Academic Criteria

Freshman Applicants

You are considered a freshman applicant if you have not attended a college or university after the completion of high school. Freshman applicants must have completed 12 years of primary and secondary school resulting in a certificate of graduation, diploma, or external exam. Students with a 2.5 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and above average grades in core subject areas such as math and science are generally granted admission. Students with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.49 will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Transfer Applicants

You are considered a transfer applicant if you have attended another college or university and earned any number of credits. Generally, a 2.5 GPA or above (on a 4.0 scale) is required to be academically admissible. Students with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.49 will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Post-Baccalaureate Applicants

You are considered a post-baccalaureate applicant if you have attended another university or college and earned (or will earn) a U.S Bachelor's degree or a degree that is equivalent to the U.S. Bachelor degree. Students need to submit official transcripts from their university or college that clearly shows the degree earned.

English Proficiency

International students must meet one of the following English proficiency requirements:

• A score of 525 or above on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or a score of 195 or above on the computer-based TOEFL, or a score of 71 or above on the Internet-board TOEFL. Official TOEFL scores should be sent directly to the Office of Admissions from ETS (Educational Testing Services). Photocopies or the "examinee copy" are not acceptable. Scores more than two years old, and scores from the Institutional TOEFL cannot be used for Admissions. You can register for the TOEFL or request to have scores sent by contacting the TOEFL website at www.toefl.org. Central Washington University's school code is #4044.
• 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 to find our what courses are acceptable.
• 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.

Students who originate from one of the following countries are exempt from having to take the TOEFL: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and English-speaking provinces of Canada.

Financial Documentation

All students must provide adequate financial documentation before an admission decision can be made and an I-20 issued. Students must complete the Confidential Financial Statement (CFS), which is enclosed in the International Student Application packet. The CFS must be signed by the student and by the person who will be sponsoring the student financially. Along with the CFS, students must also submit a current bank statement. The bank statement should be in the name of the student's sponsor or the student, should be dated and no older than three months old by the time we receive it, and should be an original that is in English or translated into English. The bank statement should show that the account holder has at least the total cost for 1 academic year available to him. Please keep copies of your financial documentation for yourself, as you will need to present them to the U.S. Consulate when applying for your student visa.

Academic Transcripts

Because educational systems around the world are different, the academic transcripts will vary. Generally, we will need an original official transcript that shows a complete list of courses taken, grades received, and number of credits awarded. The transcript should also show date of graduation (if you completed your studies) and any certificates, diplomas, or degrees received. Where applicable, students should also submit exam results that are required of their educational systems. Exams may include the "GCE" or "GCSE", etc. If you are currently attending a school, submit a transcript of work to date and request a final transcript to be sent when you complete your studies. A transcript is considered official when it comes directly from the issuing institute. If the transcript is not in English, then you will need to also submit a certified translation from the school who issued the transcript, the Ministry of Education, Consulate, or Embassy.

Dependents

If you plan to bring dependents (spouse or children) with you to the US, you must also submit a Dependent Form.

Admission Deadlines

How to Apply

There are three ways in which you can apply to Central Washington University:

1. Request to have an application sent to your address. Click here to fill out the on-line form.
2. Print a copy of the application in PDF (Portable Document File) format and send completed application materials to the Office of Admissions. Click here for the International PDF application. Click here for the Confidential Financial Statement.
3. Apply on-line. Submit your application electronically with the on-line application form. With this option, you will need to pay electronically with a credit card. You will also need to print the Confidential Financial Statement (PDF format) which needs to be filled out and sent in the mail with an attached bank statement.

NOTE: When applying online you must use a credit card to pay the $50 application fee. Your application will be denied indefinitely if you use a fraudulent credit card. Please ensure you use a valid credit card to pay your application fee.

For items #2 and #3, you will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Transfer Credit

• Foundation for International Services (FIS) Inc.
• AACRAO Foreign Credentials Evaluation Services
• World Education Services (WES)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the I-20 and when will I receive it?

The I-20 is a "Certificate of Eligibility" that is issued to International students who have been approved for admissions to Central Washington University. The I-20 is a document that students must have if they are intending to apply for a student (F-1) visa. ONLY STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY WILL BE ISSUED AN I-20. Students must also attend classes on a full-time basis to be eligible for the I-20. After you are admitted to the University, you will receive your I-20 and acceptance letter in the mail to the address you list on your application.

Who will my advisor be?

After you receive your acceptance letter and I-20, you will be sent a welcome packet of information from International Student Services. The packet will include important information about registration and orientation. As an incoming freshman you will meet with the advisor to International Students and Scholars to register for classes. If you are a transfer student and/or have a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent), then you will need to meet with an advisor within the department of your major. Once you are on campus you can contact your major department to find out who your advisor will be.

Are there scholarships or financial aid available to International students?

Financial aid is not available to International students. There are limited scholarships available through International Student Services after the first year of study. Please contact them for more information.

How can I get a catalog?

Students are given a complimentary catalog when they arrive for orientation and registration. If you would like to have one before then, you can view the catalog online.

What are some of CWU's largest majors?

Central Washington University has over 100 majors to choose from. In addition, there are ten pre-professional programs such as Pre-Med and Pre-Law. Some of our largest majors include Teacher Education; Accounting; Business Administration; Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies; Law and Justice; Psychology; Industrial Engineering Technology; Administrative Management and Business Education.

When will I hear if I am accepted or not?

It usually takes three to four weeks to process your application materials. Once an admissions decision is made, it can take up to four weeks to receive your acceptance letter and I-20 depending on what country the documents are being sent to (some take longer than others). For this reason, it is extremely important to get your application materials submitted as soon as possible before the quarter starts to allow plenty of time for the I-20 to reach you.

How do I apply for housing?

Around the time you receive your acceptance letter and I-20, you will also receive two booklets, one called "Room and Board Contract" and the other "Acceptance Information". The Acceptance Information booklet gives you detailed information about housing and dining options available to students. After you have reviewed the information and decided where you might want to live and what meal plan to have, you will then need to fill out the contract contained in the Room and Board Contract booklet and mail it to us with your housing deposit. For more information about housing, contact the Office of Residential Services.

How many students attend CWU?

We have about 7500 undergraduate students and 500 graduate students. We also have about 1000 students attending our six University Centers located throughout the state of Washington.

How many International students attend CWU and where do most students come from?

We have approximately 194 International students attending CWU-186 undergraduate students and 8 graduate students. In addition, we also have close to 100 students attending our University English as a Second Language program, about 113 participating in the Asia University American Program, and about 20 involved with an International student exchange. We have students from approximately 30 different countries. The majority of our students come from Japan, Taiwan, and Korea.

Where is Ellensburg and what is it like?

Ellensburg is located at the geographical center of the state of Washington. Located just east of the majestic Cascade Mountain range, Ellensburg is less than two hours from Seattle. The mountains block much of the rain from the wet "westside" of the state, producing a dry climate with less than 10 inches of rainfall a year and over 320 days of sunshine. Ellensburg has four distinct seasons including very warm summers, a mild spring and fall, and snow in the winter.

Ellensburg is a small college town with a population of about 15,000 (including CWU students). It is a friendly, fun, and safe place to live, and CWU students are welcomed as valued members of the community. The rural area provides many outdoor activities for students including hiking, fishing, mountain biking, boating, and horseback riding. Many students enjoy rafting down the Yakima River during the warmer months. During the winter months, students enjoy snow skiing at one of the four ski resorts in the surrounding area.