Elite Private · St. Louis, Missouri
Washington University in St. Louis
Highly selective. 12.1% acceptance rate.
Calculate your WashU oddsHow hard is it to get into WashU?
WashU is highly selective, with a 12.1% acceptance rate. Admitted students typically score 1500–1570 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT. The application is read holistically, so essays, recommendations, activities, and demographic context all factor into the decision alongside test scores and GPA.
Quick Facts
| Acceptance rate | 12.1% |
| SAT (mid-50%) | 1500–1570 |
| ACT (mid-50%) | 33–35 |
| Cost of attendance | $91,290 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $21,786 |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 8,132 |
| 6-year graduation rate | 94.3% |
| Median earnings (10 yrs after entry) | $86,182 |
| Type | Private · Elite Private |
| Setting | Suburban (large metro) |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Last verified May 2026.
Getting In
WashU's 12.1% acceptance rate puts it in the highly selective tier. The mid-50% SAT range of 1500–1570 means a quarter of admitted students scored above 1570, and a quarter scored below 1500. Scores in that range don't guarantee admission. Scores outside it don't rule it out. The application is read holistically.
That number doesn't tell you your odds. A 1550 SAT and a 4.0 GPA put you in the academic conversation. They don't put you in the admit pile. Your actual probability depends on your full profile: coursework rigor, activities, recommendations, demographic context, and what your essays accomplish. The pool average is a starting point, not a forecast.
Personalized estimate
What are your actual odds at WashU?
Enter your SAT/ACT, GPA, activities, and target schools. Get a probability calibrated to real admit data, not a headline acceptance rate.
Run the calculatorWashU Test Score Profile
Admitted students score in the following ranges across SAT sections:
SAT Reading
730–770
25th–75th percentile
SAT Math
770–800
25th–75th percentile
Strong applicants tend to score above the 75th percentile in their stronger section and at or above the 25th percentile in their weaker one. Both numbers are descriptive, not prescriptive. Plenty of admitted students score below the 25th percentile in one section, especially with strong context elsewhere.
Beyond the Numbers
WashU is best known for flexibility to pursue multiple majors across schools, strong medical and design programs, and a collaborative, low-ego culture. Admissions readers are looking for applicants whose specific interests and ways of working would actually thrive in that environment. Not generic “passion.” Concrete curiosity that already shows up in what you do.
WashU admits roughly 11 to 13 percent. WashU is known for unusually flexible cross-school undergraduate study: students can pursue majors and minors across Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Business (Olin), Architecture, and Sam Fox School of Art & Design with relative ease.
Class Profile
The undergraduate population at WashU breaks down as follows according to federal IPEDS data:
Race & ethnicity
These percentages reflect the enrolled student body, not the applicant pool. Admit rates by demographic differ from the headline rate, and the school's composition is the result of its full holistic review process.
Cost & Financial Aid
The published cost of attendance at WashU is $91,290 per year before aid. After grants and scholarships, the average student pays $21,786per year. The sticker price isn't the number that matters for most families.
Net price by family income
What the average student actually pays per year, after grants:
| Family income $0–30K | $1,716 |
| Family income $30K–48K | $1,928 |
| Family income $48K–75K | $5,578 |
| Family income $75K–110K | $12,603 |
| Family income $110K+ | $42,170 |
Highly selective private universities tend to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, often without loans, for families below specific income thresholds. The number that matters for your family is your net price, which can be estimated using the school's own net price calculator before applying.
Outcomes
Federal data on what happens after enrollment at WashU:
Graduation rate
94.3%
6-year (federal IPEDS)
Median earnings
$86,182
10 yrs after entry
Median debt
$17,500
Among completers
17.8% of students receive a Pell Grant (federal need-based aid), and 11.8%take federal loans. These rates are useful proxies for the school's socioeconomic mix and how much most families end up borrowing.
WashU Supplemental Essays
WashU requires supplemental essays beyond the Common App personal statement. The most recent prompts include:
- “WashU wants to know more about you, so please share with us your response to the following question: Why do you want to study what you selected to be your possible major and why do you want to study it at WashU?”
What tends to go wrong
- Writing a Why Major essay that doesn't mention WashU at all for the first 200 words.
- Applying to WashU as a 'safety from the Ivies' and letting it show in the supplement.
- Listing WashU's strengths (flexibility, collaborative culture) without connecting them to a specific program you'd engage with.
Stronger ways to open
- Open by naming a specific combination only WashU's flexibility enables (say, computer science through McKelvey Engineering plus studio art through Sam Fox, or biology through A&S plus social entrepreneurship through Olin).
- Ground the major choice in a concrete moment, not a childhood origin story. WashU readers have read every 'ever since I was young' opener.
- If you're applying to Olin (business), be specific about which Olin strengths draw you: the Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations course, the Hatchery entrepreneurship sequence, or the integrated liberal arts and business core.
Application Timeline
- ED I/II deadline: November 1
- Regular Decision deadline: January 4
- Testing: SAT/ACT optional. Submit if your scores fall within or above the mid-50% range.
WashU essay tools
Score, brainstorm, or revise WashU essays with tools tuned to WashU's prompts.
WashU vs. Peer Schools
Side-by-side comparison with similar Elite Private schools applicants typically consider.
| School | Accept | SAT mid-50 | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| WashU This page | 12.1% | 1500–1570 | $21,786 |
| Stanford | 3.7% | 1500–1580 | $13,807 |
| Duke | 5.1% | 1490–1570 | $29,612 |
| Northwestern | 7.2% | 1500–1560 | $29,167 |
| Johns Hopkins | 7.3% | 1530–1570 | $18,809 |
| UChicago | 5.4% | 1510–1580 | $14,860 |
FAQ
How hard is it to get into WashU?
WashU is highly selective. The most recently published acceptance rate is 12.1%. Admitted students score in the 1500–1570 SAT range. Test scores are necessary but not sufficient. Holistic review weighs essays, activities, recommendations, and demographic context.
What SAT score do I need for WashU?
Admitted students at WashU typically score between 1500 and 1570 on the SAT. A quarter of admits scored above 1570, and a quarter scored below 1500. Scores in this range are competitive but do not guarantee admission.
How much does WashU cost?
The published cost of attendance at WashU is $91,290 per year before financial aid. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $21,786. Most highly selective schools meet 100% of demonstrated need for families below specific income thresholds.
What is the graduation rate at WashU?
94.3% of students at WashU graduate within 6 years (the standard federal graduation rate metric).
How flexible is WashU's cross-school system?
Very. Students can major in one school and minor or double-major in another with minimal bureaucracy. This is WashU's structural distinctive and worth engaging with.
Is WashU need-blind for admissions?
WashU became need-blind for first-year domestic applicants in 2021. Meeting demonstrated need is a stated commitment. Policies can shift, so verify for your application year.
What is Olin Business School?
WashU's undergraduate business school. Distinguished by its integrated liberal arts requirement (Olin students take substantial coursework outside business) and its small-class culture.
What is Sam Fox School?
WashU's combined school of architecture and visual art. Undergraduates in art, design, or architecture apply to Sam Fox specifically and can cross-register with the rest of the university.
Does WashU have a Core Curriculum?
No single required Core, but each school has its own distribution requirements. The model is flexibility within structure.
Sources
All numerical data on this page is sourced from official, primary sources. Admissions stats reflect the most recent publicly published cycle. Verify current figures with WashU's admissions office before applying.
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — federally maintained dataset on admissions, cost, demographics, and post-graduation outcomes (IPEDS-derived).
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) — the underlying federal data collection that all U.S. accredited institutions report into annually.
- Washington University in St. Louis official admissions site — for the most current published figures and application requirements.
- WashU Common Data Set — the standardized annual data document published by the school.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect WashU's most recent publicly published admit cycle.