University of Washington

Overview

Also called UW or simply Washington, the University of Washington is a public research university based in Seattle, Washington. The UW is one of the oldest universities on the US West Coast, and is also the flagship institution of the state of Washington's six public universities.

The university offers degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral level, with the study programs spread across 18 colleges and schools. Washington is particularly renowned for its highly competitive programs in medicine, engineering, and computer science. In addition to on-campus programs, the university also allows students to complete bachelor's and master's degrees online. Online certificate programs and degrees with part-time and evening class options are also available for professionals.

The UW was established in 1861 with the goal of improving Seattle's potential and prestige. The university experienced multiple closures in its early years, but it flourished when the state of Washington entered the Union in 1889. Later events, including the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition and the World Wars, would allow the university to move and expand its campus grounds. In 1990, the university opened satellite campuses in Bothell and Tacoma, which have since became degree-granting universities. The UW campus system is now composed of over 500 buildings. Enrollment rates have remained high over the years, despite a highly selective admissions process.

Working closely with the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, Washington is among public universities receiving the largest amounts of federal funding. To date, the university has received over 5,400 grants and $1.5 billion in funding, which has benefited over 280 research centers in the university. Moreover, the university combines innovation and entrepreneurship through CoMotion, UW's collaborative innovation hub. With CoMotion, UW students, alumni, and staff have launched over 450 startups and acquired over 1,900 IP licenses for various technologies.

With its focus on multidisciplinary, collaborative research, the university has been affiliated with numerous Nobel prize laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, Rhodes Scholars, and Fulbright Scholars over the years. The university also opened the country's first high-power underwater cabled observatory in 2014.

Aside from innovation and academic excellence, the UW also promotes global engagement and sustainability. Today, the university offers over 80 study abroad programs in 55 countries and participates in projects in over 130 countries. Meanwhile, the university continues to promote environmental sustainability by ensuring that its Seattle campus is powered by renewable resources and by dedicating funds to locally produced, organic foods.