Washington University in St Louis: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Saint Louis, Missouri · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025
Washington University in St Louis is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Washington University in St Louis admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 57%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1147 and an ACT composite around 26. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $12,323 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Washington University in St Louis is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for Washington University in St Louis?
Washington University in St Louis admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does Washington University in St Louis weight in admissions?
Washington University in St Louis reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Academic GPA
- • Class rank
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Standardized test scores
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Extracurricular activities
- • First generation status
- • Geographical residence
- • Interview
- • Level of applicant's interest
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
- • State residency
- • Talent/ability
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
SAT and ACT scores Washington University in St Louis typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 530–600, with an EBRW midpoint near 575. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 20–27. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | — |
| 50th percentile | 1147 |
| 75th percentile | — |
| % submitting SAT | 26% |
| 25th percentile | 20 |
| 50th percentile | 26 |
| 75th percentile | 27 |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Optional
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 20.63% |
| Top 25% of class | 45.24% |
| Top 50% of class | 75.4% |
| % submitting class rank | 51.43% |
How much does Washington University in St Louis actually cost?
Published tuition is $13,440 for in-state students and $33,432 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,104 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $12,323 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| Average net price (after aid) | $12,323 |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Washington University in St Louis
| Notification date | - |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
Will my child graduate from Washington University in St Louis?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Other colleges in Missouri parents ask about
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like Washington University in St Louis
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like Washington University in St Louis recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about Washington University in St Louis
What GPA do I need for Washington University in St Louis?
Washington University in St Louis admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does Washington University in St Louis typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 530–600, with an EBRW midpoint near 575. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 20–27.
How much does Washington University in St Louis actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Washington University in St Louis after grants and scholarships is $12,323 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is Washington University in St Louis realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, Washington University in St Louis is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Washington University in St Louis, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.