Prospective International Students

Central Washington University welcomes students from all countries and cultures. The faculty, staff and students of CWU appreciate the diversity that international students bring to the campus and will do our best to make Central the right choice for you.

Why choose CWU?

Small size - International students who attend CWU say that Central is “just the right size.” With a student population of about 8000, students enjoy small class sizes and personal attention from professors and staff.

Variety of programs - Central Washington University offers more than 100 majors with ten pre-professional programs at the undergraduate level and 30 programs and the graduate (Masters) level. From psychology to accounting to aviation, chances are high that Central offers your program of interest. To view the majors offered, click here.

Several locations - Location is an important factor when choosing a university. Our main campus is located in Ellensburg , Washington , about one and a half hours east of Seattle. Otherwise, you can choose from six other CWU Centers located throughout Washington state, three of which are in the Seattle area.

Friendly service – International students are welcome to utilize all service related offices on campus, but the Office of International Studies and Programs is here specifically to serve foreign students. The International Student Advisor (ISA) is one of several employees who are dedicated to offering friendly, quality service.

How to apply to CWU

All international student applications are processed by CWU’s Admissions offices. Please contact the appropriate office for information and application materials.

Undergraduate (Bachelor’s) programs

To be admitted to CWU’s, undergraduate programs international students must submit all documents required by undergraduate Admissions AND:

• English language proficiency
• TOEFL score (71 iBT, 195 CBT, 525 paper-based) OR
• A 3.0 (B grade) in each of two college level English composition courses from an accredited United States college or university OR
• Recommendation from the Director of CWU’s English as a Second Language Program after successful completion of the highest level
• Adequate financial documentation

See Undergraduate Admissions for additional information.

Graduate (Masters) programs

To be admitted to the graduate school, students must submit all documents required by Graduate Studies AND:

• English language proficiency
• TOEFL (80 iBT, 213 CBT, 550 paper-based) OR
• Recommendation from the Director of CWU’s English as a Second Language Program after successful completion of the highest level
• Test of Written English (TWE) for Department of English applicants
• Adequate financial documentation