Central Washington University (CWU) ) is a comprehensive university where small classes and the emphasis on teaching undergraduates allows students from all walks of life to be successful. CWU is the state's most diverse institution of higher education where nearly 33 percent of students are people of color. CWU is also serving a greater share of Hispanic students than any other institution, with more than 15 percent of students coming from Latinx backgrounds. About 92 percent of CWU students are state residents, with more from King County than all of eastern Washington. Half are the first in their families to go to college and half transferred from another institution. Hallmarks of the undergraduate experience include a strong program in undergraduate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), hands-on learning, and service to non-traditional students through online learning and community college partnerships. In Kittitas County, one person in nine works for CWU, the county’s largest employer.

The mission of Central Washington University is to prepare students for enlightened, responsible and productive lives; to produce research, scholarship and creative expression in the public interest; and to serve as a resource to the region and the state through effective stewardship of university resources.