Washington State University

No, WSU is not hard to get into by flagship standards. It admitted 86.1% of roughly 26,400 applicants in the most recent cycle and enrolled about 4,420 first-years. Admission turns on your high school GPA and the rigor of your courses, with no minimum test score required.

Strong. Washington State admitted 87.8% of out-of-state applicants for Fall 2024, slightly higher than its 86.1% in-state rate, so non-residents face no admission disadvantage. WSU lists state residency and geographical residence as 'not considered' in its review, which means where you live does not factor into the decision.

No. Washington State does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions and rates standardized test scores 'not considered,' so you can apply without them. Only about 6% of enrolled first-years submitted an SAT and 1% an ACT; among those who did, the middle 50% scored 1010–1280 on the SAT and 18–27 on the ACT.

Aim for a solid B average or better. Enrolled first-years average a 3.46 high school GPA, and academic GPA plus the rigor of your course record are the two factors WSU weighs as very important. There is no published hard cutoff for the Pullman campus, but a stronger transcript improves your odds and your scholarship eligibility.

Annual tuition and required fees run about $14,361 for Washington residents and $32,032 for out-of-state students. About 58% of first-years receive need-based aid, with an average need-based package near $17,188, and WSU meets roughly 62% of demonstrated need on average.

Business and marketing leads at about 18% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the social sciences at 11% and the life sciences, engineering, and psychology each in the 8 to 10% range. As a land-grant university, WSU also runs deep programs in agriculture, communication, and the health professions, including nursing and veterinary medicine.

About 80% of first-year students return for their second year, and 63% of an entering cohort finishes a bachelor's degree within six years. Those figures sit below the most selective flagships but reflect WSU's broad-access mission and its mix of in-state and first-generation students.

Yes, though it plays a supporting role. Washington State rates the application essay as 'considered' rather than very important, behind GPA and course rigor. Since test scores carry no weight, a clear, specific essay is a real chance to add context to your transcript and show fit, especially for scholarship and honors review.

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