INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE
A GLOBAL COMMUNITY
Western welcomes international students from more than 40 countries around the world. Located on the Northwest Coast of the United States in Bellingham, Washington, Western provides an exceptional academic experience at an affordable cost in a beautiful, safe and inviting coastal city. With approximately 14,700 students, the campus community is the perfect size—large enough to offer significant academic options, resources and diversityand small enough to provide support, a welcoming community, and direct access to renowned faculty.
“When I first began studying in America, I rarely talked in front of class, but professors and students here are exceedingly supportive and they encouraged me and helped me to be more active in class.”
PRISCA LEUNG
Hong Kong OR VISIT: ADMISSIONS.WWU.EDU/INTERNATIONAL
WWU BY THE NUMBERS
Before we take a closer look at the academic programs, activities, and opportunities available to you at Western, here’s a quick snapshot of the facts & statistics that we have found are important to students and their families.
~14,700 enrolled students 93% undergraduate students 200+ academic programs
26 average class size
18:1
student-to-faculty ratio 60% of graduates have collaborated with a professor on a research or creative project
4.3 Yrs average time to graduation 90% of alums are employed or continuing their education within 6 months of graduation
3,000+ student jobs 250+ student-run clubs and organizations
EXPERIENCE THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
BELLINGHAM, WA POP. 93,000
Our campus is located in Bellingham, WA one of the most popular and picturesque cities in the Pacific Northwest. Located between the mountains and the bay, Bellingham is a year-round destination for people who love the outdoors.
But even if you’re not into hiking, mountain biking, skiing, or water sports, there’s still a lot to love about our charming coastal city.
Explore Bellingham: Our campus is just a short walk from downtown Bellingham and its cozy cafes, restaurants, local shops, and vibrant music scene. Plus, all students have access to unlimited rides on public bus routes, which can take you from campus to most places in Bellingham!
Big City Connections: Bellingham is also only about 90 minutes from the bigger cities of Seattle, WA and Vancouver, B.C., both of which are accessible by bus and/or train!
On-Campus Housing: You can choose to live in one of 16 on-campus residence halls or in our apartment complex, where you will develop meaningful relationships in our safe and supportive community.
Gain experience: Most students graduate from Western with internship experience, and we can help connect you to internships with Fortune 500 companies, regional organizations, local schools & small businesses, and more. There are also 3,000 student jobs available on campus each year.
NV
CA
Outside and National Geographic Adventure magazines have ranked Bellingham among the top communities for outdoor lovers, making it the perfect place to live and study.
A short walk takes you from campus into downtown Bellingham, loved for its vibrant arts, live music, great food and coffee, and unique local shops.
STUDENT SUPPORT & STUDENT LIFE
Campus Resources
At Western Washington University, you’ll have an extensive network of resources to help you get acquainted with college life, navigate campus, make connections, and feel safe.
Visit the Viking Resource Hub to learn more about the many academic, health & safety, financial, career planning, and social support services available to Western students: orientation.wwu.edu/viking-resource-hub
Make Friends & Get Involved
We also know you’re looking for a college experience that extends beyond the classroom. There are more than 250+ student-led clubs & organizations at Western, including 20+ Ethnic Student Center clubs, opportunities to participate in club or intramural sports, a variety of excursions led by our Outdoor Center, more than 300 performances and art exhibits on campus each year, and so much more.
Learn more about Student Engagement at Western: engage.wwu.edu
EXPLORE WESTERN’S ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Western is grounded in the liberal arts tradition, which means your experience will be diverse and transformative, teaching you to be a strong scholar, a successful professional, and a changemaker in your community.
BA = Bachelor of Arts
BAE = Bachelor of Arts, Education
BFA = Bachelor of Fine Arts
A
Accounting
Accounting BA
Economics Concentration BS
Finance Concentration BS
BMus = Bachelor of Music BS = Bachelor of Science * = Related Bachelor of Arts, Education (BAE) degree or teaching endorsement available This list of academic programs is subject to change.
Biomedical Sciences II
Concentration BS
Ecology, Biodiversity, and Organismal Biology Concentration BS
Financial Economics Concentration BS
Management Information
Systems Concentration BS
Operations Concentration BS
Anthropology
Anthropology BA*
Anthropology/Biology BA
Anthropology/Social Studies BA
Archaeology Concentration BA
Biocultural Concentration BA
Applied Mathematics BS
Art BAE*
Art History BA
Art Studio BA BFA
B
Behavioral Neuroscience BS
Biochemistry BA BS
Biology
Biology BA*
Biology/Anthropology BS
Biology/Mathematics BS
Biomedical Sciences I
Concentration BS
Genes, Genomes, and Evolution Concentration BS
Marine Biology Concentration BS
Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Concentration BS
Secondary Education Concentration BS
Business Administration
Business Analytics BA
Finance Concentration BA
General Concentration BA
International Business Concentration BA
Management Concentration BA
Management Information Systems Concentration BA
Marketing Concentration BA
Operations Management Concentration BA
Business & Sustainability
Business & Sustainability BA
Energy Studies Concentration BA
C
Canadian-American Studies BA
Chemistry
Chemistry BA BS*
Chemistry/Biology BAE*
Chemistry/Mathematics BAE*
Chemistry/Physics BAE*
Chinese Language & Culture BA*
College of the Environment
Student/Faculty Designed
Major BA BS
Communication Studies BA
Computer Science BS*
D
Dance BA BFA*
Data Science BS
Design BFA
Disability & Advocacy BAE E
Early Childhood Education BAE*
Early Childhood Special Education BAE*
Earth Science BAE*
Earth Science/General Science BAE*
East Asian Studies BA
Economics
Economics BA BS
Economics/Accounting BA
Economics/Environmental Studies BA
Economics/Mathematics BS
Economics/Political Science BA
Economics/Social Studies BA
Electrical & Computer Engineering BS
Elementary Education BAE*
Energy Policy & Management BA
Earth Science BAE*
Energy Science & Technology BS
Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering BS
Polymer Materials Engineering BS
English
Creative Writing Emphasis BA*
Film & Media Studies Emphasis BA
Literature Emphasis BA*
Multilingual Education Emphasis BA*
Environmental Science
Environmental Science BS
Freshwater & Terrestrial Ecology Emphasis BS
Marine Science Emphasis BS
Toxicology Emphasis BS
Environmental Studies
Education & Eco-Social Justice Emphasis BA
Environmental Policy BA
Environmental Studies BA*
Environmental Studies/
Journalism BA
Geographic Information Science
Emphasis BA
Geography Emphasis BA*
Policy, Politics, & Governance
Emphasis BA
Ethnic Studies BA
F
Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary Concentration BA
Interdisciplinary Concentration –
Law, Diversity, & Justice
Emphasis BA
Financial Economics BA
French BA*
French/German BA
French/Spanish BA
G
General Science BAE*
Geography/Social Studies BA
Geology BA BS
Geophysics BS
German BA*
German/Spanish BA
H
History BA*
History/Social Studies BA
Human Services BA
Humanities: History of Culture BA*
Humanities & Social Sciences
Student/Faculty Designed Major BA BS
I
Inclusive Education BAE*
Industrial Design BS
J
Japanese BA*
Journalism News/Editorial BA
Public Relations BA
Visual Journalism BA
K
Kinesiology
Exercise Science Specialization BS
Pre-Healthcare Professions
Specialization BS
Sport Psychology Specialization BS
L
Latin American Studies
History Concentration BA
Spanish Concentration BA
Linguistics BA
Linguistics, Literature, & Writing BA*
M
Manufacturing & Supply Chain
Management BS
Marine and Coastal Science BS
Mathematics BA BS*
Applied Mathematics BS
Mathematics/Computer Science BS
Multidisciplinary Studies BA
Multilingual ElementaryEducation BAE*
Multilingual Special Education BAE* Music
Composition Concentration BMus
Music BA
Music Education P-12 BMus
Musicology BMus
Performance Concentration BMus
P
Philosophy BA
Physical Education & Health P-12 BAE
Physics BS
Physics/Mathematics BAE*
Political Science BA
Political Science/Social Studies BA
Politics/Philosophy/Economics BA
Psychology BS*
Psychology: Human Development BAE
Public Health BS
R
Recreation Management & Leadership BA
Religion & Culture BA
S
Sociology BA BS*
Sociology/Social Studies BA
Spanish BA*
Special Education BAE*
Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences BA
Statistics BS
T
Theatre BA*
U
Urban & Environmental Planning & Policy
Urban Planning & Sustainable Development BA
Urban Sustainability BA
W
Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies BA
Build Your Own Major
Through Western’s Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, students can design their own majors, called interdisciplinary concentrations. Fairhaven faculty work closely with students through intensive advising and classes of 15-20 students. Curriculum focuses on social and environmental justice and diversity.
STEM Designated Degree Options
Completing a STEM-designated degree may qualify you to extend your stay in the U.S. for up to three years for Optional Practical Training. Options include:
Behavioral Neuroscience BS
Biochemistry BS Biology BS
Business and Sustainability BA
Chemistry BS
Computer Science BS
Data Science BS
Electrical and Computer
Engineering BS
Energy, Science, and Technology BS
Environmental Science BS Geology BS
Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management BS
Marine and Coastal Science BS
Mathematics/Computer Science BS
Urban Planning and Sustainable Development BA
Pre-Professional Pathways
While these are not majors, pre-professional pathways can be incorporated into or taken alongside the 175+ majors offered at Western.
Pre-Chiropractic
Pre-Dentistry
Pre-Law
Pre-Medicine
Pre-Nutrition
Pre-Occupational Therapy
Pre-Optometry
Pre-Pharmacy
Pre-Physician Assistant
Pre-Physical Therapy
Pre-Veterinary
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT & SCHOLAR SERVICES (ISSS)
ISSS supports those students and scholars who journey from around the world to study and work at Western. ISSS helps with immigration regulations, as well as with the practical matters, social and cultural adjustment, and other challenges that come with life in a new country. They also hold quarterly workshops to help you learn how to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), which can provide an opportunity for hands-on work experience related to your field of study.
ISSS also runs the International Student Leadership Program (ISLP).
Through the ISLP, experienced international students can become mentors to incoming students and attend special workshops to gain valuable leadership skills. These student leaders will support you before and during your first year at WWU, can answer questions about student life, and will help you find the best ways to get involved on campus based on your interests.
Schedule a Zoom meeting with ISSS:
TUITION & SCHOLARSHIPS
Non-
Resident Tuition
2025-26
ESTIMATED COST OF ATTENDANCE
$27,690 Housing & Meals** $16,107 Books & Supplies** $1,224 Transportation** $2,682 Personal & Misc.** $1,908 Emergency Health Insurance (required) $1,431 Additional Required Fees*
$2,219
Total $53,261
Please note that these are estimates for full-time students (10 to 18 credits) for the 2025-26 academic year, and these costs are updated annually in late Spring. You can find the most up-to-date information at admissions.wwu.edu/cost.
* Fees include confirmation fee, international service fee, technology, health services, student recreation center, public transportation, etc.
** Not fixed costs; varies depending on student, living arrangement, and meal plan.
Many international students choose Western because they find it to be the best combination of low cost and high quality.
International Student Scholarships: Every international applicant who completes their admission application will be automatically considered for available merit-based scholarships, including the International Achievement Award, an annual award of $4,000 to $10,000.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities: Students may be eligible to receive additional scholarships once enrolled, including those offered by International Student and Scholar Services.
Western has a long tradition of making college affordable and is considered one of the top 100 best values in the United States among public colleges for combining educational excellence with economic value.
– Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
GET READY TO APPLY
Admission Requirements
• Application for Admission and Scholarships
• Official academic transcripts from all colleges, universities and/or secondary schools attended. An official transcript evaluation from an approved organization may also be required.
• Evidence of English language proficiency
• Admissions Essay (optional)
English Language Proficiency Requirements
• TOEFL (iBT): a score of 79 or higher
• IELTS: a score of 6.5 or higher
• Duolingo English Test: a score of 105 or higher
• SAT (evidence-based reading and writing only): a score of 550 or higher
• “B” (3.0) or higher in two college-level English composition courses at a U.S. college/university
Guaranteed Admission
Western has partnered with many community colleges throughout the state of Washington to provide a path for international students who wish to earn a Bachelor’s degree from our university.
To learn more, scan the QR code below or visit admissions.wwu.edu/international/transfer-credits.
VISIT
We invite you to visit our beautiful campus in Bellingham, Washington.
SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT: admissions.wwu.edu/visit CAN’T VISIT?
TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR: admissions.wwu.edu/virtual-tour
EXPLORE BELLINGHAM: admissions.wwu.edu/bellingham ACADEMICS: admissions.wwu.edu/academics
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST: admissions.wwu.edu/connect
Ready to learn more? Contact our International Admissions & Recruitment Manager Mary Beth Hartenstine at hartenm@wwu.edu or +1 (360) 650-6345.
Old Main 200, MS 9009 516 High Street Bellingham, WA 98225 wwubound westernwashingtonuniversity westernwauniversity wwuadmissions
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