Western Washington University Western Washington University ( WWU or Western ) is one of six state - funded , four - year universities of higher education in the U . S . state of Washington . It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor ' s and master ' s degrees . Their mascot is the Viking . History . Western was established as the Northwest Normal School , a teachers ' school for women , by Phoebe Judson in Lynden , Washington , in 1886 . Eventually the school moved to Bellingham ( then " New Whatcom " ) , and through the efforts of William R . Moultray and George Judson ( Phoebe ' s son ) , Governor John McGraw signed legislation establishing the New Whatcom Normal School on February 24 , 1893 . The first official class entered in 1899 , composed of 88 students . The institution that is now " Western Washington University " has since undergone several name changes . In 1901 , the school ' s name was changed to " State Normal School at Whatcom " to reflect New Whatcom ' s name change . Again , in 1904 , the name was changed to " Washington State Normal School at Bellingham " when the townships of Whatcom and Fairhaven joined , and again in 1937 , to " Western Washington College of Education " when it became a 4 - year college . Twenty - four years later it became " Western Washington State College " and finally , in 1977 , the institution gained university status . The 1960s was a period of especially rapid growth for Western , as its enrollment increased from 3 , 000 students to over 10 , 000 during the decade . Also during this time , the Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies was founded ( 1967 ) , with non - traditional education methods that would serve as a model for The Evergreen State College in Olympia , Washington . Two years later , the Huxley College of the Environment , the nation ' s first dedicated environmental science college , was founded , continuing Western ' s trend toward " cluster " colleges . That same year , on a spring afternoon , students gained headlines by blocking Interstate 5 to protest the Vietnam War . Since this period , the College of Arts and Sciences was founded ( 1973 ) and divided into the College of Humanities & Social Sciences and the College of Sciences & Technology ( 2003 ) ; the College of Fine and Performing Arts was formed from several art departments ( 1975 ) ; and the College of Business and Economics was established ( 1976 ) . During the 1999 – 2000 school year , Western celebrated its Centennial . Today , WWU has a major presence in Bellingham ' s economy , and contributes significantly to the political , social , and artistic aspects of the city . With a student body that currently consists of over 14 , 000 students , the university is the third largest in Washington after Washington State University at about 26 , 000 students and the University of Washington at about 43 , 000 students both undergraduate and graduate . Campus . WWU ' s scenic location in Bellingham , a rapidly growing city of about 80 , 000 people , overlooks Bellingham Bay and many of Puget Sound ’ s 172 San Juan Islands . The university is north of Seattle , south of Vancouver , British Columbia , and an hour ’ s drive from Mount Baker . The university is located close to Interstate 5 . The campus is , including the Sehome Arboretum , operated jointly with the city of Bellingham . Campus facilities include an electronic music studio , an air pollution lab , a motor vehicle research lab , a marine research lab , a wind tunnel , an electron microscope , and a neutron generator lab . Western ' s Vehicle Research Institute has led " Automobile Magazine " to describe Western as " very possibly the best school in the country for total car design . " Western also has off - campus facilities at Shannon Point Marine Center in Anacortes , Washington ; Lakewood , a student - university facility at nearby Lake Whatcom ; and Whatcom County property used for environmental and aquatic analyses . Academics . Academic organization . Western offers bachelor ' s degree s and the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Science , Master of Education , Master of Arts in Teaching , Master of Business Administration , Master of Professional Accounting , and Master of Music . The university is composed of the following colleges : Accreditation . The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities ; National Association of Schools of Music ; National Recreation and Parks Association ; American Speech and Hearing Association ; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education ; Computing Sciences Accreditation Board ; Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology ; American Chemical Society ; Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business ; and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs . Rankings . In 2013 , US News ranked Western Washington University as the top public master ' s granting university in the Pacific Northwest , while placing 21st overall in the West ( both public and private ) . Western was one of only two public schools ranked among the top 25 Master ’ s - Granting Universities ( West ) category . The universities found in this ranking are schools that lack doctoral programs but still retain master ' s programs . It has a 72 % acceptance rate . Western Washington University ranked first among the top medium - sized colleges and universities with alumni serving as Peace Corps volunteers in 2013 and 2014 . Athletics . WWU has been an official member of NCAA Division II since September 1998 . In 2011 – 12 , approximately 350 students are participating in 15 varsity sports at Western , six for men and nine for women . In 2010 – 11 , WWU placed seventh among 310 NCAA Division II schools in the Sports Director ’ s Cup national all - sports standings , the second - highest finish in school history . The Vikings were sixth in 2009 – 10 and 10th in 2008 – 09 . WWU has had eight straight Top 50 finishes and been among the Top 100 in each of its first 13 seasons as a NCAA II member . In 2010 – 11 , Western won its third straight and seventh overall Great Northwest Athletic Conference All - Sports championship , taking league titles in volleyball , men ’ s golf and women ’ s golf , and the regular - season crown in women ’ s basketball . The Vikings , who won the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference championship , placed second in men ’ s and women ’ s cross country , men ’ s and women ’ s outdoor track , men ’ s indoor track and softball . Varsity sports . The Viking field varsity teams in the following sports : Associated Students of Western Washington University ( ASWWU ) . The Associated Students of Western Washington University ( ASWWU ) is " an organization designed and run by Western students , the Associated Students ( AS ) seeks to ensure a fulfilling college and academic experience for all university students through the many services , facilities and programs it offers . " Within ASWWU , there are five main areas of focus : clubs , activities , programs , facilities & services , and governance . The AS aims to provide " funding , space and services " to students " uniting around common interests . " The AS staff assist student development of clubs and provide advising , " continuity , referral and record keeping " throughout the entire process . Currently there are over two hundred student clubs in the following categories : Arts and Music , Cultural , Political , Special Interest , Gaming , Social Issues , Departmental , Limited Membership , Service , Religious , and Recreational . Sculpture collection . WWU ' s prized collection of outdoor and indoor public art sculptures is a major presence on its campus . The collection , funded by the Washington State Arts Commission , the National Endowment for the Arts , and private donations , includes 30 works :