Western Washington University
Former names | Northwest Normal School (1886–1893) New Whatcom Normal School (1893–1901) State Normal School at Whatcom Washington State Normal School at Bellingham (1901–1904) Western Washington College of Education (1904–1937) Western Washington State College (1937–1977) |
|---|---|
| Motto | "Make Waves" |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | February 24, 1893 |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
Academic affiliation | COP |
| Endowment | $109.8 million (2022) |
| President | Sabah Randhawa |
| Provost | Brad Johnson |
Academic staff | 684 full time (2022) |
Administrative staff | 1,437 (2018) |
| Students | 14,747 (2022) |
| Undergraduates | 13,801 (2022) |
| Postgraduates | 947 (2022) |
| Location | , United States 48°44′02″N 122°29′10″W / 48.734°N 122.486°W |
| Campus | Small city, 215 acres (87 ha) |
| Other campuses | |
| Newspaper | The Front |
| Colors | Blue, light blue, gray, black, and white |
| Nickname | Vikings |
Sporting affiliations | |
| Mascot | Victor E. Viking |
| Website | wwu.edu |
Location in Washington | |
Western Washington University (WWU or Western) is a public university in Bellingham, Washington, United States. The northernmost university in the contiguous United States, WWU was founded in 1893 as the state-funded New Whatcom Normal School, succeeding a private school of teaching for women founded in 1886. The university adopted its present name in 1977.
WWU offers bachelor's and master's degrees and a few doctorates. In 2022, there were 14,747 students, 13,801 of whom were undergraduate students, and 664 full-time faculty. Its athletic teams are known as the Vikings, which compete in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The main campus is located on 215 acres in Bellingham. WWU also operates a marine center in Anacortes and academic locations in Everett and the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas. The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.