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Aerial view of Central Washington University
Aerial imagery: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). USGS

College · Catholic life on campus

Central Washington University

  • LocationEllensburg, WA
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 8,796 students
Official website

Central Washington University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

The Diocese of Yakima's directory lists Catholic Campus Ministry as the campus ministry for Central Washington University, at 706 N Sprague Street in Ellensburg. St. Andrew Parish in Ellensburg publishes weekend Masses.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Central Washington University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 mi0.5 mi1 miCatholic Campus Ministry House: 0.3 mi1Adoration Chapel: 0.3 mi2Saint Andrews Catholic Church: 1.0 mi3Catholic Campus Ministry at CWU: 0.3 miCentral Washington University (campus)N0.5 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Catholic Campus Ministry House — 0.3 mi
  2. Adoration Chapel — 0.3 mi
  3. Saint Andrews Catholic Church — 1.0 mi

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ACatholic life on campus: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Catholic life on campus

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | Diocese of Yakimayakimadiocese.org/directory-church_direc/listing/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “We are Catholic Campus Ministry at CWU.”
      The Diocese of Yakima lists Catholic Campus Ministry as the Catholic ministry serving Central Washington University.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 1 mile of campusComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adorationNot enough information: no verified Mass times are recorded.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • The diocese directory lists a campus ministry for CWU students at a published address and phone number.
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | Diocese of Yakimayakimadiocese.org/directory-church_direc/listing/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “We are Catholic Campus Ministry at CWU.”
      The Diocese of Yakima lists Catholic Campus Ministry as the Catholic ministry serving Central Washington University.
      “706 N Sprague St, Ellensburg, wa 98926 509-925-3043”
      Catholic Campus Ministry at CWU is listed at 706 N Sprague Street, Ellensburg, with phone 509-925-3043.
  • St. Andrew Parish in Ellensburg lists Sunday Masses in English and Spanish.
    Sources (1)
    1. Ellensburg - St. Andrew Parish | Diocese of Yakimayakimadiocese.org/directory-parishes/listing/ellensburg-st-andrew-parish · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sunday 9:00 a.m. (English) 11:30 a.m. (Spanish) 5:00 p.m. (English)”
      St. Andrew Parish in Ellensburg lists Sunday Masses in English and Spanish. This is a parish schedule, not a campus ministry schedule.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

Catholic Campus Ministry at CWU

  • Address: 706 N Sprague St, Ellensburg, WA 98926
  • Distance from campus: 0.3 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)

View on map ↗

Source: yakimadiocese.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, yakimadiocese.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (1)
  1. Campus Ministry | Diocese of Yakimayakimadiocese.org/directory-church_direc/listing/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “We are Catholic Campus Ministry at CWU.”
    The Diocese of Yakima lists Catholic Campus Ministry as the Catholic ministry serving Central Washington University.
    “We are Catholic Campus Ministry at CWU.”
    The Diocese of Yakima lists Catholic Campus Ministry as the Catholic ministry serving Central Washington University.
    “706 N Sprague St, Ellensburg, wa 98926 509-925-3043”
    Catholic Campus Ministry at CWU is listed at 706 N Sprague Street, Ellensburg, with phone 509-925-3043.

Reach out

Contact details for Catholic Campus Ministry at CWU (Campus ministry office) and 1 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

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Academic Excellence

CAcademic Excellence: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
61 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.54%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.70%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.15 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$11,278

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
8,309
Total students8,796
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$18,476
Cost of attendance (per year)$28,816
Median federal debt at graduation$19,500
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
54%
First-year retention70%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$61,580
Admission rate91%
Students receiving Pell grants28%

Value index: 61 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Diocese of Yakima

The Most Reverend Joseph J. Tyson, Bishop of Yakima

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Central Washington University a Catholic college?
No. Central Washington University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by Catholic Campus Ministry at CWU.

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