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Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO · Private · Large suburb · Carnegie R1/R2 · WUSL · WashU

Private institution in Saint Louis, MO · 7,897 undergraduates · 12% acceptance rate · $86,182 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price
$22,1171,286th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees
$62,9821,970th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees
$62,9821,970th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance
$83,4761,961st cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt
$17,500428th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$86,18294th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$78,07370th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year)
94.5%44th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention
95.9%113th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate
12.0%46th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT
153018th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT
349th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates
7,897320th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio
7.0:1146th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share
15.9%1,900th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 255 mi (MDW)

On 11 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

Common App member
Yes
Application fee
$75
Personal essay
Required
Writing supplement
Yes

Supplemental prompts (2025-26)

  • This optional question allows you to add another dimension to your application – something that the admissions committee might not learn by reading your transcript or your personal statement.
  • WashU is a place that values diversity of perspectives. We believe those perspectives come from a variety of experiences and identities. Respond to one of the following prompts to help us understand “Who are you?”:
  • WashU supports engagement in the St. Louis community by considering the university as “In St. Louis, For St. Louis.” What is a community you are a part of and your place or impact within it?
  • WashU strives to know every undergraduate student “By Name & Story.” How have your life experiences shaped your story?

Source: Aristotle Circle 2025-26 supplemental prompt roundup

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 79 reported programs.

FieldLevel1 yr2 yr
Computer Sciencebachelors$108,649$99,517
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBusinessbachelors$89,746$91,744
Business/Managerial EconomicsBusinessbachelors$84,653—
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$78,785—
Systems EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$77,401$78,343
Chemical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$76,460$61,516
Mechanical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$69,338$67,995
MarketingBusinessbachelors$66,653$78,896
EconomicsSocial Sciencesbachelors$63,600$44,572
MathematicsMathematics & Statisticsbachelors$63,005—
Area StudiesArea & Ethnic Studiesbachelors$50,465—
Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciencesbachelors$48,823—

Campus facts

Athletics — 10 sports

NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.

Notable alumni

Illustrative alumni only — not exhaustive and not a quality ranking. Affiliation claims cite Wikipedia/Wikidata; confirm on primary bios before relying on them.

Campus news