If you are planning on attending a University Center, contact your intended CWU Center for more detailed program information.

Apply to CWU

Admission Requirements

If you have completed fewer than 40 college-level credits (27 semester credits) at the time of application, you are considered a Transfer Freshman applicant and need to submit:

• Completed paper application or online application (online application is preferred)
• $50 check, money order or online payment to CWU
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended
• Official high school transcript
• Standardized test scores (ACT or SAT)

If you have completed 40 or more college level credits at the time of application, you are considered a Transfer applicant and need to submit:

• Completed paper application or online application (online application is preferred)
• $50 check, money order or online payment to CWU
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended
• Official high school transcript (optional)
• If you have not completed one year of a foreign language in college, but completed two years of a foreign language in high school, please submit an official high school transcript. Your high school transcript will not be used for admission purposes. Your high school transcript will only be used to show that you have satisfied our foreign language graduation requirement.

Admissions Review Process

Generally, transfer students who have completed at least 40 college-level transferable credits with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA will be admissible. If your GPA is between a 2.0 and a 2.5, 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, type of coursework completed, including college-level English and math completion. Students who have completed college-level math and English and those that have completed a Direct Transfer Associates degree (DTA) will do better in the comprehensive review process.



If your cumulative GPA is below 2.5 from any previous college attended, you are required to answer the application essay questions.

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?

Transfer of other College Credit

Total Transfer Credits Allowed

You may transfer a maximum of 135 credits to CWU, however 105 credits can be from two-year institutions such as community colleges (prior to Fall 2005, only 90 credits are allowed). You will need at least 180 credits to graduate from CWU, and at least 60 credits must be from upper division coursework (300-400 level courses).

If you will be transferring with more credits than specified above you will still have to complete a minimum number of credits from CWU to be eligible for graduation. Transfer students from 2-year institutions must complete at least 75 credits from CWU, and transfer students from 4-year institutions must complete at least 45 credits from CWU to be eligible for graduation.

To learn more about transferring your prior college credits to CWU, click Here

Technical/Vocational College Credit

Generally speaking, most credits from technical or vocational colleges do not transfer to CWU. However, if you have taken any courses (from a fully accredited institution) that are very similar to the courses listed in the CWU General Education Requirements or courses listed in your intended major you could possibly receive transfer credit for these courses. The official credit evaluation you receive after you pay your $55 confirmation fee will automatically award any credit that applies to your General Education Requirements. You will need to check with your intended academic department to find out if any of your technical/vocational credits will count toward your major.

Credit for Military Service

Upon submission of the DD214 or DD295, students may receive up to 30 lower division elective credits for completion of military academic schools as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE). Credit is usually not awarded for basic training or specialty schools such as MOS or Tech School training. For more information visit the Veteran's Affairs website.

Quarter versus semester credits

Central Washington University operates on the academic quarter system. One semester credit is equal to 1.5 quarter credits (example: 30 semester credits = 45 quarter credits).