At Washington State University, you’ll discover a close-knit community of scholars driven by a common passion: making the world a better place. That commitment—passed along from one generation of Cougar alumni to the next—reflects a deeply held university belief that an informed intellect, combined with a confident, can-do spirit, can improve the quality of life for others while also yielding personal success and fulfillment.

You’ll see that principle in action on a daily basis at WSU. Each year, more than 10,500 students share their time and talents to benefit the community through civic engagement. It permeates our teaching and research, which is focused on big ideas for solving problems in areas like health, food, sustainability, and leadership. And it’s reflected throughout our diverse campus community, which nurtures and challenges our members to invest their talents and interests in a variety of academic and social activities.

Here, hands-on learning is a given. Students work side-by-side with professors whose scholarship and research is discussed globally. Many undergraduates enter national competitions in areas as varied as robotics, interior design, and business. Others present papers at conferences and publish their findings in scholarly journals.

We also strive to deepen our students’ understanding of and connectedness to the global community. Students can choose from more than 600 study abroad programs. Over 1,900 students from all corners of the globe enroll at the main WSU campus in Pullman, adding a rich layer of cultural diversity. The Honors College curriculum immerses students in the study of international issues.

An institutional commitment to enroll a more ethnically diverse student body continues to deliver dividends. 30 percent of the student body is comprised of minority students—the highest percentage in WSU history—and the number is expected to grow in future years.

The University is also dedicated to sustainability—an effort that has included everything from the launch of a bike-sharing program and recycling activities, to constructing new buildings to meet green building standards. In addition, hundreds of high school students from the region participate in WSU’s annual Imagine Tomorrow competition, which challenges them to develop creative solutions for society’s energy challenges.

Undergraduate students can choose from 200-plus fields of study, and many academic programs rank among the nation’s best. Among them: the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, where students gain practical experience at student-run television and radio stations, and the College of Pharmacy, whose students are consistent award winners in the American Pharmacists Association competitions for business plans, patient outreach activities, and patient counseling skills, as well as volunteer service in pharmacy.

Graduate students from around the world enroll in WSU's nearly 150 master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs such as medicine, molecular biosciences, physics, zoology, veterinary medicine, and the plant sciences. In 2015, the university established the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, which prepares physicians to serve Washington communities where they are needed most.

An award-winning Student Recreation Center featuring cardio and weight equipment, courts for basketball, volleyball, and badminton, and a swimming pool and spa inspires students to maintain their physical and mental health. A revitalized student union building, a classroom building featuring the latest teaching technology, and a major expansion of the Pac-12 Cougars’ football stadium are recent examples of WSU’s commitment to providing amenities that directly benefit students.

The location of WSU’s flagship campus in Pullman, a small town in southeastern Washington, creates the quintessential college town environment—meaning that Cougar spirit permeates life on and off campus for the 21,000+ students enrolled here. The University also has thriving regional campuses in Everett, Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and Vancouver, as well as a Global Campus offering online degrees to students worldwide.

The University works to improve the quality of life for all Washington citizens through its agricultural research and extension facilities statewide. Agricultural researchers work to expand and protect the state’s food, fiber, and energy supplies and make agricultural and natural resource systems more sustainable. Extension maintains offices and contacts in every county in the state. Its scholars engage with citizens and businesses to find solutions to local issues, foster life-long learning, and help raise economic well-being.