Washington State University

Key Takeaways:

• Washington State University offers over 200 undergraduate and 120 graduate programs across 12 academic colleges, including a strong business school.
• Tuition is $5,128 per semester for undergraduates, with comprehensive financial aid options like scholarships, grants, and work-study programs.
• WSU is a public research institution with a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio, known for its diverse study-abroad programs and extensive online degree offerings.

Degree Programs in at WSU

Washington State University appears in our ranking of Master’s in Hospitality Management Online: Top 25 Values.

Washington State University’s football team wears crimson and gray. So do the other sports teams at the school. When it comes to academics, the “crimson and gray” has many offerings. There are 12 academic colleges. They offer more than 200 undergraduate programs and 120 master’s, doctoral and professional programs. This is one of the best universities in the Washington State University system.

The Carson College of Business has majors in:

• accounting
• entrepreneurship
• finance
• hospitality business management
• international business management
• information systems management
• marketing, and wine
• beverage business management

There are minors in several of those areas as well. The largest undergraduate degree program in the College of Business is the accounting program.

In addition to the Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, there is an M.Acc and a Ph.D. in Accounting. The M.Acc program has an audit and assurance focus. The graduate program has 32 credit-hours emphasizing research and writing skills. The degree offers students extra hours needed to meet the 150-credit-hour educational requirement to sit for the CPA exam.

In the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences there are 15 departments. The school offers 24 majors including:

• Agricultural and Food Business Economics
• Animal Science
• Economic Sciences
• Food Science
• Forestry
• Human Development, and others

There are also 12 minors.

The BA in Human Development -Family and Consumer Sciences Option is a 120 credit-hour program including:

• university core
• major
• electives
• a practicum

Students can certify the Human Development major after completing 24 credit hours of study. There is an option in Human Development or a Generalist option. Students on either track are urged to take a minor or a certificate program as well. Certificates in the college include:

• Early Childhood Education
• Adolescence
• Gerontology
• Family Studies

The College of Arts and Sciences offers 95 majors and 86 minors. Departments in the college include:

• liberal arts
• biological and social sciences
• mathematics
• physics
• history and more

The BA in Criminal Justice differs from most undergraduate C.J. degrees in that it is a full degree program and not a vocational or training program. It draws from:

• social sciences
• psychology
• political science

After completing 24 hours of courses, students can certify the degree. Students can also earn an MA or a doctorate in Criminal Justice and Criminology or a graduate certificate.

The College of Education houses five majors:

• Athletic Training
• Elementary Education
• Social Studies Teacher
• Sports Marketing
• Sports Management

There is also a minor in Sports Management, 14 certifications and six specializations.

The BA in Elementary Education- K-8 is a 120 credit-hour program. Core areas include:

• teaching mathematics
• science
• social sciences
• integrating fine arts into the curriculum and others

In addition to the 14 certifications in the college, there are six endorsements. There are also 11 graduate degrees including:

• Master of Education-Psychology
• Master of Education-Special Education
• Master of Education-Mathematics
• Science Education and others

Other colleges at the university are:

• The College of Nursing
• The College of Pharmacy
• The College of Veterinary Medicine
• The Honors School
• The Spokane Health Sciences Campus
• The College of Engineering and Architecture
• The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication

Washington State University has a global online campus that has 12 undergraduate and nine graduate degrees as well as undergraduate and graduate certificates and teaching endorsements. One of the most popular online degrees is the online MBA, available as a general MBA or with a concentration in:

• marketing
• hospitality business management
• international business
• finance

About Washington State University

This public research institution began as a land grant school in 1890 called the Washington Agricultural College and School of Science. In 1905 it became the State College of Washington and assumed its current name in 1959. There are 12 colleges and a graduate school in the university. The university also has a vigorous study-abroad program that offers more than 600 opportunities. The most popular professional degree is business, but the medical programs, including veterinary medicine, are also chosen frequently.

The US News and World Report ranks the university as # 140 of National Universities. The total enrollment of the school is more than 29,000. Most classes have 20-to-49 students, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1.

Washington State University Accreditation Details

• North Central Association of Colleges and Universities
• American Chemical Society
• National Association of Schools of Music
• National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
• Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
• Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
• Washington Professional Educational Standards Board
• Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
• American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Education
• American Council of Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology
• and others

Washington State University Application Requirements

First-time freshmen apply through the school freshman application. The university prefers an online application but will accept one that is printed out. They must arrange to have their high schools submit their official transcripts. In addition, the testing agencies that administered the Sat or ACT tests should send those official scores. At the time of application, the student must pay the $50 non-refundable application fee. Students should apply for financial aid at the time of application to the university.

Students applying to graduate programs complete the online graduate application, pay the $50 fee and have the schools where they completed their undergraduate programs submit those transcripts. Additionally, individual programs will have other requirements such as:

• letters of recommendation
• resumes
• essays
• graduate test scores

Students should check the department which houses their degree programs for those requisites.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition at this university is $5,128 per semester. In addition to this amount, there are costs for:

• housing and meal plans
• books and supplies
• mandatory fees
• miscellaneous personal expenses

The estimated cost of attendance for undergraduates is $13,866 per semester.

Graduate estimated cost-of-attendance is $14,562 per semester. The average per-credit cost for online students is $507 for undergraduate courses and $588 per credit for graduate courses.

The school recommends that students complete the FAFSA and school scholarship applications when they apply to the university. In addition to the FAFSA monies, Washington State has several scholarships and grants including:

• The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
• The Washington State College Bound Scholarship
• The Washington State Needs Grant
• American Indian Endowment and others

Washington State University has a loan program, a work-study program, and scholarships such as:

• the Cougar Commitment Scholarship
• The Crimson Transfer Scholarship
• departmental scholarships
• athletics and activity scholarships and more

Additionally, individuals, service organizations and even corporations fund scholarships and grants. All of these opportunities to get financial aid for programs at Washington State University can be found on the school website or through an Internet search.