University of Washington-Seattle Campus: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Seattle, Washington · Public · Selective · CDS 2025-2026

Admission at a glance

Common Data Set 2025-2026

  • Test-optional
72,933
Applicants
30,446
Admitted42%
7,129
Enrolled
23%
Yield rate

Selectivity

Selective42% admitted
AccessibleHighly selective
Median SAT
1440
Mid 50: 1320–1502
In-state tuition
$12,260
per year, before aid (CDS 2025-2026)
Net price (avg)
$14,091
after aid, what families pay

Ranked #49 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #26 (tie), Business Programs #20 (tie), Computer Science #8 (tie), Nursing #1 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027

Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by University of Washington-Seattle Campus (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.

Is University of Washington-Seattle Campus a reach, target or safety for your student?

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Quick answer

University of Washington-Seattle Campus is a public university in Seattle, Washington that admits about 42% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $14,091 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer and Information Sciences, General, Research and Experimental Psychology and Computer Science, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 85% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 12.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.

University of Washington-Seattle Campus is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Washington-Seattle Campus admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 42%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1440. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $14,091 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for University of Washington-Seattle Campus?

76% of enrolled students at University of Washington-Seattle Campus had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.84, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
18.1%
3.75–3.99
58.1%
3.50–3.74
18.1%
3.25–3.49
4.4%
3.00–3.24
1.0%
2.50–2.99
0.2%
Below 2.50
0.1%
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Washington-Seattle Campus.

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What does University of Washington-Seattle Campus weight in admissions?

University of Washington-Seattle Campus reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

Very Important

4
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
  • Application essay
  • State residency

Important

5
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • First generation status
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience

Considered

1
  • Character/personal qualities

Not Considered

8
  • Class rank
  • Standardized test scores
  • Recommendations
  • Interview
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Geographical residence
  • Religious affiliation/commitment
  • Level of applicant's interest

How University of Washington-Seattle Campus reads an application: what each weighting means for your child, plus waitlist, transfer and early-round odds

SAT and ACT scores University of Washington-Seattle Campus typically admits

A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1320
50th percentile1440
75th percentile1502
% submitting SAT19.12%
ACT Composite
25th percentile30
50th percentile32
75th percentile34
% submitting ACT4.89%
Current testing policy
  • • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • SAT/ACT requirement permanently removed; scores rarely used. Homeschooled and non-graded-school applicants must still submit.
  • • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on University of Washington-Seattle Campus's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.

How much does University of Washington-Seattle Campus actually cost?

Published tuition is $12,973 for in-state students and $43,209 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,405 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $14,091 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 15% of students receive Pell Grants.

In-state tuition$12,260
Out-of-state tuition$43,494
Required fees$1,146
Room and board$18,405
Average net price (after aid)$14,091
Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need74%
Average need-based grant$21,532
Average merit award, no financial need628 first-year students received one$4,399
Graduates who borrowed26%
Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed$19,384
Financial aid formsFAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list
Application fee$80 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Regular admission
Regular deadlineNovember 15
Notification dateMarch 15
Reply deadlineMay 1

Will my child graduate from University of Washington-Seattle Campus?

These predict outcomes at University of Washington-Seattle Campus better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Freshman retention
95%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
74.6%
finished on time
6-year graduation
85%
finished within 6 years

Most popular majors at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Washington-Seattle Campus, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer and Information Sciences, General, Research and Experimental Psychology and Computer Science. Across all programs, University of Washington-Seattle Campus confers roughly 3,257 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Computer and Information Sciences, General program report a median income of about $121,341 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Computer and Information Sciences, General565$121,341
Research and Experimental Psychology565n/a
Computer Science494$162,117
Political Science and Government399$68,104
Economics328$92,399
Communication and Media Studies314$68,260
Public Health297$65,780
Finance and Financial Management Services295$106,265
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Is University of Washington-Seattle Campus safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Washington-Seattle Campus disclosed 402 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 12.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 53 violent offenses and 32 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

Total offenses
402
12.6 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
53
1.66 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
32
1.00 per 1,000
Burglary
105
reported incidents
Clery Act 2024, rates per 31,942 enrolled.

What is campus life like at University of Washington-Seattle Campus?

About 24% of undergraduates at University of Washington-Seattle Campus live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 7% of men join a fraternity and 9% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Live on campus
24%
of undergraduates
Classes under 20 students
29%
of course sections
Classes of 100 or more
12%
of course sections
In fraternities
7%
of men
In sororities
9%
of women
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Washington-Seattle Campus.

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Next steps for University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Common questions parents ask about University of Washington-Seattle Campus

What GPA do I need for University of Washington-Seattle Campus?

76% of enrolled students at University of Washington-Seattle Campus had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.84, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What SAT or ACT score does University of Washington-Seattle Campus typically admit?

University of Washington-Seattle Campus does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Scores are optional here, and a strong one can still help when the rest of the application is borderline.

How much does University of Washington-Seattle Campus actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at University of Washington-Seattle Campus after grants and scholarships is $14,091 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $12,973 and $43,209 out of state. Budget against the net figure.

Is University of Washington-Seattle Campus realistic for my child?

University of Washington-Seattle Campus admits 42% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $14,091 average net price against what your family can carry.

What is the acceptance rate at University of Washington-Seattle Campus?

University of Washington-Seattle Campus accepts about 42% of applicants out of roughly 72,933 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.

Is University of Washington-Seattle Campus test-optional?

Yes. University of Washington-Seattle Campus is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered. SAT/ACT requirement permanently removed; scores rarely used. Homeschooled and non-graded-school applicants must still submit.

What is the graduation rate at University of Washington-Seattle Campus?

About 85% of students at University of Washington-Seattle Campus graduate within six years, and 75% finish in four years. 95% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.

What does University of Washington-Seattle Campus look for in applicants?

University of Washington-Seattle Campus rates course rigor, GPA, the application essay and state residency as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.

Is University of Washington-Seattle Campus a public or private school, and where is it located?

University of Washington-Seattle Campus is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington.

What are the most popular majors at University of Washington-Seattle Campus?

The largest undergraduate majors at University of Washington-Seattle Campus by annual graduates are Computer and Information Sciences, General, Research and Experimental Psychology and Computer Science. The school awards about 3,257 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.

Is University of Washington-Seattle Campus safe? What is its campus crime rate?

University of Washington-Seattle Campus reported 402 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 12.6 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 University of Washington-Seattle Campus?

At University of Washington-Seattle Campus, 24% of undergraduates live on campus, 7% of men are in fraternities, 9% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.

Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Washington-Seattle Campus, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers