Washington State University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Pullman, Washington · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Washington State University is a public institution located in Pullman, Washington. For the most recent reporting cycle, Washington State University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 85%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $14,401 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Washington State University 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 State University?
Washington State University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission. 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 State University weight in admissions?
Washington State University reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Class rank
- • Application essay
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Standardized test scores
- • Recommendations
- • Interview
- • First generation status
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
- • Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Washington State University 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.
| 25th percentile | 1010 |
| 50th percentile | 1130 |
| 75th percentile | 1280 |
| % submitting SAT | 5% |
| 25th percentile | 18 |
| 50th percentile | 22 |
| 75th percentile | 27 |
| % submitting ACT | 2% |
- • Test-blind: Washington State University does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • Policy detail: Not considered
How much does Washington State University actually cost?
Published tuition is $12,997 for in-state students and $29,073 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,131 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $14,401 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 26% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $11,678 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $28,784 |
| Room and board | $14,428 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $14,401 |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Washington State University
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
Will my child graduate from Washington State University?
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 Washington parents ask about
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like Washington State University
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like Washington State University 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 State University
What GPA do I need for Washington State University?
Washington State University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does Washington State University typically admit?
Washington State University 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 Washington State University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Washington State University after grants and scholarships is $14,401 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 State University 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 State University 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 State University, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.