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Washington University in St Louis

Private

St. Louis, MO

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Washington University in St Louis, in St. Louis, MO, is a private mid-sized school, enrolling around 7,857 students. Admissions are highly selective here -- roughly 12% of applicants get in. Its highest-earning reported major is Finance and Financial Management Services (Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services), where graduates report median earnings of $185,551/year four years out. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.

Admissions

Admit rate12%
SAT range1500–1570
ACT range33–35
Undergrads7,857
Yield (admits who enroll)48%
Next deadlineNov 2, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$88,488
4-year grad rate94%
Median earnings, 10yr out$86,182

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

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How Washington University in St Louis weighs your application

From Washington University in St Louis's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankVery important
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresVery important
Application essayVery important
RecommendationsVery important
Nonacademic factors
Extracurricular activitiesImportant
Talent/abilityVery important
Character/personal qualitiesVery important
First generationImportant
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyNot considered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workImportant
Work experienceImportant
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans12%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out88%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$68,359/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Finance and Financial Management Services$185,551/yr
Business/Managerial Economics$162,355/yr
Marketing$100,489/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Science$177,066/yr
Engineering
Systems Engineering$119,297/yr
Chemical Engineering$107,843/yr
Mechanical Engineering$95,965/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics$98,497/yr
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Cognitive Science$67,212/yr
International/Globalization Studies$66,498/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$91,787/yr
Research and Experimental Psychology$75,261/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$102,439/yr
Political Science and Government$90,778/yr
Anthropology$71,018/yr
Visual and Performing Arts
Design and Applied Arts$67,771/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity7,032
Typical room charge$12,698
Typical board charge$5,772

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPAConsidered, not required
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Washington University in St Louis look for in applicants?

Per Washington University in St Louis's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates character/personal qualities, rigor of secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA, standardized test scores, application essay, recommendations, talent/ability as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Washington University in St Louis's acceptance rate?

Washington University in St Louis in St. Louis, MO admits approximately 12% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Washington University in St Louis?

Admitted students at Washington University in St Louis typically score between 1500–1570 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Washington University in St Louis?

Admitted students at Washington University in St Louis typically score between 33–35 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Washington University in St Louis cost?

Washington University in St Louis's total cost of attendance is reported at $88,488 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Washington University in St Louis?

Washington University in St Louis's earliest deadline is Nov 2, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Washington University in St Louis require students to live on campus?

No -- Washington University in St Louis doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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