Best Colleges in Washington State

[MyAzi]

I keep hearing it...

Wazzu....noooooooo.... UW.... nooooooo Cougar.....nooooooo Husky...

Daily!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know there are many different colleges here in Wa state.. which do you think is the best?

[Spokanite]

How about Gonzaga or Whitworth over here on the east side? Both have good reputations (well except for the recent pot & mushroom bust on the BB players at GU!) Go Zags & Pirates!

[MyAzi]

Originally Posted by Spokanite

How about Gonzaga or Whitworth over here on the east side? Both have good reputations (well except for the recent pot & mushroom bust on the BB players at GU!) Go Zags & Pirates!

I am not familiar with them.. do they specialize in any particular area?

[jabm67]

With colleges, so much depends on what you want to do. I've been faculty at three places in WA (UW, WSU/Pullman, and Seattle U). They all have good points and weaknesses. With college, so much depends upon what you put into it and what you look to take out of it.

[MyAzi]

Originally Posted by jabm67

With colleges, so much depends on what you want to do. I've been faculty at three places in WA (UW, WSU/Pullman, and Seattle U). They all have good points and weaknesses. With college, so much depends upon what you put into it and what you look to take out of it.

When you say faculty... did you teach? If so what subjects?

[jabm67]

Most of what I have taught is astronomy, but I've done some physics as well. I'm an astronomer by training. I was with the Astronomy Dept at UW. When I was at WSU, I was in the Math Dept, where the Astronomy Program was at the time (it moved to Physics after I left). I'm now adjunct with the Physics Dept at Seattle U.

[MyAzi]

So what got you interested in Astronomy enough to teach it?

[jabm67]

As a kid, I knew from a very early age I wanted to be a scientist. I didn't choose astronomy until I was in high school, and that was by the sort of accident that usually guides young people ... for a while I said that astronomy was one of those subjects my high school teachers didn't ruin, but there were some books and articles on astronomy subjects that I read which caught my fancy more than others.

Astronomers these days are employed almost strictly by universities or government institutions; I know of approximately none in private industry, once you exclude contractors who as a rule work at government institutions.

If you're at a university, chances are your duties will include teaching.

[Wyody]

Jab'em, isn't astronomy one of the oldest professions? I believe China had a slew of them starting around 9000BC - because the ruler dispatched his astronomers out to reconfigure earth's location after venus ... the comet ... (and later, the planet) hit Jupiter and the Moon and Earth - knocking Earth for a bit of a tilt (according to Immanuel Velakovsky)
I'm fascinated by astronomy ... now, if someone could just tell me what those white-spots are on the night-sky, I'd be more at ease.

[MyAzi]

Originally Posted by Wyody

Jab'em, isn't astronomy one of the oldest professions? I believe China had a slew of them starting around 9000BC - because the ruler dispatched his astronomers out to reconfigure earth's location after venus ... the comet ... (and later, the planet) hit Jupiter and the Moon and Earth - knocking Earth for a bit of a tilt (according to Immanuel Velakovsky)
I'm fascinated by astronomy ... now, if someone could just tell me what those white-spots are on the night-sky, I'd be more at ease.

those are the reflections of my sparkling personality!!

[Spokanite]

Here are the basics on Whitworth & Gonzaga:

Whitworth College Fast Facts


Founded: 1890
Religious affiliation: Presbyterian Church (USA)
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,400
Student-faculty ratio: 13/1
Classes with fewer than 30 students: 82 percent
Geographic representation: 31 states, 25 countries
Freshman-sophomore retention: 89 percent
Full-time faculty: 125
Total Whitworth alumni: 21,199

Class of 2010 profile:

Total freshman applications: 2,688
Enrollment: 470 students
Average SAT score for math and critical reading: 1198
Average GPA: 3.69
Gender ratio: 60 percent female, 40 percent male
Non-Caucasian enrollment: 12.3 percent
U.S. News & World Report 2007 Rankings

No. 3 in Best Values, Master's-Level Colleges and Universities (West)
No. 5 in Best Master's-Level Colleges and Universities (West)
Among schools with highest graduation rates in America's Best Colleges 2005 guidebook


GONZAGA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

Location:
Spokane, Washington

108 Acres

87 Buildings

Private, Catholic, Jesuit University

Founded in 1887

Located in a residential setting along the Spokane River, 1/2 mile from the downtown business district

Pronunciation: Gone-ZAG-uh

Nickname: Zags



ACADEMICS

75 academic majors in 5 undergraduate schools:
College of Arts and Sciences
School of Business
School of Education
School of Engineering
School of Professional Studies

Average class size:
25

Student/Faculty Ratio:
12:1

Full-Time Faculty:
325

Jesuits:
43

Classes taught by professors:
100%



DISTINCTIVE PROGRAMS

Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program

Comprehensive Leadership Program

Honors Program

Military Science



ATHLETICS

NCAA Division I Athletics

West Coast Conference

Mascot:
Bulldog (Zags)

Men's Sports:
Baseball
Basketball
Crew
Cross Country/Track
Golf
Soccer
Tennis

Women's Sports:
Basketball
Crew
Cross Country/Track
Golf
Soccer
Tennis
Volleyball

Intramural Sports:
Volleyball
Flag Football
Basketball
Softball
Soccer
Racquetball
Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
STUDENTS
4150 Undergraduates

6375 Total Enrollment

977 Entering Fall 2006 Freshmen

Middle 50% Ranges,
Fall 2006 Freshmen:
GPA 3.5-3.95
SAT 1080-1300
ACT 23-29

Geographic Distribution,
Fall 2006 Freshmen:
45.5% Washington
13% California
12.6% Oregon
4.9% Idaho
4.6% Montana
4.1% Colorado
2.5% Arizona
2.4% Alaska
1.6% Hawaii
1.2% Nevada
0.8% Texas
0.8% Wyoming
0.7% Utah
0.5% Illinois
0.4% New Mexico
0.3% Nebraska
0.3% Ohio
0.3% Wisconsin
0.2% Missouri
0.2% Oklahoma
0.5% Foreign
All other states 0.1% or less

Religious Distribution,
Fall 2005 Freshmen:
Catholic--422 (42.7%)
No Religion Stated--360
Other Christian--58
Lutheran--44
Presbyterian--20
Methodist--17
Episcopalian--15
Christian Church--11
Non Believers of any Religion--9
Baptist--9
Other Religion--6
Buddhist--2
Eastern Orthodox--2
Jewish--2
Latter Day Saints--2
Pentecostal--2
7th Day Adventist--1
Baha'i--1
Congregational--1
Moslem--1
Mennonite--1

Ethnic Diversity,
Fall 2006 Freshmen:
15.25% of the class is represented by students-of-color

Gender Distribution,
Fall 2006 Freshmen:
46% Male; 54% Female



ALUMNI

Gonzaga maintains contact with over 30,000 alumni.

Notable alumni include:
Bing Crosby - late actor and crooner
Thomas Foley - former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
John Stockton - NBA all-time assists and steals record-holder
Carl Pohlad - Minnesota Twins owner
James Wickwire - attorney and world-class mountain climber
Michael Stepovich - last territorial governor of Alaska
Tony Canadeo (deceased) - NFL Hall of Fame member
Christine Gregoire - first female Washington state attorney general and current governor of Washington state
Carl Maxey (deceased) - Spokane attorney and civil rights leader
FINANCIAL AID 2005-2006

95% of all undergraduates receive financial aid

Average freshmen financial aid package:
(for students demonstrating financial need according to the FAFSA)
$18,919

Institutional aid awarded in 2005:
Over $36 million ($60 million, with federal aid included)

Composition of an average, need-based on-time freshmen award:
70% Scholarships & Grants
15% Work-study
15% Loans



COSTS 2006-2007

Undergraduate Tuition & Fees:
Full-time (12-18 credits) - $24,590/year
(includes Student Activity Fee)

Part-time - $715 per credit hour

Average Room & Board:
$7,220/year

Rooms (per semester):
Double occupancy - $1,780
Single occupancy - $2,120

Meal Plans (per semester):
PLATINUM: $1,830
Unlimited access to the resident dining facility, including Late Night Dining + $225 Flex*

GOLD: $1,710
Unlimited access to the resident dining facility, with the exception of Late Night Dining + $250 Flex*

SILVER: $1,590
Access to the resident dining facility during the lunch through dinner hours Monday-Friday, and brunch and dinner hours Saturday-Sunday + $290 Flex*

BRONZE: $1,470
100 block meals at the resident dining facility during normal or Late Night Dinner hours + $350 Flex*

COPPER DINNER: $1,380
Access to the resident dining facility during dinner hours only, Monday-Sunday + $425 Flex*

COPPER LUNCH: $1,380
Access to the resident dining facility during lunch hours only, Monday-Sunday + $425 Flex*

*Flex Dollars can be used for purchases at any campus dining retail location

Graduate Tuition:
$630 per credit hour

Doctoral Tuition:
$680 per credit hour



STUDENT SERVICES/ACTIVITIES

Gonzaga offers special student services through some of the following centers:
University Ministry
The Career Center
Counseling and Career Assessment Center
Crosby Student Center
Gonzaga Alumni Mentor Program (GAMP)
Housing and Residence Life
Disability Resources, Education, & Access Management (DREAM)
Health Center
Student Activities
Center for Community Action & Service Learning (CCASL)
Unity House
Gonzaga Student Body Association (GSBA)


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