Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Washington admits about 6 in 10 applicants (57%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 79% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
No application fee
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Women were admitted at 55%, men at 61%.
Where applicants live
Maryland applicants were admitted at 93%, applicants from other states at 96%, and international applicants at 86%.
Of those admitted, 12% from Maryland enrolled, against 7.1% from other states and 2.0% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
12% of admitted students enroll, on the lower end nationally.
No wait list
Applying early
Early decision: 95% admitted
40 of 42 early applicants
Apply by Nov 15; decisions by Dec 15
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
Early action (not binding): apply by Dec 1; decisions by Jan 15
Where you stand
How Washington reads a record
and GPA are both very important; class rank and tests are both considered. 48% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher. Scores are required. 24% of first-years sent an SAT and 2% an ACT. Of the 39% whose high school reported a rank, 25% were in the top tenth. Recommends 4 years of foreign language and math (2 and 3 required). See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Important | ||||
| Recommendations | Important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Important | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Considered | ||||
| Talent or ability | Considered | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Considered | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Not considered | ||||
| State residency | Not considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Important | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
90% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 57% of first-year applicants
48 applied · 43 admitted · 19 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date July 15, decisions on a rolling basis
- Spring entry: priority date December 15, decisions on a rolling basis
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Recommended for some
- Standardized test scores
- Recommended for some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Priority date: February 15. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within 4 weeks if admitted later.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 2 / 3) | 3 | 4 |
| Foreign language | 2 | 4 |
| Social studies | 2 | 2 |
| History | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 16 | 20 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Started requiring an English proficiency test in fall 2023; Stopped considering legacy status in fall 2023.
Recent change: Requires the SAT or ACT again, for students entering in fall 2027.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.59
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.027%
- 3.75–3.9921%
- 3.50–3.7414%
- 3.25–3.4912%
- 3.00–3.2411%
- below 3.015%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.00–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 27.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 21.0% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 14.0% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 12.0% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 11.0% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 13.0% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 2.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
25% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 48% in the top quarter, of the 39% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Washington College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1210 on the SAT, 40 points above the median for colleges that report scores. It requires SAT or ACT scores again from students entering in fall 2027.
Required
Send SAT or ACT scores: they're required to be considered. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
These scores are from the class that entered in fall 2025, before the change.
Score bands
52% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1200–1399.
19% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
39% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 600–699.
Shares of the 24% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Washington College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Washington College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Washington College Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Washington College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)