Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Topeka, Kansas
Washburn University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
3.46Avg GPA
$20,949Annual Cost
$49,774Grad Salary
30.5%Pell Grant
Avg GPA
3.46
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$13,046
Need-Based Aid
30.5% receive Pell
Washburn University is a public comprehensive university in Topeka, Kansas serving over 6,000 students. Established in 1865, Washburn offers 200+ programs through its College of Arts and Sciences and professional schools of Business, Nursing, and Law. The 160-acre campus features the 'Memorial Union,' the 'Living Learning Center' residence hall, and the 'Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center.'
Washburn excels in professional programs like criminal justice, social work, and legal studies that boast strong regional employment outcomes. The university's 'School of Law' is consistently ranked among the nation's best value law schools. Washburn maintains partnerships with Stormont Vail Health and the Kansas State Government for internships and research. The university's 'Kansas Bureau of Investigation' forensic science program is nationally recognized. Washburn's commitment to affordability includes the 'Washburn Transform' scholarship covering full tuition for qualifying students.
Washburn University Acceptance Rate
Washburn University runs an open-access admission policy — with a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.46 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.26 – 3.45
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.01
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Washburn University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Washburn University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Washburn University reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (Freshman scholarship priority: 2026/11/15) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Washburn University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Washburn University is 3.46. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.16–3.46 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.66–3.86.Washburn University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.46 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.26 – 3.45
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.06 – 3.25
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.05
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Washburn requires no minimum GPA, test scores, essays, or recommendation letters for freshman admission - a 2.0 HS GPA is quickly admitted, and a 3.0+ GPA triggers an automatic merit scholarship.
- Washburn is a municipally chartered university (one of the few in the U.S. still owned by a city, Topeka) - a distinctive governance structure that shapes its local tuition/access mission.
- Washburn Law School requires the LSAT or GRE for admission, but this is the exception - most other graduate programs at Washburn do not require standardized test scores.
- The School of Nursing's Early Acceptance Pathway for high schoolers has its own deadline structure (final transcript by July 31, review starting August 1) - distinct from and earlier than the standard BSN application cycle.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Washburn University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Washburn University's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Washburn University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Washburn University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Washburn University Without SAT or ACT?
Washburn University's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Washburn University
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into Washburn University is the easy part — what matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Understand Washburn's disjunctive admission bar and use it to your advantage financially
Washburn requires no test scores, essays, or letters of recommendation for freshman admission - a 2.0 high school GPA gets you admitted quickly, but a 3.0+ GPA automatically triggers a merit scholarship with zero additional application needed. If your GPA is hovering near 3.0, push to finish above it before applying; this single number change unlocks free money without an essay or committee review.
Use the Early Acceptance Pathway to lock in a nursing seat directly from high school - before you ever compete in the standard applicant pool
Washburn's School of Nursing offers an Early Acceptance Pathway specifically for high school seniors: it requires formal admission to Washburn, a signed acknowledgment of professional nursing aptitudes, one reference from an employer/counselor/science teacher, and a final transcript by July 31, with review beginning August 1. If nursing is your goal and you're still in high school, apply to this pathway directly rather than waiting to compete for a seat as a transfer or later-declared applicant - it sidesteps the standard, more competitive BSN application cycle entirely.
If applying to standard BSN admission (not the Early Acceptance Pathway), hit the exact prerequisite sequencing, not just the GPA floor
Washburn's BSN application requires 30 completed prerequisite hours (minimum 8 hours of science) with a 2.7 cumulative GPA, and specific courses gate others - e.g., MA 116 College Algebra with a C or better is required before you can enroll in MA 140 Statistics or CH 121 General Chemistry. Map out this prerequisite chain with an advisor before your first semester, since a wrong course order can cost you a full semester of eligibility.
If you're already a credentialed healthcare worker, apply directly into the Bachelor of Health Science second-entry pathway instead of starting as a freshman
Washburn's BHS program has an explicit fast-track: students who've already earned an associate degree in an allied health discipline, or hold a current healthcare license/credential, are immediately eligible for admission (Option 2) - no additional prerequisite courses required, unlike the 45-credit Option 1 path for students without a healthcare background. If you're an EMT, LPN, or similar credentialed professional, lead your application with that credential rather than reapplying as a traditional undergraduate.
Expert Insight:
Because Washburn's general admission is essentially open (100% acceptance rate, no minimum GPA required to apply), students sometimes assume every program follows suit - but nursing, kinesiology, art, and other capacity-limited majors require a wholly separate departmental application, and Niche reviews from admitted students explicitly note having to submit separate applications and transcripts to the program itself even after being admitted to the university. Treat your intended major's departmental requirements as the real gatekeeper, not general admission.
Washburn University Profile
Full Name
Washburn University
City
Topeka
State
Kansas
ZIP Code
66621
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Washburn University Degree Worth It?
Washburn University offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes — the figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $57,500, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.62%.
How much does a degree from Washburn University Cost?
The sticker price is $20,949/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $13,046.
30.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 34.7% take federal loans at Washburn University — file your FAFSA early and list Washburn University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Washburn University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $49,774 — about 23% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at Washburn University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Washburn University Admissions
Median earnings for Washburn University graduates sit around $49,774 a year.
At about $20,949 a year, Washburn University is on the more affordable end.
About 30.5% receive a Pell Grant at Washburn University — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
Admitted students at Washburn University average a 3.46 GPA.
Washburn University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.16 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.06, Washburn University becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
Washburn University follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The application fee is 20. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Freshman scholarship priority: 2026/11/15. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.