University of Washington
The University of Washington is the public research flagship of Washington State, anchored on a campus overlooking Lake Washington in Seattle and consistently ranked among the top public universities in the world for research and medicine. With more than 40,000 undergraduates, it admits roughly 42% of applicants and, like the University of California system, is test-free — SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission, even if submitted. Enrolled first-years report an average high school GPA around 3.84, and the UW is especially strong in computer science, the health sciences, and engineering. The figures below are drawn directly from the UW's official Common Data Set.
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UW admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admitted~1.2× higher admit rate for in-state applicants.
Early Admissions
UW does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
UW is test-free — SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions.
SAT / ACT scores are not used
UW does not review SAT or ACT scores for admission, even if you submit them. Applicants are evaluated on GPA, coursework, essays, and activities instead.
Admissions Factors
How UW weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from UW's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $31,234 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about UW admissions
What is the University of Washington's acceptance rate?＋
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.
Is it hard to get into the University of Washington out of state?＋
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.
Does the University of Washington require the SAT or ACT?＋
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.
What GPA do you need to get into the University of Washington?＋
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.
How much does the University of Washington cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
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.
Is computer science a popular major at the University of Washington?＋
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.
Does the application essay matter at the University of Washington?＋
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.
What are the most popular majors at the University of Washington?＋
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.
Source: University of Washington Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-06. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with UW. Banner photo by Joe Mabel, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).