 Western Washington University, rated as one of the best universities on the west coast, is a vital part of Bellingham, Washington’s fabric. The University campus and the adjoining Sehome Hill Arboretum, a popular urban hiking spot, make up the Western Washington University Neighborhood. The main campus covers 195 acres, including 38 acres in the Sehome Hill Arboretum. The entire Arboretum covers 180 acres.
Although there are no privately owned property within the Neighborhood, it does provide on-campus housing for about 4,000 college students. The total enrollment at WWU is about 12,700 students. The surrounding neighborhoods of Sehome, Happy Valley York house a majority of the off-campus students.
Western Washington University (also known as WWU or just Western) is one of six state funded four year universities or higher education in the state of Washington. Western offers Bachelor’s and master degrees. Western has consistently ranked among the top schools in its category and according to US News and World Report’s ranking, as the # 2 pulic master’s granting schools in the entire western region, while placing 18th overall (public and private combined).
Western has placed consistently high in annual rankings of excellence and affordability by magazines such as U.S. News and World Report and Consumer Digest. Yahoo has named Western among the 100 “most wired” universities in the U.S. for its technological capabilities.
The university is one of leading employers, with nearly 1,500 workers, and has an acclaimed outdoor sculpture collection, art galleries, performing arts center and sports facilities. The campus has undergone a building boom in recent years, adding a Campus Services Facility and the Wade Recreation since 2002. New this year is the Communications building, which houses the physics, computer science, communications and journalism programs.
Public schools in the area are Happy Valley Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School, Sehome High School. Shopping in the area include Viking Bookstore on campus; Sehome Village to the west. Major grocers are Bellingham Food Co-Op on Forest Street, Haggen's Grocery located at Sehome Village and Fred Meyer or Cost Cutter on Lakeway.
  
Bellingham's Neighborhoods: Alabama Hill :: Birchwood :: Columbia :: Cornwall Park :: Downtown :: Edgemoor :: Fairhaven :: Geneva :: Guide Meridian :: Happy Valley :: Lettered Streets :: Meridian :: Mount Baker :: Puget :: Roosevelt :: Samish :: Sehome :: Silver Beach :: South :: South Hill :: Sunnyland :: Western Wash. University :: Whatcom Falls :: York |