WashU acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Washington University in St Louis · Private nonprofit · St. Louis, MO · 8,267 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
WashU admitted 12.0% of applicants for fall 2023, down from 15.6% in 2013. Tuition and fees are $69,594 for every student in 2025-26.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
Show as table
| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 15.6% | 30,117 | 4,684 |
| 2014 | 17.1% | 29,211 | 5,004 |
| 2015 | 16.7% | 29,259 | 4,898 |
| 2016 | 16.5% | 29,197 | 4,827 |
| 2017 | 16.0% | 30,463 | 4,863 |
| 2018 | 15.0% | 31,320 | 4,708 |
| 2019 | 13.9% | 25,426 | 3,522 |
| 2020 | 16.0% | 27,949 | 4,477 |
| 2021 | 13.0% | 33,634 | 4,373 |
| 2022 | 11.8% | 32,014 | 3,764 |
| 2023 | 12.0% | 32,240 | 3,855 |
Applications went from 30,117 in fall 2013 to 32,240 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
Show as table
| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $2,578 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $589 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $7,361 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $15,636 |
| Over $110,000 | $47,130 |
| Tuition and fees, all students (2025-26) | $69,594 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $92,523 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $13,360 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 29% submitted the SAT, 28% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar private colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| SLU MO | 81.5% | $57,960 same for all |
| Colgate NY | 12.0% | $73,646 same for all |
| Notre Dame IN | 12.4% | $67,607 same for all |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
WashU received 32,240 applications for fall 2023 and offered places to 3,855, so 12.0% of applicants were admitted.1 The 2013 figure was 15.6%, a difference of 3.6 percentage points lower in 2023.1 Across the 10 annual changes, 7 were declines.1 Applications grew 7% over the span, yet the number of admitted students fell 18%, from 4,684 to 3,855.1
WashU is test-optional, and 29% of enrolled students reported SAT scores while 28% reported ACT scores.1 Submitted SAT scores centered on 730 to 770 for reading and writing and 770 to 800 for math, and ACT composites on 33 to 35.1
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 come to $69,594, charged at the same level to all students.2 Average net price in 2024-25 was only $2,578 for families earning $0 to $30,000 and $7,361 for those earning $48,001 to $75,000, against $47,130 above $110,000.2
Students who entered in 2019 finished within 6 years at a rate of 93%, well above the 52% median for 51 bachelor's colleges in Missouri.2 Retention reached 95% for fall 2023 entrants, graduates earn a median of $91,497 10 years after entry, and federal borrowers hold $15,250 in median debt.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 32,240 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 3,855 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 1,828 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 8,267 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 730 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 770 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 770 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 800 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 33 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 35 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 29% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 28% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, all students | $69,594 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $92,523 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $13,360 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $2,578 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $589 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $7,361 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $15,636 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $47,130 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 93% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 95% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 22% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $91,497 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $15,250 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Missouri (N = 51) | 52% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with WashU, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page