WashU Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements

Washington University in St Louis is one of the renowned universities in the USA. It is very competitive to get admission to. The acceptance rate of Washington University in St Louis (WashU) is 11.76%. This means that only 12 out of every 100 applicants are admitted.

How Competitive are Washington University in St Louis Admissions?

Highly Competitive: Applicants need strong academics and extracurriculars.
GPA, SAT/ACT, and AP/IB courses significantly impact admission chances.
A holistic review considers essays, recommendations, and leadership roles.

Washington University in St Louis Admission Competitiveness

With one of the lowest acceptance rates in the US, you need to be excellent in every area to get selected. However, since the acceptance rate is not below 10%, you still have a chance if your GPA isn't perfect. You can make up for a GPA deficiency by scoring high on the SAT, and ACT, and taking IB or AP courses. Meeting Washington University in St Louis's GPA and standardized test (SAT/ACT) requirements is crucial, as failing to do so may prevent your application from moving forward. These requirements act as automatic filters, so meeting them is vital; failing to do so makes your chance of getting in nearly zero.

Additionally, a well-written letter of recommendation, your participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and your interpersonal communication skills can enhance your admission chances.

Washington University in St Louis Admission Requirements

WashU GPA Requirement

The average GPA of the admitted students at WashU is 4. It means that WashU is very selective in terms of the GPA. (Most schools report a weighted GPA, which is out of 4.0. However, some schools may use unweighted GPAs. For exact information, contact the school admission staff).

With an average GPA of 4, WashU requires you to be near the top of your class. You need to score mostly A's in all classes to have good chances of admission. A couple of B's will not hurt you much, but more B's will put you in the lower category of the students. Additionally, you must take AP or IB courses to demonstrate your academic ability. More specifically, your AP and IB courses must be related to the area of your selected course of study. For example, if you are planning a career in engineering or IT, courses related to mathematics, calculus, and physics will help you.

If your GPA is less than 4 and higher than 3.7 then you need higher SAT or ACT scores to compensate. You need a minimum of 3.6 GPA, to secure admission at WashU. Below this, the chances of admission will be very slim.

Can I Get Into WashU Without SAT Or ACT?: Washington University in St Louis considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. Hence you are required to plan early and appear in upcoming SAT / ACT tests. Check the schedule of the test and plan accordingly. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students, as given below.

Washington University in St Louis (WashU) SAT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them. The test score policy is already mentioned.

Washington University in St Louis Average SAT Score: 1525
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Washington University in St Louis is 1525 on the 1600 SAT scale.

Washington University in St Louis SAT Competitiveness

This score makes it Extremely Competitive for SAT test scores. You need to do extremely well to score 1525 on the SAT.
If your score is below 1500, consider retaking the SAT to improve your chances of admission to WashU. It is not strange to appear multiple times for the SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.

Washington University in St Louis SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
SAT Math	785	770	800
SAT Reading	750	730	770
SAT Composite	1525	1500	1570

It means that if you have scored less than 1500 then you are below most of the admitted students at WashU and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1570 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students. View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1550

Can I get into Washington University in St Louis (WashU) with a 1550 SAT?

With a 1550 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Washington University in St Louis (WashU) are good but the admission staff at WashU tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.

Washington University in St Louis (WashU) ACT Requirements

The average ACT Score at WashU is 34.

Washington University in St Louis ACT Competitiveness

This score makes Washington University in St Louis Extremely Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do extremely well to score 34 on the ACT.

Washington University in St Louis ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
ACT Math	33	31	35
ACT English	35	34	36
ACT Composite	34	33	35

Can I get into Washington University in St Louis with a 35 ACT?

With a 35 ACT Score, your chances of admission at Washington University in St Louis are good but the admission staff does not check your ACT Score only. The College Admission process tests your all-around personality and academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission.

SAT Vs ACT: Which score to send

You can compare your scores in SAT and ACT to the average SAT and ACT Scores of the admitted students at Washington University in St Louis. More importantly, comparing your scores with the 25th and 75th percentiles of SAT and ACT scores will give you a better understanding of where you stand. If your score on the SAT is near the 75th percentile SAT score, then you must send your SAT score. If your ACT score is near the 75th percentile, then you must send your ACT Score.

But there is more, if both of your scores are in the same range, then it is better to send an ACT Score, as in the case of ACT, you can control which score to send as opposed to SAT.

Here is how: When sending the ACT Score, you can decide which score you want to send to the colleges. You could take 8 ACT tests, and only send your highest one. This is not the case with the SAT, where your score report mentions all of your attempts.

View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 34.

WashU Profile

Name: Washington University in St Louis (WashU)

City: Saint Louis

URL: https://wustl.edu/

State: Missouri

Type: Non-Profit Private

Zip: 63130-4899

Campus: Main

Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)

Does a degree from WashU Worth It?

Getting into WashU can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. WashU offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision. Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at WashU is USD: 79298.58 and unemployment rate is 3.04%.

How much does a degree from WashU Cost?

The average annual cost of the degree at Washington University in St Louis is USD: 81620. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Washington University in St Louis is much less than this.

How can I get a scholarship?

14.91% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 12.58 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to WashU and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.

At Washington University in St Louis, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist WashU as your choice in the form.

How much a WashU Graduate make?

The average annual salary of the WashU graduate after 4-6 years of graduation is USD 86182. An average WashU graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4-6 years after graduation).

The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is USD: 40595

Less Competitive Schools

These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Washington University in St Louis. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower than the requirements of Washington University in St Louis, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Claremont McKenna College	Claremont McKenna College, CA	1514	34
Georgetown University	Georgetown University, DC	1507	34
University of Notre Dame	University of Notre Dame, IN	1515	34
Colby College	Colby College, ME	1501	33
Amherst College	Amherst College, MA	1513	34
Boston College	Boston College, MA	1500	34
Northeastern University	Northeastern University, MA	1505	34
Tufts University	Tufts University, MA	1513	34
Wellesley College	Wellesley College, MA	1500	34
Barnard College	Barnard College, NY	1495	33

Equally Competitive Schools

These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Washington University in St Louis. If your SAT or ACT score are competitive for Washington University in St Louis, you'll be competitive for these schools also.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Pomona College	Pomona College, CA	1520	34
University of Southern California	University of Southern California, CA	1520	34
University of Chicago	University of Chicago, IL	1532	35
Northwestern University	Northwestern University, IL	1526	34
University of Notre Dame	University of Notre Dame, IN	1515	34

More Competitive Schools

These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Washington University in St Louis. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Harvey Mudd College	Harvey Mudd College, CA	1539	35
Yale University	Yale University, CT	1547	34
University of Chicago	University of Chicago, IL	1532	35
Northwestern University	Northwestern University, IL	1526	34
Johns Hopkins University	Johns Hopkins University, MD	1553	35

Degree Programs

Bachelor Degree Programs

Full list of All degree programs offered by Washington University in St Louis.

Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard's latest data as provided in 2024, US Department of Education's latest 2024 statistics, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.