University of Washington

University of Washington Overview

University of Washington is a public, state school in the urban setting of Seattle, Washington. UW was founded in 1861 and the school currently enrolls around 52,439 students per year, including 36,206 undergraduates. UW provides housing for up to 11,123 students. Most students live in off campus housing.

📆 Mark your calendar! November 16, 2023 is the final deadline to submit an application for the Fall 2023 semester. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should receive admissions decisions by March 15.

There are many ways for students to get involved at UW!

Are you interested in music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of the school's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? UW students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Thinking of pledging? UW has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? UW has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at UW on the Student Life page.

2022 UW Facts At-A-Glance
Academic Calendar	Quarter
Overall Acceptance Rate	53%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate	ED not offered
Early Action Acceptance Rate	EA not offered
Average GPA	3.8
In-State Tuition	$10,927
Out-of-State	$38,757
Percent of Need Met	75%
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package	$16,949

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Is UW a Good School?

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The definition of a "good school" can mean different things for different people. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how selective an institution is.

Let's take a look at these areas to get a clearer view of what UW offers and if it might be the right college for you.

2022 Acceptance Rate for University of Washington

It is very difficult to get into UW. Around 53% of applicants get into UW each year. Last year, 48,840 students applied to UW and 26,121 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at UW

Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Approximately 93% of students who start at UW return the next year. 84% of UW undergrads graduate within six years. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outlook UW Graduates

Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school. Within six months of graduating, 56% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.

Check with UW directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

UW's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.

As of 2022, the total market value of University of Washington's endowment was $4.6 billion. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, UW spends about $26,863 a year.

Tuition and Financial Aid at UW

Tuition cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

UW meets 75% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $16,949 a year.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $18,241 in student loans for each student with debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! No one should ever pay to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at UW.

Based on this information, is UW the school for you? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may be a terrible fit for another! So ask yourself: Is UW a good school for you?

If University of Washington seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

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Still Researching Schools?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Admissions

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

UW Community Forums

Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting admitted to some of the schools in the U.S.

Where is UW?

UW is located in the urban setting of Seattle, Washington, in the suburbs of Seattle.

If you would like to see UW for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 5 to Seattle, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Seattle-Tacoma International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what UW and Seattle are like without leaving home.

Considering Colleges and Universities in Washington?

See a full list of colleges in Washington and save your favorites to your college list.