
Eastern Washington University is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it does not mean that every individual degree has a separate professional endorsement.
For students, recognized institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal financial aid and is often considered when another college reviews transfer credit. Neither aid eligibility nor acceptance of a particular course is automatic: students must meet aid rules, and receiving institutions make their own transfer decisions. Programs leading toward regulated professions may also have specialized accreditation or state approval requirements. Applicants considering teaching, health care, counseling, or another licensed field should check the current status and licensing pathway of the exact EWU program they intend to enter.
First-year applicants generally apply with a high school diploma or recognized equivalent and an academic record that meets EWU's admission requirements. EWU is not an open-admission institution: in the reported first-year cycle, it admitted 5,972 of 6,581 applicants, an acceptance rate of about 91%.
EWU considers secondary-school coursework and GPA. SAT and ACT scores are neither required nor recommended in the reported admissions information; only a small share of enrolled first-year students submitted them. Class rank and recommendations are likewise not generally required. Applicants educated outside the United States may need to document English proficiency, while some majors have additional entry or progression requirements after university admission.
Deadlines and document requirements can differ for first-year, international, returning, and graduate applicants. A student aiming for a selective major should distinguish the deadline for admission to EWU from any later deadline for admission to that program.
EWU's reported undergraduate application fee is $65. It is an application charge, not a tuition payment or a guarantee of admission.
Applicants with financial need should check the fee-waiver instructions in EWU's current application before submitting it; waiver eligibility and the method for requesting one can depend on applicant category. Transfer, international, and graduate applicants should also confirm the fee shown for their own application route, since a published undergraduate figure should not be assumed to apply to every category.
Army ROTC is available on EWU's campus. It combines university study with military leadership training for students interested in a possible Army officer commission.
Joining an ROTC course, qualifying for an ROTC scholarship, and accepting an eventual service obligation are different decisions. Scholarship and commissioning routes carry eligibility rules that can include academic, medical, physical-fitness, and citizenship requirements. Students should review the terms of the specific Army ROTC route before committing; they should not assume that participation automatically pays tuition or requires commissioning.
EWU accepts transfer applications and generally considers college credit earned at accredited institutions. Transfer students can enter in fall, winter, spring, or summer, subject to the requirements and schedules of their intended programs.
Applicants should expect to submit official transcripts from colleges attended. EWU must evaluate completed courses before a student can know how they apply to general education, a major, or elective credit. Washington's Direct Transfer Agreement can simplify parts of the general-education pathway for eligible associate-degree holders, but it does not by itself secure a place in a restricted major or replace every program prerequisite.
EWU also reports accepting certain examination and recommended-credit routes, including CLEP, DSST, and ACE recommendations. Acceptance of a credit source is distinct from how many credits count toward a particular degree. Students with substantial prior study should obtain an official evaluation and compare the results with the degree audit, including any EWU residency-credit requirements.
EWU students can explore international study through the university's education-abroad advising and approved program options. The available format may include a shorter faculty-led experience or a longer period of study through a partner or other approved provider, depending on the year and subject.
Approval matters as much as destination. Before paying a program deposit, a student should confirm how overseas courses will count toward an EWU degree, whether a major requires advance approval, and which costs are billed by EWU versus a program provider. Financial aid may be usable for an eligible approved program, but the student's aid package and program budget determine what it covers.
23% of admitted students enrolled (1,357 of 5,972)
Regular application deadline
September 1Application fee
$65Early Decision
NoEarly Action
NoPercent of students submitting ACT scores
1%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
7%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Neither required nor recommendedSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
RequiredRecommendations
Neither required nor recommendedFormal demonstration of competencies
Neither required nor recommendedAdmission test scores
Neither required nor recommendedTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit on campusStudy abroad
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Winter, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.