrounds. The CAMP program, funded 100% by a grant from the US Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education, is designed to help students succeed as they begin their college careers and through their first-year year. CAMP students receive a variety of services including scholarships, stipends, tutoring, skills for academic success, training, mentoring, career planning services, and cultural enrichment opportunities.

To qualify for the CAMP program, the student must meet the following requirements:

Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen
Have first-year standing (fewer than 44 quarter credits)
Meet criteria to determine migrant or seasonal farm-worker status:
Parent (or student, if independent) has worked for at least 75 days in the last 24 months in farm-work such as production of crops, dairy products, poultry, livestock, tree harvesting, or fish farming. Farm-work must be primary form of employment and be performed on a temporary or seasonal basis
OR student has participated in the Chapter 1 Migrant Education Program
OR student or parent qualifies for the WIA167 program

High School Equivalency Program (HEP)

HEP is a federal program, funded by the U.S Department of Education and administered by the Office of Migrant Education (OME). HEP provides High School Equivalency (HSE) instruction and placement services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFW) and their families. The program was awarded a five-year grant cycle in 2021 and will conclude on June 30, 2026. HEP receives $475,000 per year to provide GED services to 80 eligible students.

To qualify for the HEP program, the student must meet the following requirements:

He or she has worked at least 75 days in any agricultural related field such as ranches, dairies, field, orchids or warehouses within the last 24 months; Or have an immediate family member who meets these criteria.
Or student has participated or is participating in the Migrant Education Program and has a current certificate of eligibility (COE) withing the last 36 months.

OR student or parent qualifies for the WIA167 program, also within the last 24 months.

Pass the HEP assessment before enrollment with at least 60% in reading skills and 55% in mathematics.

Health and Wellness Unit

CWU’s Health and Wellness Unit is a collaborative integrated wellness model providing direct services to students, which creates a culture that values health and wellness as a key component of success for students while attending CWU and in their future lives. The Health and Wellness Unit includes the Office of Case Management, Office of Health Promotion, Student Counseling Services, Student Health Services, and University Recreation The office of the Executive Director of Health and Wellness is located in Bouillon Hall 203. General information can be found at CWU’s Health and Wellness Unit’s website.

Office of Case Management

The Office of Case Management provides crisis assistance to students in distress and coordinates follow-up care for students with a variety of academic and wellness-based needs. Case Managers address student concerns by assessing the individual circumstances of students and making appropriate referrals to need-specific resources and services. The Office of Case Management collaborates with relevant CWU departments and community services to balance the needs of individuals with the welfare of the entire community and provides intervention during campus crises to minimize harmful impacts of an incident on CWU students.

PATH Advocacy: Prevention, Advocacy, Training and Healing (PATH) advocacy is available in the form of direct individual advocacy to CWU students impacted by sexual violence or other forms of interpersonal violence. PATH is located in the Office of Case Management in Bouillon Hall #203. Services include confidential consultation, referral, advocacy, information and crisis response for victims, survivors, and/or significant others. Those experiencing an emergency are encouraged to contact 9-1-1.
Faculty Notification Requests: Resource to support students experiencing extenuating circumstances involving communication to faculty when unable to attend/participate with class as planned. Students submit information online to be evaluated by Case Managers who can provide documentation for students to share with faculty. Faculty retain full discretion to excuse a student based on departmental and syllabi guidelines. For more information, visit the Faculty Notification Request page.

All CWU students, regardless of location, are eligible to receive Case Management services and Case Managers are available for consultation with CWU community members regarding concerns for student health and safety. The Office of Case Management is located in Bouillon 203 and can be reached by phone at 509-963-1745. Timely student referrals are best made by submitting a Concern and Support form or Suicide Concern Report, as warranted. Additional information is available online for CWU’s Office of Case Management.

Office of Health Promotion

Located in SURC 256, the Office of Health Promotion supports campus well-being and encourages collective action to promote the health of individuals and environments. The office offers programs and educational trainings and hosts campus events on violence prevention; alcohol or other drug risk reduction; and positive mental health. We employ students, advise clubs and organizations and partner with faculty in classroom instruction and service-learning opportunities. We also offer the Wellness Lounge, a physical space for CWU students to engage in mindfulness and other health-promoting activities or general relaxation.

For more information, visit CWU’s Office of Health Promotion website.

Student Counseling Services

Matriculated students who pay the health-counseling and telehealth fee, are eligible for services. All counseling services are provided free of additional charge. Counseling Services are available Monday 9:30 am to 12pm and 1pm to 4:30pm, and Tuesday through Friday 8:00am - 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 4:30pm when classes are in session; during the summer quarter, hours are 8am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm. After hours and during weekends, students are directed to use the local crisis line (509-925-4168) for professional support and access to local crisis intervention when needed.

Student Counseling Services (509-963-1391) operates on the basis of a brief treatment model. After an individualized consultation, a collaborative treatment plan is created with each student. Individual counseling is only one of several outcomes that can result from an individualized consultation. Counseling Services include urgent mental health care, individual, relationship, group counseling, support groups, educational workshops, and care coordination for students needing community referrals. Common student issues include transitional/adjustment concerns, relationship difficulties, disordered eating and body image concerns, stress, trauma, anxiety, and/or depression, among others. Group counseling opportunities routinely include coping with anxiety, therapeutic lifestyle change for depression, personal growth, and relationship difficulties. Special programs for campus groups are available upon request (e.g. education and outreach). Counseling services are private and confidential within the limits of the law. Student Counseling Services is committed to providing services that are culturally affirming and responsive for all students, particularly those from systematically marginalized identities and communities.

Services modalities include both in-person and teletherapy options, particularly for students attending Center campuses or who are Distance Education students. Students receiving teletherapy must reside in Washington State.

Additional information about general services and additional crisis resources, can be found on CWU’s Student Counseling Services website.

Student Health Services

Student Health Services (SHS) are offered at the Student Medical building (southeast corner of the campus). The clinic hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday when classes are in session. Summer hours vary and will be posted during summer quarter. Emergency medical services are available at Kittitas Valley Healthcare. The cost of hospital care is at the student’s expense. During regular business hours, medical appointments are available by phone (509-963-1881), Monday through Friday. You must log onto the student portal and complete the required forms before your first medical appointment. The Clinic bills insurance for all appointments except Express STI Clinic and Plan B visits. If you do not have insurance, staff at SHS can direct you where you can receive help to sign up for free or low-cost healthcare. All balances after insurance are charged to the student’s account. There may be charges for any ancillary services provided (e.g., outside labs, x-ray readings, etc.) that will be billed directly to the student. For more information, visit Central Washington University | Student Health Services.

Our medical providers deliver routine and urgent-care services, including care for chronic medical conditions, as well as acute illnesses, injuries, and infections (e.g., colds, flu, and sexually transmitted infections). SHS offers primary care services including care of chronic illness, routine physical examinations, sports physicals, immunizations, reproductive health services (e.g., pap smears, pregnancy testing, long term contraceptives and reproductive counseling), and diagnostic laboratory tests/X-rays. We also provide Psychiatric ARNP services as well as Dietitian and Nutrition services. In keeping with the educational mission of the university, emphasis is placed on education regarding wellness, prevention and treatment of illnesses.

For current information regarding scheduling, services, hours of operation, etc., visit CWU’s Student Health Services website.

University Recreation

University Recreation is committed to offering inclusive opportunities that promote a lifelong commitment to health and wellbeing. Our nationally recognized facilities, programs, and services contribute to the holistic wellness of our patrons while providing co-curricular and extracurricular activities that complement other avenues of learning. Through excellent customer service and care for the individual, University Recreation builds a community of engaged Wildcats with a passion for life in motion. Programs include: intramural sports, collegiate sport clubs, personal training, group fitness, outdoor pursuits and rentals, climbing wall, eSports, drop-in recreation, youth sports and camps, and special events including films, lectures, and certification courses.

For current information regarding hours, programs, locations, and other details, visit CWU’s University Recreation website.