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Washington University in St Louis
With a 12.1% admission rate, no GPA makes Washington University in St Louis a safety. The numbers below tell you what the admitted few look like.
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Washington University in St Louis occupies suburban St. Louis, MO — a private campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. International students are a visible presence here — 9% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Finance and Financial Management Services, where graduates median $185,551 four years out. 17.8% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 7,857 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 95% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1500 and 1570 — above the MO middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Washington University in St Louis's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Washington University in St Louis received 32,240 applications and admitted 3,855 (12%), with 1,828 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1500–1570 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Washington University in St Louis's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 730 | 750 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 770 | 790 | 800 |
| ACT Composite | 33 | 34 | 35 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Washington University in St Louis compares
| Washington University in St Louis | Missouri median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 12.1% | 72.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $65,790 | $20,293 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $86,182 | $47,885 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Washington University in St Louis: $86,182 median at year ten, versus $47,885 across Missouri institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $65,790 regardless of where you're from. At Washington University in St Louis, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 7,857 undergrads, Washington University in St Louis is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
94.3% of Washington University in St Louis students finish a bachelor's within six years — 39.4 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $65,790 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Washington University in St Louis
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $185,551 |
| Computer Science | $177,066 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $162,355 |
| Systems Engineering | $119,297 |
| Chemical Engineering | $107,843 |
| Economics | $102,439 |
| Marketing | $100,489 |
| Mathematics | $98,497 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $95,965 |
| Psychology, General | $91,787 |
| Political Science and Government | $90,778 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $75,261 |
| Anthropology | $71,018 |
| Biology, General | $68,359 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $67,771 |
| Cognitive Science | $67,212 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $66,498 |
Median earnings for these 17 Washington University in St Louis programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $86,182 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 71 additional Washington University in St Louis programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Washington University in St Louis?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1500–1570 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 12.1% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Washington University in St Louis's acceptance rate?
12% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 3,855 admitted from 32,240 applicants.
How much does Washington University in St Louis cost?
At Washington University in St Louis, published tuition is $65,790 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Washington University in St Louis's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Washington University in St Louis graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $86,182 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Missouri
- College of the Ozarks — 12% admitted
- Webster University — 86.2% admitted
- Westminster College — 79.2% admitted
- William Jewell College — 38.4% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.