Washington University in St Louis: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
St. Louis, Missouri · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2024-2025
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Washington University in St Louis is a private nonprofit university in St. Louis, Missouri that admits about 12% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $21,786 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer Science, Research and Experimental Psychology and Finance and Financial Management Services, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 94% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 8.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Washington University in St Louis is a private institution located in St. Louis, Missouri and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Washington University in St Louis admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 12%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1540 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $21,786 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Washington University in St Louis?
65% of enrolled students at Washington University in St Louis had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.19, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What does Washington University in St Louis weight in admissions?
Washington University in St Louis reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Class rank
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Extracurricular activities
- • First generation status
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
SAT and ACT scores Washington University in St Louis typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 770–800, with an EBRW midpoint near 750. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1500 |
| 50th percentile | 1540 |
| 75th percentile | 1570 |
| % submitting SAT | 29% |
| 25th percentile | 33 |
| 50th percentile | 34 |
| 75th percentile | 35 |
| % submitting ACT | 28% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
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 | 86% |
| Top 25% of class | 98% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| % submitting class rank | 28% |
How much does Washington University in St Louis actually cost?
Published tuition is $65,790 for in-state students and $65,790 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $21,854 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $21,786 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $68,240 |
| Room and board | $23,338 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $21,786 |
| Application fee | $75 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Washington University in St Louis
| Regular deadline | January 2 |
| Notification date | April 1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 3 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 2 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 25% |
Will my child graduate from Washington University in St Louis?
These predict outcomes at Washington University in St Louis better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Washington University in St Louis
The most popular undergraduate programs at Washington University in St Louis, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer Science, Research and Experimental Psychology and Finance and Financial Management Services. Across all programs, Washington University in St Louis confers roughly 1,029 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Finance and Financial Management Services program report a median income of about $190,811 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 205 | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 189 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 181 | $190,811 |
| Economics | 105 | $79,278 |
| Anthropology | 91 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 89 | $101,263 |
| Biology, General | 87 | $76,908 |
| Political Science and Government | 82 | — |
Is Washington University in St Louis safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Washington University in St Louis disclosed 70 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 8.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 12 violent offenses and 8 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Washington University in St Louis?
About 69% of undergraduates at Washington University in St Louis live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 16% of men join a fraternity and 23% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
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Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for Washington University in St Louis
Common questions parents ask about Washington University in St Louis
What GPA do I need for Washington University in St Louis?
65% of enrolled students at Washington University in St Louis had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.19, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Washington University in St Louis typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 770–800, with an EBRW midpoint near 750. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35.
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 $21,786 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $65,790. Budget against the net figure.
Is Washington University in St Louis realistic for my child?
Washington University in St Louis admits 12% of applicants, so 770–800 SAT Math is target range and below 770 is a reach. Then check the $21,786 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Washington University in St Louis?
Washington University in St Louis accepts about 12% of applicants out of roughly 32,754 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is Washington University in St Louis test-optional?
Yes. Washington University in St Louis is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Washington University in St Louis?
About 94% of students at Washington University in St Louis graduate within six years. 95% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Washington University in St Louis?
Washington University in St Louis's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 25%, compared with its overall rate of 12%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Washington University in St Louis look for in applicants?
Washington University in St Louis rates course rigor, class rank, GPA and test scores as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Washington University in St Louis a public or private school, and where is it located?
Washington University in St Louis is a private nonprofit institution located in St. Louis, Missouri.
What are the most popular majors at Washington University in St Louis?
The largest undergraduate majors at Washington University in St Louis by annual graduates are Computer Science, Research and Experimental Psychology and Finance and Financial Management Services. The school awards about 1,029 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Washington University in St Louis safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Washington University in St Louis reported 70 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 8.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Washington University in St Louis?
At Washington University in St Louis, 69% of undergraduates live on campus, 16% of men are in fraternities, 23% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Washington University in St Louis, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers