Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC)

The Great Northwest Athletic Conference competes in the NCAA Division II and fields eight men's and eight women's sports. Member institutions are all from the Western United States and Canada, and they vary significantly in size and personality. The conference's headquarters are located in Portland, Oregon.

Learn More about Western Colleges:

Central Washington University

CWU can be a great choice for outdoor lovers since the Cascade Mountains are just west of the campus. Business and education programs are extremely popular among undergraduate students.

Location: Ellensburg, Washington
School type: public university
Enrollment: 11,971 (11,119 undergraduates)
Team: Wildcats
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Central Washington University profile.

Montana State University Billings

MSU Billings. sara goth / Wikimedia Commons

Located in Montana's largest city, MSU represents an excellent value for in-state students. Students will find a wide range of 2-year, 4-year, Masters, and certificate programs.

Location: Billings, Montana
School type: public university
Enrollment: 4,362 (3,968 undergraduates)
Team: Yellowjackets
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Montana State University Billings profile.

Northwest Nazarene University

Northwest Nazarene Soccer. SFU Public Affairs and Media Relations

This Christian college takes its values seriously and all students must commit to the university's expectations when it comes to alcohol, tobacco, drugs and sex. Business and nursing are most popular among undergrads, and the surrounding area offers students numerous outdoor recreation opportunities.

Location: Nampa, Idaho
School type: private university affiliate with the Church of the Nazarene
Enrollment: 2,157 (1,450 undergraduate)
Team: Crusaders
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Northwest Nazarene profile.

Saint Martin's University

Saint Martin's University Library. davidsilver / Flickr

Saint Martin's 380-acre campus is just east of Olympia, and students will find easy access to skiing, hiking and other outdoor activities nearby. Small classes and close interaction between students and faculty are central to the Saint Martin experience.

Location: Lacey, Washington
School type: private Catholic university
Enrollment: 1,586 (1,282 undergraduate)
Team: Saints
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Saint Martin's University profile.

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle Pacific University Clock Tower. cincodenada06 / Flickr

SPU students can choose from over 60 degree programs; nursing and business are extremely popular. The 43-acre campus sits in a residential neighborhood 10 miles from downtown Seattle.

Location: Seattle, Washington
School type: private Methodist university
Enrollment: 4,061 (3,095 undergraduate)
Team: Falcons
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Seattle Pacific University profile.

Simon Fraser University

Simon Fraser University. Simon Fraser University / Wikipedia

The only Canadian institution in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, Simon Fraser is a large university that offers 145 academic programs across its eight units. Students come from over 130 countries.

Location: Burnaby, British Columbia
School type: public university
Enrollment: 29,879
Team: Clan
Visit the Simon Fraser University website.

University of Alaska Anchorage

University of Alaska Anchorage. elliottcable / Flickr

Alaska's largest university features impressive mountain views and nearby lakes and forests. Students can choose from 146 degree and certificate programs, and the school has wide offerings for both traditional undergraduates and adult students.

Location: Anchorage, Alaska
School type: public university
Enrollment: 16,318 (15,546 undergraduates)
Team: Seawolves
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the University of Alaska Anchorage profile.

University of Alaska Fairbanks

University of Alaska Fairbanks. m_p_king / Flickr

UAF is Alaska's only doctoral degree-granting institution, and it is the flagship campus of Alaska's public university system. The impressive 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio is unusual for a public university.

Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
School type: public university
Enrollment: 8,283 (7,162 undergraduates)
Team: Nanooks
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the University of Alaska Fairbanks profile.

Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University Library. densetsunopanda / Flickr

Western Oregon is home to the Teaching Research Institute, and education fields are popular at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Skiing, hiking, biking, and other outdoor opportunities are all nearby.

Location: Monmouth, Oregon
School type: public university
Enrollment: 5,382 (4,833 undergraduates)
Team: Wolves
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Western Oregon University profile.

Western Washington University

Western Washington University. helenadagmar / Flickr

WWU ranks well among regional public universities, partly because it has retention and graduation rates that are higher than predicted. 98% of all classes are taught by the faculty, not graduate students.

Location: Bellingham, Washington
School type: public university
Enrollment: 15,574 (14,592 undergraduates)
Team: Vikings
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Western Washington University profile.

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Grove, Allen. "Great Northwest Athletic Conference, GNAC." ThoughtCo, Aug. 25, 2020, thoughtco.com/great-northwest-athletic-conference-gnac-profile-786833. Grove, Allen. (2020, August 25). Great Northwest Athletic Conference, GNAC. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/great-northwest-athletic-conference-gnac-profile-786833 Grove, Allen. "Great Northwest Athletic Conference, GNAC." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/great-northwest-athletic-conference-gnac-profile-786833 (accessed March 29, 2023).