Explore WSU Pullman

Welcome to Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. I’m Marcellena Ebarb, a student here at WSU. I want to show you a few of my favorite spots on campus and share why more than 20 thousand Cougs migrate back to our small community here in eastern Washington every year. When you set foot on campus, I have no doubt that you can find your place in Pullman, where the town and the college come together to create one big Cougar family. It’s magical. Plus, getting around Pullman is easy, too. There are free buses and bikes, and almost everywhere is walkable.

Let’s start out at Bryan Hall—You probably recognize the clock tower from pictures and brochures of the Pullman campus. It’s not only one of the most iconic locations on campus, but it’s also one of the loudest (behind Martin Stadium on a game day, of course). The clock chimes ring on the hour, keeping us students on time. Fun fact: The clock also chimes out Coug songs on special occasions.

So, what you’re seeing now is Library Road—it’s one of the main walking paths across campus. And as you can tell, it’s a pretty good hill. It’s true about the hills in Pullman. You can literally walk uphill both ways to class! But you’ll get used to it. There’s always somewhere to go, on and off campus, and you can get some exercise on the way—Google “Cougar calves” and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

In addition to classes, there are hundreds of student clubs and organizations here at WSU Pullman, along with two awesome rec centers to work out at, some really great places to eat, and hikes, biking trails, and more around Pullman.

Whether you chose to live in a residence hall, the Greek system, or in an apartment off campus, there is a place for you here. We have some great residence halls, like Northside that you see here. You can find delicious foods right outside your door. The dining halls are a perfect place to sit and chat with your friends.

Another wonderful thing about WSU Pullman is the history and architecture around campus. While you can see beautiful buildings that are more than a hundred years old, you also get to take classes in some pretty cool innovative spaces, including the Spark Building and Smith CUE, where we’re at now. When you need to study, the Smith Center for Undergraduate Education, also known as the CUE, has loads of space. You’ll probably have some classes here, too. Most first year classes have between 50 and 70 students and get smaller as you get into your major curriculum. That means more personalized learning, connecting with your professors, and the opportunities to work closely with your fellow Cougs–and make new friends each semester. The Pullman campus offers over 200 majors for undergraduates and 120 graduate programs, so you can do pretty much anything to build the future you want.

Right in the center of campus are two of the main libraries, Terrell and Holland, with study lounges, computers, and staff that’ll help you find information for projects, writing papers and assignments. This is where I come to study—it’s quiet and has window seats that look out over campus. Plus, it’s a great place to watch the snowfall during those winter months. Oh, and since we’re talking about studying, you should know that WSU has an excellent Writing Center and a math lab when you need someone to read over your essay or check your calculus. These are just two of the helpful resources available to us students to get support when we need it. With a full load of classes, being away from home, and all the other things you’ll experience at college, you may need some other support to stay healthy. WSU takes your health and wellness very seriously. We have free on-campus health services as well as private and confidential counseling available if you ever need someone to talk to.

If you are interested in our Pullman campus, you’ve probably heard of Cougar Football Saturdays at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. It’s an awesome experience to see the town come together on home games. Alumni flood from all over the country to cheer on the Cougs. Since we’re a Pac-12 school, we get to watch 15 college level sports, from women’s soccer – who made it to the college cup in 2019 – to tennis, baseball, and more. The other great thing about the Pullman campus is watching games in an open-air stadium. While we are known for our snow in the winter, we actually get 172 days of sunshine on average each year.

So, you’ve seen where we study, go to classes, and general outdoor spaces—now I can’t wait to show you the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. We call it the Crimson Cube and it is a highlight in the heart of campus. Admission is free with your student ID and you can enjoy first-class exhibits by some major artists. Speaking of free—WSU hosts free concerts on the Terrell Mall. You can buy tickets to a concert in Beasley Coliseum. You might even hear the next big star at student recitals and other performances right here on campus.

Did you know that WSU is home to one of the best Communications schools in the country? We take hands-on learning very seriously, which is an important part of the Cougar experience. Here at the Murrow Broadcasting studio, students get to sit in the anchor’s chair or produce TV shows in professional-level studios. Regardless of your major, you get to take that experience out in the world when you graduate.

So now we’re in Todd Hall. This is where many students spend a lot of time in classes and labs. Just imagine preparing for your career through internships and other experiences that start right here. For example, students studying hospitality business management learn the nitty-gritty of running a high-end restaurant. Some of these students go from a seat in Todd Hall to a restaurant training experience in France before graduating. And for the rest of us not in France, we have WSU’s Career Center to support our job search.

How would you like to create a whole new breed of apple, or create airplane biofuel out of waste? WSU is a top research university, and Cougs study everything from crop sciences to cures for diseases. And some of that is done here in the Paccar Building. Check out the ingenuity of the design in this building. Its support beams are made from cross-laminated timber that’s almost as strong as steel, and a lot friendlier to the environment. If you want to be a part of research and development, you can! Undergraduates can find research opportunities all over campus. Just find the right project to join in the discovery.

Research here on the Pullman campus is also fun to watch. WSU is the only school in the United States to house grizzly bears on campus for research. The bears help our students gain insights into both human and animal health. So, in addition to some really playful cubs, these guys could actually save your life.

We’ll end our tour at WSU’s famous creamery and its ice cream and cheese shop, Ferdinand’s. No time in Pullman is complete without a scoop of my favorite ice cream, huckleberry.