University of Washington

The University of Washington admitted about 41.7% of applicants in the most recent cycle, drawing roughly 72,900 first-year applications and enrolling around 7,100 first-years. Admission is more competitive for non-residents, since state residency is weighed as a very important factor in the UW's holistic review.

Yes — UW admits Washington residents at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants. Over the most recent three-year average, in-state applicants were admitted at about 47.0% and out-of-state applicants at about 39.0%. State residency is rated a very important factor in the UW's holistic review, so non-residents face a real but not insurmountable gap. A strong high school record, GPA, and well-revised essay carry the most weight for applicants from any background.

No. The UW is test-free (test-blind): it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them. Because scores carry no weight, the rigor of your high school record and your academic GPA become the most important academic factors.

Admitted first-years at the University of Washington report an average high school GPA of about 3.84 on a 4.0 scale. There is no hard cutoff, but since the UW doesn't use test scores, your GPA and the rigor of your coursework — both rated very important — carry the most weight in the review.

Annual tuition and required fees run about $13,406 for Washington residents and $44,640 for out-of-state and international students. Roughly 34% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, with an average package near $22,538, and the UW meets about 74% of demonstrated need on average.

Yes. Computer and information sciences is the UW's most-conferred single major, accounting for about 13% of bachelor's degrees. Because the UW is test-free, applicants to any program are reviewed on the strength of their high school record, GPA, and essay, with test scores not considered at all.

Yes — significantly. The UW rates the application essay as a very important factor, on par with your GPA and the rigor of your coursework, and well above many other elements in its holistic review. With no test scores in the mix, a specific, carefully revised essay is one of the clearest ways for an applicant to stand out.

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The sciences are the largest share of degrees at about 17%, followed by computing at about 13%, the social sciences at about 11%, business at about 10%, and engineering at about 9%. Computer and information sciences is the UW's most-conferred single major within that mix.