Transfer Students: How to Apply

A complete application includes:

1. The application for admission
2. $70 non-refundable application fee (fee waivers are available)
3. Official transcripts from every college/university attended, even if you do not expect or desire transfer credit (Note: students applying for summer or fall quarters must send an official transcript that includes grades from the previous fall quarter before their application will be reviewed)
4. If you have completed fewer than 40 transferable quarter (27 semester) credits, you are also required to submit an official high school transcript for a more complete picture of your academic history
5. The essay is optional, but we encourage you to include it if you'd like to share more about your interests and goals or describe any special circumstances with the Admissions Committee. If your cumulative GPA is below 2.5, we strongly encourage you to include an essay that helps us understand your grades, trends, and growth over time. The Admissions Committee may also request an essay during the review process if additional context is needed for their assessment of your candidacy.

Note: if you are applying to a Western-supported location program, contact your intended program for additional information about application requirements.

Transcripts

Applicants are responsible for requesting official transcripts. A transcript is considered official if it bears the official seal and authorizing signature of the issuing institution and is:

• sent directly by the school to the Office of Admissions; or
• sealed by the school and mailed or delivered to the Office of Admissions by you. If the envelope has been opened before it arrives in the Office of Admissions, the transcript is not official.

We can serve you better – and faster! – if your official transcripts arrive before or soon after submitting your application.

College Transcripts

You must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended. Do not omit or exclude any institution, even if you do not expect to transfer credit. 

Students who have attended a Washington State community college are encouraged to have their transcripts sent electronically. Electronic transcripts enable us to process your application more efficiently and expedite awarding you transfer credit if admitted.

Official electronic college transcripts can be sent by the issuing institution to admissions@wwu.edu.

Transfer students who have earned fewer than 40 transferable quarter (27 semester) credits must request a transcript from the last high school attended. If you attended more than one high school, it is recommended that you submit transcripts from all of them. If you have already graduated or have left high school, your high school transcript must show all course work completed.

While not required, applicants may submit official SAT or ACT test scores to the Office of Admissions. Test scores are official if they are:

• sent directly from the testing agency; or

• sent directly from the high school (handwritten scores are not acceptable).

If you plan to apply to the Woodring College of Education, please know that test scores may be considered as part of the application process. Effective July 2024, SAT scores taken before 2005 are no longer available from the College Board.

    Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)
    Phone: (866) 756-7346
    Website: College Board
    WWU Institutional Code: 4947

    American College Test (ACT)
    Phone: (319) 337-1313
    Website: ACT Records
    WWU Institutional Code: 4490

Letters of recommendation aren't required, but if a teacher or counselor has written one for you, feel free to submit it with your application. Please ensure all letters of recommendation include your full name and date of birth. You or your teacher or counselor may submit a recommendation via mail or by emailing it to admissions@wwu.edu at any time, even after your application has been submitted. 

To submit transcripts or other related application materials by mail, please use the address below. 

    Western Washington University
    Office of Admissions
    Old Main 200, MS 9009
    516 High Street
    Bellingham, WA 98225-9009

Please note, it may be necessary to delete the third line, "Old Main 200, MS 9009" to facilitate delivery of college transcripts when ordered online. To help the Office of Admissions match your documents with your application, we recommend you include your full name and birth date on all materials mailed separately from your application.

Outreach and Continuing Education 

If you are applying to a Western-supported location program, contact your intended program for details about application requirements. 

What to Expect After You Apply

After you submit your application for admission online, you will receive an email confirming that we received it. 

You can pay your application fee by logging in to your Student Admission Portal (we cannot process your application without it, unless you're approved for a fee waiver). Once the application fee has been processed, you can check your application status at any time using the Student Admission Portal. The portal provides a personalized checklist of items we've received, as well as any missing items needed to make your application complete. 

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis, and students will be notified in writing of their admissions decision which will be made available in the Student Admission Portal. While some students are notified earlier, the majority of applicants are notified within six to eight weeks of the application deadline. We appreciate your patience in this process to ensure every on-time application is carefully reviewed. Students who need an earlier decision are welcome to request one in writing, though a favorable response cannot be guaranteed.