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Colleges / Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University in St. Louis

St. Louis, MO 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate11%

WashU Admissions

Washington University in St. Louis is extremely difficult to get into. The acceptance rate at Washington University in St. Louis is 11%. In 2023, just 3,764 out of the 33,214 students who applied were accepted.

If you are considering submitting an application to Washington University in St. Louis, the regular decision application deadline is January 3 and the application fee is $75.

Students who submit their applications to Washington University in St. Louis for fall should receive an admissions decision no later than April 1.

Washington University in St. Louis Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here is an overiew of some of Washington University in St. Louis's admissions stats.

Washington University in St. Louis 2023 Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA 4.0
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class 90%
Mean SAT Score 1527
Admissions Test Policy Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs 27%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs 33%
Waitlist Yes

Washington University in St. Louis Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Washington University in St. Louis.

Application Type Offered Application Deadline Notification Deadline
Early Decision I Yes November 1 December 15
Early Decision II Yes January 3 February 16
Early Action No – –
Regular Decision Yes 1 3 April 1

Applying Early to Washington University in St. Louis?


Washington University in St. Louis offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, which means you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

πŸ—“οΈ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 15.

πŸ—“οΈ Early Decision II applications are due January 3. ED II Applicants will recieve their decision before February 16.

The early decision acceptance rate at Washington University in St. Louis is 27%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 11%. Last year, Washington University in St. Louis admitted 1112 of the 4175 students who applied early decision.

Some students apply early to college to help their chances of being offering admission. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of acceptance, since it shows that you are very interested in a school.

➑️ Discover a list of some top colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.


More on Washington University in St. Louis Admissions


Transferring to Washington University in St. Louis

Transfer student admissions is extremely difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University in St. Louis has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does Washington University in St. Louis Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are they consider most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the areas where you stand out.

Admissions Factors at Washington University in St. Louis

Curious about the factors that are considered by Washington University in St. Louis during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor Level
Character/Personal Qualities Very Important
Class Rank Very Important
Application Essay Very Important
Recommendation(s) Very Important
Standardized Test Scores Very Important
Talent/Ability Very Important
Academic GPA Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record Very Important
Extracurricular Activities Important
Volunteer Work Important
Work Experience Important
First Generation Important
Alumni/ae Relations Considered
Geographical Residence Considered
Interview Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status Considered

Make sure to check with Washington University in St. Louis for more information on admission factors.

Washington University in St. Louis Application Requirements

To apply to Washington University in St. Louis, all applicants must submit the following items. Check in with Washington University in St. Louis's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area Required Recommended Required for Some Details (If Any)
Other Requirements – – √ Portfolio for the College of Art and the College of Architecture
Transcript(S) of College Record – – – –
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S) – – – –
Letter(s) of Recommendation 2 – – –
Written Essay or Personal Statement √ – – –
Transcript of High School Record √ – – –

GPA and Testing


What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Washington University in St. Louis?

Students admitted to Washington University in St. Louis have an average unweighted GPA of 4.0. Washington University in St. Louis considers weighted GPA scores from incomging students.

Out of all students that were admitted, 29% submitted a class rank. At Washington University in St. Louis 90% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 99% were in the top 25% and 100% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Washington University in St. Louis, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA Percent of Students
4.0 GPA 67%
3.75 and 3.99 24%
3.50 and 3.74 6%
3.25 and 3.49 3%
3.00 and 3.24 –
2.50 and 2.9 –
2.00 and 2.49 –

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Washington University in St. Louis directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Washington University in St. Louis is test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 27% of Washington University in St. Louis's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 33% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Washington University in St. Louis?

To be competitive with other Washington University in St. Louis applicants, you should aim to score between 1500 and 1570 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Washington University in St. Louis 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1570 and 25% of scored lower than 1500, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Washington University in St. Louis student is 1527.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Washington University in St. Louis students scored 800 or higher and 75% of students scored 730 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Washington University in St. Louis students scored 770 or higher, and 75% scored a 730 or higher.

To be most competitive at Washington University in St. Louis, you should strive to earn between 33 and 35 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 35 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Washington University in St. Louis's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 35, and three out of four students scored lower than 35 on the ACT.

A 33 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Washington University in St. Louis students. Only one out of every four students scored below 33.

More Information on Transferring to Washington University in St. Louis

For transfer students, it is extremely difficult to get admitted to Washington University in St. Louis.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 1. Applicants should hear back by May 1.

Transfer students can enroll in Washington University in St. Louis during the following terms:

β€’ Fall Term

β€’ Winter Term

β€’ Spring Term

β€’ Winter Term

β€’ Summer Term


Washington University in St. Louis Admissions FAQs


Can I defer my acceptance to Washington University in St. Louis?

βœ… Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Washington University in St. Louis.

Does Washington University in St. Louis accept transfer credits?

βœ… Washington University in St. Louis accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. Washington University in St. Louis accepts:

β€’ CLEP subject tests β€’ DSST/DANTES

Does Washington University in St. Louis accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

βœ… Washington University in St. Louis accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Washington University in St. Louis?

❌ No, Washington University in St. Louis is test optional, so you can make the call whether or not to submit your standardized test scores. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you probably want to include them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is Washington University in St. Louis's acceptance rate?

βœ… Washington University in St. Louis has an acceptance rate of 11%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Washington University in St. Louis?

βœ… Washington University in St. Louis's early decision acceptance rate was 27% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About Washington University in St. Louis?

To learn more about Washington University in St. Louis, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Washington University in St. Louis

Explore other colleges in Missouri or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.

WashU Admissions Requirements

Admission Difficulty

Selective

11%

How hard is it to get into WashU? WashU is a selective institution. The WashU acceptance rate is 11%. This means that the institution accepts 11 out of every 100 applicants.

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WashU Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Jan 3

Transfer Applications are Due

Mar 1

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to WashU is Jan 3.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to WashU is Mar 1.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

WashU SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

1500 - 1570

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Math SAT Range

770 - 800

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Reading SAT Range

730 - 770

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

SAT Score

Estimated Chance

1570 and Above

Good

1500 to 1570

Avg

1500 and Less

Low

SAT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

The median SAT score for WashU students is 1527. Applicants with SAT scores of 1570 and above have a good chance of being admitted to WashU, while applicants with SAT scores between 1500 to 1570 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1500 have a low chance of being offered a spot at WashU.

WashU GPA

Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)

4.0

GPA Needed to Get Accepted

At WashU, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 4.0. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases Β© 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

17,012

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

11%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$62,982

Out-of-State

$62,982

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 3
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