Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Washington University in St Louis admits about 1 in 8 applicants (12%). That puts it in the "Highly selective" tier, more selective than 97% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (13% and 12%).
$75 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Where applicants live
Missouri applicants were admitted at 19%, applicants from other states at 13%, and international applicants at 6.8%.
All applicants in the same class: 12%
Of those admitted, 69% from Missouri enrolled, against 44% from other states and 46% 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
47% of admitted students enroll, one of the highest nationally.
210 admitted from the wait list
Applying early
Early decision: 25% admitted
1,217 of 4,817 early applicants
Apply by Nov 3; decisions by Dec 12
Second round: apply by Jan 2; decisions by Feb 13
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)
Where you stand
How Washington University in St Louis reads a record
, GPA, class rank, and tests are all very important. This college reports (average 4.19), which pile most students into the top band; the bands can't show how crowded unweighted GPAs are. Scores are required for some applicants. 29% of first-years sent an SAT and 28% an ACT. Of the 28% whose high school reported a rank, 86% were in the top tenth.
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Very important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Very important | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Very important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Extracurricular activities | Important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Very important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Important | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Not considered | ||||
| State residency | Not considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Important | ||||
| Work experience | Important | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; demonstration of competencies considered; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
14% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 12% of first-year applicants
1,706 applied · 239 admitted
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Spring entry: priority date October 15, apply by November 14, decisions by November 28
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Recommended for some
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 2 for fall 2025.
- Decisions are sent by April 1.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 2 years maximum, approved 1 year at a time.
Recent change: Started requiring a college-prep program in fall 2024.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2024 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 4.19, weighted
This average gives extra points for honors and AP courses, so it runs above 4.0 and can't be compared with an unweighted GPA.
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)
At colleges with a weighted average, the “4.0” band seems to hold every GPA of 4.0 or more.
- 4.065%
- 3.75–3.9924%
- 3.50–3.747%
- 3.25–3.494%
- 3.00–3.240%
- below 3.00%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.75–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 65.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 24.0% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 7.0% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 4.0% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 0.0% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.0% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
86% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 98% in the top quarter, of the 28% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Washington University in St Louis Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1535 on the SAT, 365 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Required for some applicants
Some applicants must send scores. For students entering in fall 2026.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
Nearly all who sent an SAT (98%) scored 1400 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (99%) scored 30 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an SAT (95%) scored 700 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an SAT (97%) scored 700 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (97%) scored 30 or higher.
86% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 29% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 28% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
538 studentssubmitted ACT
517 studentsRead 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 University in St Louis Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2026 applicants;Washington University in St Louis Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2024;Washington University in St Louis Common Data Set 2024–25, 2024–25;Washington University in St Louis Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2025 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)