Western Washington University is a public university in Bellingham, on the coast between Seattle and Vancouver. It is best known for business, computer science, environmental science, education, engineering and the arts, with a teaching focus, a forested campus above Bellingham Bay and consistently high rankings among public master's universities in the West. Choose it for a mid-sized Pacific Northwest campus with strong undergraduate teaching.
Bellingham, United States
Official website: wwu.edu
#1401
Top public master's university in the Pacific Northwest (U.S. News)
The College of the Environment, one of the first of its kind in the US
Around 15,000 students
$26,000 – $30,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$14,000 – $18,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on wwu.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
MBA (College of Business and Economics)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
MS Environmental Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
Master of Professional Accounting
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
MS Geology
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan, Mar
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
College of the Environment — a pioneering environmental college with a marine centre on the bay.
Teaching focus — small classes taught by faculty rather than graduate assistants.
Campus — a forested site with a sculpture collection and views of Bellingham Bay.
Location — 90 minutes from both Seattle and Vancouver, with skiing and the San Juan Islands nearby.
Graduates join Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, PACCAR and Seattle's tech firms, plus environmental agencies.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Computer science graduates report median starting salaries around USD 85,000-95,000 in Seattle.
Environmental science alumni work for state agencies, tribes and consultancies across the Pacific Northwest.
Undergrad
31 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Limited programmes
The 215-acre campus sits on Sehome Hill above Bellingham Bay, with Red Square and the Wilson Library at its centre, the science and engineering buildings nearby and residence halls in the surrounding forest.
Bellingham is a coastal city of about 95,000 people with a walkable downtown, mountain biking and sailing, and rent below Seattle. Seattle and Vancouver are each about 90 minutes away by road.
Form I-20 issued by Western Washington
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
International undergraduate applications for fall 2027 close on 31 January 2027, with a 15 November 2026 priority date for scholarships; winter and spring entry are rolling. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most closing between 1 February and 1 April for September entry.
Western runs on quarters. Undergraduates can start in fall (late September), winter (January) or spring (March). Most master's programmes, including computer science, the MBA, environmental science, professional accounting and geology, admit for the fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. International Student and Scholar Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, the MBA, environmental science, professional accounting and geology attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 90 or IELTS 7.0; the GRE and GMAT are optional for most programmes. Undergraduate admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate around 90%.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on their grades when they apply by the priority date; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching assistantships, which are common in the sciences and computer science and usually include a tuition waiver.
