Enrollment: 21149
Most Popular Majors: Marketing/Marketing Management, General,Social Sciences, General,
Student Faculty Ratio: 14:1

Undergraduate Receiving Need-Based Financial Aid: 229
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid: $6,334.00

Election? What Election?
Professors Get Low Marks
Students Dissatisfied with Financial Aid

Students Say - Academics
A moderately large research university with some very good programs, Washington State University delivers quality and value in a pleasant small-town environment to Washington residents and out-of-state students alike. The Edward R. Murrow College of Communications is among WSU's major drawing cards. The university also boasts a veterinary program "that is one of the leading programs in the nation," a business school whose offerings include a "great MIS program," a "very good agriculture program," solid offerings in plant sciences, zoology, and molecular biosciences, and programs in material science and engineering in which "students have good contact with professors." In fact, throughout the university professors are typically "extremely accessible and work very well with the students. My math professor even plays basketball with all the students at our state-of-the-art rec center every week." As at any school, "when you get a bad professor, look out, but fortunately the majority of professors at WSU are good and want you to do well." Even the administration, often the whipping boy of students at large state schools, earns mostly good marks. One undergrad writes, "The administration- the criticisms of some students notwithstanding-is actually working hard to improve the school's quality, which is noticeable and appreciated." Some even report sensing that "staff actually cares about you as a person, and not just as another random number who pays $20,000 a year. They care about my success, and I appreciate that."

Students Say - Campus Life
The weekends are thriving at WSU, where some head to small house parties while others beat a path to Greek Row, a popular destination. One student writes, "Every night of the weekend (and sometimes during the week) there is a party you can go to…People who are 21 go to one of the three bars near campus around 11 P.M. and can dance and drink the rest of the night. I love the party scene at WSU, it's a great way to meet friends and potential interests." Some contend "if you don't like to party, options are a bit limited," but others point to a broad range of athletic events ("Student camaraderie is outstanding at basketball and football games!") and extracurriculars as alternate options. Hometown Pullman "is tiny, with only 27,000 people, of whom 20,000 are students." Many here relish the environment, pointing out "it is such a small community, you know it is safe to walk around by yourself at night" and noting "while some people complain about boredom here, they usually are not very social. With 20,000-plus undergraduates you have to lock yourself in your room to not find something to do."

Students Say - Student Body
It's hard to define a typical student at WSU, as "there are a lot of students from rural areas of Washington and quite a few from suburban areas" along with what students say seems like a fair share of "rich white kids from Seattle." Students tell us "it's definitely not a yuppie school. Most people are down -to-earth and lean a little conservative politically," but there's a substantial liberal population as well. Most importantly, "most of these people are very tolerant, so there is no real worry about expressing your beliefs and being attacked for them." Minorities "are definitely outnumbered on campus, but the school has numerous cultural events to encourage diversity and to get everyone to interact. The largest ethnic groups on campus (after Caucasian) include Hawaiian, Asian, Hispanic, and African American." One minority student reports, "All in all, it's not hard to fit in here. Students are extraordinarily friendly, and the guys constantly open doors for the ladies, or vice versa. Little things like that indicate how fun, friendly, and welcoming people are here."

University of Washington
Western Washington University

More at PrincetonReview.com