WashU: the complete school report for parents

What does WashU actually weigh in admissions?

WashU rates 8 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, test scores, the essay, recommendations, personal qualities, talent, class rank. It does not consider 1 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is WashU's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What is the WashU waitlist really like?

WashU offered a place on its waiting list to applicants and 3,865 accepted one. 327 were ultimately admitted. That is 8.5% of those who waited.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

WashU admitted 15.2% of 1,603 transfer applicants, against 11.9% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 27.0% of ED applicants were admitted against 11.9% overall, a gap of 15 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.

What does my child need to take in high school?

WashU sets no fixed course requirements, but recommends 20 academic units. A college-preparatory program is required. A GED is accepted.

What will WashU actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $21,786 a year at WashU after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $71,310. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 100% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 44 merit awards averaging $36,250 to first-years with no demonstrated need.

18% of WashU graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $22,127 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $186 a month in repayment. WashU’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from WashU pay off?

Graduates earn a median $86,182 ten years after entering, and $78,073 at six years. 89% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 88% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

$190,811 to $56,053, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at WashU:

College Scorecard, by field of study.

Will my child actually graduate?

95% of first-years return for a second year. 93% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 93.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 93.0% of everyone else, a gap of 0.0 points.

How big are the classes?

66% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 3% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 7:1, and 73% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Higher Learning Commission.

What is life at WashU like?

8,153 undergraduates, 84% of first-years from out of state. 100% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 71% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 17% of men join a fraternity and 21% of women a sorority. 11% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $79,298.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. WashU recommends 20 academic units.
• WashU rates test scores Very Important, so a score at or above its middle-50 range is close to expected rather than optional.
• Early Decision is worth 15 points of admit rate, but it is binding and removes any ability to compare aid offers.
• The waitlist is live but thin: 327 of 3,865 who waited were admitted, about 8%.
• Its highest-earning major returns $190,811 five years out against $56,053 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about WashU

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