Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
UW admits about 1 in 2 applicants (42%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 88% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$80 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 35%, women at 43%.
Where applicants live
Washington applicants were admitted at 46%, applicants from other states at 42%, and international applicants at 36%.
All applicants in the same class: 42%
Of those admitted, 66% from Washington enrolled, against 9.8% from other states and 15% 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
23% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 15,363 offered a place, 8,350 accepted, 2,252 admitted (27% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Doesn't offer early decision or early action
Where you stand
How UW reads a record
and GPA are both very important. 76% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight. Scores aren't read. Most high schools no longer rank; this college doesn't lean on it. Applicants are . Requires 4 years of English, 3 of math, 3 of science, and 3 of social studies. 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 | Not considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Not considered | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Not considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Considered | ||||
| First generation | Important | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Not considered | ||||
| State residency | Very important | ||||
| 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; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
42% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 42% of first-year applicants
5,830 applied · 2,469 admitted · 1,685 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, winter, spring, and summer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: apply by February 15, decisions by June 30
- Winter entry: apply by September 1, decisions by December 15
- Spring entry: apply by December 15
- Summer entry: apply by February 15, decisions by May 31
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
- Not required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by November 15 for fall 2026.
- Decisions are sent by March 15.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1.
- $500 housing deposit, due May 14, refundable.
What you'll need in high school
Doesn't require a high school diploma or equivalent.
Requires a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 3 |
| Science (lab: 2) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 2 |
| Social studies | 3 |
| Academic electives | 0.5 |
| Total | 16 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.84
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)
- 4.018%
- 3.75–3.9958%
- 3.50–3.7418%
- 3.25–3.494%
- 3.00–3.241%
- below 3.00%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.75–3.99.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 18.1% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 58.1% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 18.1% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 4.4% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 1.0% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.2% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.1% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
Source:University of Washington-Seattle Campus 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 1410 on the SAT, 240 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Not considered
Scores aren't considered, even if you send them. 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
Score bands
63% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
78% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
58% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
64% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
75% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
63% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 19% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 5% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
1,364 studentssubmitted ACT
349 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:University of Washington-Seattle Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;University of Washington-Seattle Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;University of Washington-Seattle Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, most recent release;University of Washington-Seattle Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)