Western Washington University, located in Bellingham, Washington, offers bachelor's degrees and the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Education, Master of Business Administration, Master of Music, and Master's In Teaching. It consists of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Science and Technology, the College of Business and Economics, Fairhaven College, the College of Fine and Performing Arts, the Graduate School, the Huxley College of the Environment, and the Woodring College of Education.

"Western" was established on February 24, 1893 as the New Whatcom Normal School, a teacher's college. The first class entered in 1899. In 1937, the school's name was changed to Western Washington College of Education. Twenty-four years later it became Western Washington State College, and in 1977 it adopted its present name, Western Washington University. Student population as of spring 2003 is 12,493.

Western has consistently ranked among the top schools in its category and according to US News and World Report's ranking, is the Number 2 Public Master’s-Granting Schools in the Western Region, while place in the top 20 overall (both public and private).

The university's mascot is the Viking.