Student Life
Experience a classic American college town—a community built around the university and its students.
A Town Built for You
For 125 years (and more), the town of Pullman and its university have grown and developed together to form a vibrant, student-centered community.
University students comprise 65 percent of the town’s 31,000 residents. Local professionals, WSU faculty and staff, and their families round out the population.
The downtown shopping district—with coffee shops, specialty retailers, and restaurants—is only a short walk away from campus. Convenient bus routes provide access to grocery stores, department stores, movie theaters, and more restaurants.
WSU students use Pullman’s excellent public transit system free of charge, and the University’s bike-sharing program gives you another easy way to get where you need to go.
Students are the most important thing at WSU. From the simplest to the largest necessities—food, housing, school supplies, and entertainment—everything is equipped to serve the student.”
Salwa al-Arimi
Oman
Safe
Safewise.com ranks Pullman No. 10 in its list of the safest cities in the state of Washington.
Friendly
The Princeton Review includes WSU in its list of 20 U.S. colleges that have remarkably positive relationships with the nonstudent communities around them.
A Rural Paradise
WSU nestles in a wide-open landscape of gently rolling hills that is one of North America’s most productive agricultural regions.
National Geographic Magazine considers it a national treasure, labeling it “a paradise called the Palouse.”
Four Seasons, Gentle Weather
-3°c
Average winter low
28°c
Average summer high
53cm
Average annual precipitation
66cm
Average annual snowfall
The International Center
The International Center helps all students have a cultural sharing experience on campus.
The International Center is your campus living room—a comfortable place where the international and local community come together for intercultural activities and programming or to simply relax, socialize or study.
Conveniently located in the CUB (the student union building), right in the center of campus, it offers a variety of resources:
- Computers and free printing
- Free tea and coffee
- Comfortable lounge with TV and kitchenette
- Quiet study space
Academic support services, social events and programming, in collaboration with the International Students’ Council help highlight cultural customs and uniquely U.S. experiences while providing students help in succeeding at the University.
Coffee Hours
Coffee hours are held Friday from 3 – 4 p.m. Topics vary and cover U.S. culture, international topics, WSU and Pullman resources and more.
Becoming a Cougar Series
New students can benefit from the Becoming A Cougar: American Life and Culture series. This program helps students navigate the University environment. It provides additional support by educating students about a variety of topics, including WSU Athletics, local travel and transportation, health insurance and academic integrity.
English Conversation Tables and English with Board Games
International students are encouraged to attend these programs where they can practice English and learn about U.S. culture through casual conversation or by playing board games with domestic students, community members and WSU staff. Domestic students can gain intercultural communication skills and learn about other cultures and languages. Both of these programs are open to everyone.
- English Conversation Tables are held Tuesday and Thursday from noon – 2 p.m.
- English with Board Games takes place Friday from noon – 2 p.m. and 4 – 6 p.m.
International Peer Mentors
We want you to be happy here, and we know that beginning college in a foreign country can be a stressful experience. That’s where peer mentors come in.
The international peer mentors are a group of friendly volunteers—students like you—who are ready to help you get a good start at WSU and seize the opportunities of American college life.
You will meet them during orientation week, and they will be available to offer guidance throughout your first semester at WSU.
Pullman is different. I didn’t feel like a stranger when I came here. There is a healthy connection between the students and the institution.”
Adel Yafi
Homs, Syria
A Worldwide Community
There is a strong sense of kinship that comes with attending WSU. In fact, it is one of our most distinctive traits.
Everyone who attends WSU is a Cougar—in short, a Coug—for life.
Being a Coug means having passion. When something excellent happens, we all take pride in it. When something tragic happens, we all feel sympathetic. We stand as a close community.”
Yuri Can
Touchet, Wash.
Why “Cougs”?
Like many U.S. universities, WSU has a school nickname. Ours is the cougar—the largest feline predator in North America.
Butch T. Cougar (our costumed mascot) is a focal point for the friendship and loyalty that define the student experience. The University’s athletic teams compete under the Cougar name. Students and alumni proudly wear the school’s crimson and gray colors to identify themselves as WSU Cougars.
Whenever WSU alumni meet, “Go Cougs!” is a common greeting.
International Students Are Welcome Here
The rural setting and diverse student population of WSU Pullman create a powerful learning experience.
7%
of WSU students are international
90+
countries are home to current WSU students
35%
of WSU students identify as ethnic minorities
48
U.S. states are home to current WSU students
An Active Campus
Whatever your interests may be, you can find people at WSU who are eager to share them with you.
International and domestic students participate together in more than 300 student clubs and organizations.
Sports and the Outdoors
WSU students enjoy the University’s spacious, well-equipped student recreation center.
The University’s Outdoor Recreation Center offers equipment rentals and group trips, in which you can enjoy activities such as hiking, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, backpacking, and kayaking in locations throughout the western United States. There are also classes where you can learn new skills for the outdoors.
WSU has a very robust intramural sports program. Students of all skill levels are welcome to join teams and participate in friendly competition with their fellow students.
Explore WSU Pullman
Entertainment/arts Student groups Sports/recreation Pullman/Palouse