Central Washington University is a public comprehensive university founded in 1891 in Ellensburg, a small city in the Kittitas Valley at the eastern foot of the Cascade Range. Serving approximately 11,000 students, CWU is known for its strong programs in education, flight technology, culinary arts, and the sciences. The Wildcats compete in the GNAC. Ellensburg's small-city character, proximity to outdoor recreation in the Cascades, and the university's tight-knit campus community give CWU a distinctive residential character.
