Polytechnic, With Distinction

Eastern gains national recognition for preparing its students for real-world success.

Eastern Washington University has only recently adopted an official identity as “the region’s polytechnic.” But for years it has earned national acclaim for what academic administrators like to call “prioritizing the application of knowledge to professional practice.”

This year is no exception. Just prior to the beginning of the current academic term, EWU was designated a 2025-26 College of Distinction by an Austin, Texas-based organization that ranks universities according to their effectiveness in helping students “learn, grow, and succeed.” The honor represents, in effect, a national seal of approval for Eastern’s impressive track record of preparing students for real-world success.

Eastern didn’t just earn an overall “College of Distinction” designation — it was also recognized in eight specific program areas, as well as for its overall affordability and support for military students.
“EWU has a proud history of providing a transformative undergraduate experience that prepares our students to thrive in the workforce and to serve as leaders in their communities,” Shari McMahan, Eastern’s president, wrote in a statement following the award announcement. “Being recognized as a College of Distinction across such a wide range of fields reaffirms our strength in hands-on learning, as well as our commitment to affordability and academic excellence.”

Through research and interviews, Colleges of Distinction honors universities that “make a meaningful impact on students’ lives, not just the institutions that fight their way to the top of the more traditional rankings lists.” The recognition criteria is based on what they call the “four distinctions”: engaging students, great teaching, vibrant communities and successful outcomes.

The Colleges of Distinction honor comes on the heels of a coveted status upgrade from the Carnegie Foundation, which last year designated EWU as one of the nation’s Research Colleges and Universities. Both designations were important acknowledgments of Eastern’s success in boosting collaborations and student opportunities. Or, as Tyson Schritter, COO at Colleges of Distinction, puts it: “EWU’s programs reflect the kind of innovation and intentionality that prepare students for life after graduation.”