aerial view of Western's campus at night facing northwest, with golden lights surrounded by dark trees

WWU earns spot among Money’s Best Colleges for 2026

WWU Communications

Western Washington University is among Money’s Best Colleges in America for 2026, recognized for its combination of quality, affordability and student outcomes.

Money evaluated four-year colleges and universities nationwide using 25 measures, including graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, student debt and alumni earnings.

Money’s findings reflect the university’s commitment to providing a high-quality, affordable education.

Affordability, however, is about more than the price of a degree. From helping students understand their financial aid options to building the skills to make informed financial decisions in college and beyond, Western offers resources to help students make the most of their investment.

Students and families can learn more about financial aid and scholarships at Western and explore financial education resources through Western’s Merriman Financial Literacy Program.

Money’s Best Colleges analysis uses data from the U.S. Department of Education and Peterson’s, along with Money’s own calculations. See Western’s profile and the full Best Colleges rankings on Money.