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

Seattle, Washington · Public · Selective · CDS 2024-2025

Acceptance rate
43%
69,166 applicants
Avg SAT
1410
Mid 50: 1333–1500
In-state tuition
$12,643
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$13,485
after aid, what families pay
Quick answer

University of Washington-Seattle Campus is a public university in Seattle, Washington that admits about 43% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $13,485 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 43%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $13,485 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Washington-Seattle Campus 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 University of Washington-Seattle Campus?

Admitted students at University of Washington-Seattle Campus typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses. 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.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
18.3%
3.75–3.99
56.6%
3.50–3.74
17.6%
3.25–3.49
5.7%
3.00–3.24
1.6%
2.50–2.99
0.3%
Below 2.50
0.0%
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Washington-Seattle Campus.

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

University of Washington-Seattle Campus reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

Very Important3 factors
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
  • Application essay
Important5 factors
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • First generation status
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience
Considered2 factors
  • Character/personal qualities
  • State residency
Not Considered8 factors
  • Class rank
  • Standardized test scores
  • Recommendations
  • Interview
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Geographical residence
  • Religious affiliation/commitment
  • Level of applicant's interest

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

Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year — check the latest test-optional status before deciding.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1333
50th percentile1410
75th percentile1500
% submitting SAT15%
ACT Composite
25th percentile28
50th percentile30
75th percentile33
% submitting ACT4%
Current testing policy
  • Test-blind: University of Washington-Seattle Campus does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
  • • Policy detail: Not considered

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

Published tuition is $12,643 for in-state students and $41,997 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,982 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $13,485 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 15% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

In-state tuition$11,869
Out-of-state tuition$42,105
Room and board$18,405
Average net price (after aid)$13,485
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?

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.

Freshman retention
95%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
73.8%
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. Major popularity is a practical signal of where a school concentrates its teaching strength and where your child will find the deepest course offerings and peer community.

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Computer and Information Sciences, General565$121,341
Research and Experimental Psychology565
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. Per-1,000-student rates matter more than raw counts when comparing schools, because larger universities mechanically report more incidents. Under the federal Clery Act, every college that receives federal aid must publish these numbers annually.

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 disclosures (2024) cover on-campus, noncampus, and adjacent public-property incidents; rates use an enrollment of 31,942 students.

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. 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
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Washington-Seattle Campus.

Other colleges in Washington parents ask about

How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Washington-Seattle Campus 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 University of Washington-Seattle Campus

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

Admitted students at University of Washington-Seattle Campus typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.

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. Test-optional policies have made scores less universally required, but submitting strong scores still helps when available.

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 $13,485 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 University of Washington-Seattle Campus 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, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.

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

University of Washington-Seattle Campus accepts about 43% of applicants out of roughly 69,166 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.

Is University of Washington-Seattle Campus test-optional?

University of Washington-Seattle Campus is test-blind: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.

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 74% 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 and the application essay 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, according to its most recent Common Data Set.

Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Washington-Seattle Campus, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act campus safety disclosures. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.