Washington University in St. Louis

Yes, WashU is highly selective. Washington University in St. Louis admitted about 11.9% of applicants in the most recent cycle, offering admission to roughly 3,968 of more than 33,000 applicants and enrolling about 1,961 first-year students. Strong grades and course rigor are essential, with academic GPA, class rank, and the rigor of your high school record all weighed as very important factors.

Yes. WashU offers binding Early Decision I and II rounds, and the early admit rate runs well above the overall rate: about 1,333 of 4,934 ED applicants were admitted, roughly 27%, versus the 11.9% overall acceptance rate. ED is a binding commitment, so apply early only if WashU is your clear first choice. WashU also offers a nonbinding Early Action plan if you want an early answer without committing.

WashU's latest Common Data Set does not publish an average GPA, but admitted students sit at the top of their class. Among enrolled first-years who reported a class rank, about 86% ranked in the top tenth and 98% in the top quarter of their graduating class. There is no hard cutoff, but academic GPA, class rank, and the rigor of your course load are all weighed as very important admission factors.

A 1500 sits right at the bottom of WashU's middle-50% range, so it is competitive but on the lower end for those who submit. Enrolled first-years scored between 1500 and 1550 on the SAT and 33 to 35 on the ACT in the middle 50%. About 97% of submitted SAT scores fell in the 1400-1600 band, so a 1500 is a reasonable score to send if testing is a strength in your application.

Yes, WashU is test-optional, so you may apply without SAT or ACT scores. Among enrolled students who did submit, roughly 32% sent the SAT and 29% sent the ACT, with middle-50% ranges of 1500-1550 (SAT) and 33-35 (ACT). If your scores land in or above those ranges they can strengthen your file; if they fall below, applying without them is a legitimate path since standardized tests are one factor in a holistic review.

Very important. WashU rates the application essay as a very important factor in its holistic review, alongside GPA, course rigor, test scores, recommendations, and character. With an acceptance rate around 11.9%, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest places a strong applicant can stand out, since it is weighed as heavily as your academic record.

Tuition and required fees run about $72,722 per year, with the total cost of attendance higher once housing and food (about $24,272 on campus) are added. WashU meets 100% of demonstrated financial need with a no-loan policy: about 43% of first-years receive need-based scholarship or grant aid, with an average aid package near $81,871.

Engineering is the single largest area at about 14% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the biological and social sciences at roughly 13% each, business at 10%, and computer science at 9%. Psychology rounds out the most-conferred fields. WashU is a private research university with a 10-to-1 student-faculty ratio and a 95% first-year retention rate.