Western Ranked as One of Nation’s ’50 Best Colleges by the Sea’

Western Washington University was recently ranked seventh in the “50 Best Colleges by the Sea” list by Collegerankings.com.

The rankings were compiled using methodology including proximity to the water; specific marine educational centers, such as Western’s Shannon Point Marine Center in Anacortes; marine-related degrees; and recreational opportunities on the sea.

In its description of Western, collegerankings.com lauded Western’s location, saying it was “dreamily positioned with the San Juan Islands to the west and the stunning Cascade Mountains to the east. Located in a natural setting, WWU is an excellent choice for the outdoors enthusiast. Sailing, skiing, hiking, biking, and outstanding views are easily accessible, making nature an integral part of college life. Taking advantage of their proximity to the ocean, Western Washington University offers an excellent Marine Science Program where students study and research at its Shannon Point Marine Center.”

Western joins other coastal campuses such as Pepperdine, the University of California at Santa Barbara, the University of California at San Diego, and the University of Miami in the rankings.

The complete rankings are available at http://www.bestcollegereviews.org/colleges-by-the-sea/. For more information, contact John Thompson in Western’s Office of Communications and Marketing at (360) 650-3350.