Safety Score
3.89 /1K students
incidents per 1,000 enrolled
Bellingham, WA · Clery Act 2023 · Public
Western Washington University
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 14,651-student campus.
- 3.89
- Incidents / 1k students
- #2,436
- Rank of 3,050
- #47
- WA rank
- 14,651
- Enrolled students
Data updated June 2026
The verdict
Western Washington University reports 3.89 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,436 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 81% of ranked campuses its size.
- 3.89
- incidents / 1,000 students
- #2,436
- of 3,050 ranked nationally
- 81%
- report fewer incidents than this campus
- 48
- on-campus incidents, 2023
Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).
Reporting-period change
What changed in 2023
Western Washington University decreased from 64 to 48 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.
This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.
See national reporting-year changesWestern Washington University is a Public institution located in Bellingham, WA, enrolling approximately 14,651 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 132 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within WA, it ranks #47 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →
With 14,651 enrolled students, this campus sits in the mid-sized institution bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.
The most frequently reported category at Western Washington University is "Rape" with 49 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in WA averaging 0.57 incidents per 1,000 students, Western Washington University reports 579% more incidents per student.
Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 1 total fire. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 63 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.
National Rank
#2436
See peer comparison
State Rank (WA)
#47
within state peers
Incidents (2023)
48
across 11 crime categories
Where Western Washington University sits among ranked U.S. campuses
On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students
4 safer than 19% of 1,807 ranked campuses
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023
Safety percentile vs. peers
Western Washington University percentile rank 20.1%
National median
Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2436 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.
Reporting density vs peer median
Western Washington University reports 579% more incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.
Academic & Financial Profile
Tuition & Costs
- In-State Tuition
- $9,582
- Out-of-State Tuition
- $28,707
- Avg Net Price
- $21,193
- Median Debt
- $18,500
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 21%
Admissions
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- SAT Average
- 1289
- SAT Math Range
- 560–680
- ACT Average
- 26
- ACT Range
- 24–31
Outcomes
- 4-Year Graduation Rate
- 65%
- Retention Rate
- 79%
- Median Earnings (6yr)
- $45,272
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $62,569
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 79%
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.
Crime Statistics by Year
11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus onlyWestern Washington University: on-campus incidents by year
Rising 140% (20 → 48 incidents)
| Crime Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravated Assault | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Arson | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Burglary | 9 | 3 | 6 |
| Fondling | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 17 | 20 | 7 |
| Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 9 | 38 | 2 |
| Robbery | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Statutory Rape | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents
Fire Safety
| Year | Fires | Inj. | Deaths | Cat I | Cat II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests & Disciplinary Actions
63 category-year records| Category | Year | Arrests | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 121 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 103 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
Western Washington University vs peer institutions
Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment
Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).
WA
Western Washington University
3.89 incidents / 1,000 students
MO
Saint Louis Community College
0.27 incidents / 1,000 students
DE
Wilmington University
0.00 incidents / 1,000 students
Similar Institutions
Saint Louis Community College
Saint Louis, MO · 14,627 enrolled
Safety Score 0.27
Wilmington University
New Castle, DE · 14,678 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, MN · 14,709 enrolled
Safety Score 1.97
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Chandler, AZ · 14,725 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
Tulsa Community College
Tulsa, OK · 14,538 enrolled
Safety Score 0.62
Closest by National Rank
Institutions ranked nearest Western Washington University nationally (rank #2436), regardless of size or state.
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Erie, PA
National Rank #2435
Marian University
Indianapolis, IN
National Rank #2437
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington
Abington, PA
National Rank #2434
Plymouth State University
Plymouth, NH
National Rank #2438
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY
National Rank #2433
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Western Washington University safe?
Western Washington University has a safety score of 3.89 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,436 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Western Washington University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Western Washington University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in WA.
Does Western Washington University have fire safety data?
Yes. Western Washington University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 1 fire was reported in the most recent year.
Understanding Western Washington University's Safety Profile
Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA enrolls 14,651 students and has a safety score of 3.89 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2436 nationally.
Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents decreased from 64 in 2022 to 48 in 2023.
Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 1 fire was reported in the most recent year.
What this means for you
Western Washington University's 3.89 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.
- Weigh Western Washington University against similar-size campuses, scale changes what the raw count means. Compare campuses
- A higher count can mean stronger reporting, not more danger. How the data works
- Clery covers campus grounds only. Campus vs. city crime
Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.