How to Get into Washington University in St. Louis (WashU)

Washington University in St. Louis, nicknamed WashU or WUSTL, takes its application process seriously. Using a holistic approach to admission considerations, the school’s committee is careful about selecting which students are invited to join the incoming freshman class every year. 

If you’ve got your heart set on attending this school in Missouri, you need to know everything possible about how to get accepted into Washington University.

Today, WashU is an internationally known research university, but it didn’t start out that way. During the 1840s and 1850s, the number of immigrants flocking to St. Louis grew at an unprecedented rate. In 1853, two prominent St. Louis residents became concerned about the lack of higher learning institutions in the area, so they founded Washington University. 

Before long, the need for higher education that was available outside of the “normal” working hours became apparent. In October 1854, the university established an evening program, which grew rapidly over the next several decades.

The university grew from an evening program to a college that offers a full array of liberal arts, classical, and scientific courses. Today, the university has 17,047 students from over 100 different countries and all 50 U.S. states. 

In keeping with the university’s original purpose as a higher learning institution for people of all backgrounds, 90% of undergrads are from out of state.

If you’re trying to learn how to get into Washington University, start with admissions. As part of its commitment to putting students first, the university has adopted a “need-blind” approach in order to make the review process more equitable. In other words, whether you can afford tuition is never factored into the decision. 

The university also states that it will no longer consider demonstrated interest as an influencing factor in its admissions decisions. Demonstrated interest is a prospective student’s perceived interest in the university, made visible by campus visits, contacting alumni, speaking with admissions staff, etc.

As a prestigious research university, WashU maintains about 3,000 research projects every year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 7:1, and the university meets 100% of students’ demonstrated financial needs.

If you want to attend WashU, you need to know what the admission faculty looks for in prospective students. The best way to find out is to take a look at the profile of the most recent incoming class.

For the class of 2026, Washington University received 33,214 applications for admission. The school accepted just 3,764 of them, and 1,858 ended up enrolling as students.

The university reports an overall admission rate of 11%, a Regular Decision admission rate of 8%, and an Early Decision admission rate of 27%. As you might guess, if you want to triple your chance of being admitted to Washington University, consider going for the Early Decision admission round.

Numbers of enrolled students for the class of 2026 by college (division) include:

• Arts & Sciences: 1,240
• Business: 165
• Architecture: 61
• Art: 79
• Engineering: 266
• Beyond Boundaries: 47

In addition, 91% of students who reported their class ranks graduated in the top 10% of their high school classes.

Since admission to Washington University is so selective, you will need to earn top grades throughout high school.

The average weighted GPA of incoming students to WUSTL is 4.15. The university attracts and accepts students who maintain an A/A+ average high school GPA. A student’s academic GPA is considered “very important” by the university in its admission decisions, along with class rank, letters of recommendation, and the application essay.

The rigor of the classes you take during your academic high school career is also considered “very important.” Washington University wants to see that you don’t shy away from a challenge and that you took as many AP, honors, and/or IB courses as possible (and did well in them). 

This is important to remember: the school looks more favorably on a B in an AP class than an A in an average class. 

Staying in line with its holistic approach to the application review process, Washington University does not require specific high school courses to qualify for admission. WashU does look for students with a high school diploma or equivalent, which includes students with GEDs and home-schooled students.

According to the school, most applicants to Washington University have high school transcripts that include the following:

• At least two years of the same foreign language
• 3 or 4 years of social science or history
• 3 or 4 years of laboratory science (chemistry and physics for engineering students)
• 4 years of math (calculus is recommended for architecture, engineering, and business)
• 4 years of English

In addition, for students who plan to do coursework in the natural sciences or pre-medicine, the College of Arts & Sciences recommends both physics and chemistry.

Your scores on the SAT and/or ACT standardized tests are a “very important” consideration for the admissions staff at Washington. Currently, however, Washington University has adopted a test-optional policy through 2024. 

If you are planning on submitting test scores as part of your application, you must aim to get top scores on the tests. WashU does not prefer one test over the other, so you may want to consider taking both of them.

For the class of 2026, 60% of students applied with test scores. Of those who submitted SAT scores, half of them earned scores between 1500 and 1570. Of those students who submitted ACT scores, half of them earned between a 33 and a 35. 

It’s not impossible to get into Washington University with lower test scores, but the higher your test scores are the better. This applies whether the university currently requires scores to be submitted or not. WUSTL does not require the optional essay if you submit SAT scores or the writing test if you submit ACT scores.

Start by taking the PSAT during your sophomore year so you can get an idea of what these types of entrance exams entail and how they work. When you take it again during your junior year, your score could place you in the running for being a National Merit scholar, which can help defray the costs of attending.

WashU will accept your self-reported highest scores on either of the two applications. However, if you submit unofficial scores and then enroll, you will be asked to submit official score reports.

Washington University does superscore both the SAT and the ACT. So your highest section scores across all test dates will be considered. If you take both the ACT and SAT, the university will consider whichever set of scores is higher.

The admissions staff at WashU recommends that you commit to at least one job or extracurricular activity during each year of your high school career and keep track of your activities and accomplishments. 

Your time spent outside of the classroom is extremely important to WashU admission faculty, who want to know how you divide your time and energy not only to be successful but also to help your community.

The university is interested in learning about your engagement in activities like work commitments, service, volunteering, family obligations, and other ways you are involved in helping others. While non-academic activities are important, it’s not the number of activities in which you are active but the quality of them that really counts.

WashU wants to see examples of how you have contributed to activities, organizations, and groups, especially if you were in a leadership role. Make sure to keep this in mind as you write your admission essays.

GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities are not the only important parts of your application. Make sure to include all of the following:

• One letter of recommendation from a counselor
• Your completed Coalition Application or Common Application (and essay)
• One teacher evaluation (preferably in your area of academic interest)
• Extracurricular activities and community activities
• Test results from any high school years
• Official high school transcripts
• A portfolio for applicants to the College of Architecture and the College of Art

In addition, you will need to submit a 200-word response to the writing prompt, “Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why.”

The university does not prefer one type of application over the other and accepts both the Common Application and the Coalition Application. Just submit one or the other and not both. The university also recommends that if you begin one, complete it and do not switch between the two.

There are four undergraduate schools, or divisions, on campus: 

• McKelvey School of Engineering
• College of Arts & Sciences
• Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts
• Olin Business School

When you submit your application to WashU, you will be asked to select the academic division that you want as your “home base,” as the university calls it. You will also choose a primary educational interest; however, you won’t be required to formally declare a major until your sophomore year.

All incoming freshmen are officially considered “undeclared” and will work with their academic counselors to explore opportunities and programs, choose courses, and consider majors, minors, and unique programs.

WashU runs two unique programs for undergraduates that offer opportunities beyond the scope of traditional areas of study. These are the Joint Degree Program and the Beyond Boundaries Program.

This program allows students to benefit from a joint program in computer science and business. Upon successful completion of the program, students earn a bachelor of science in business and a computer science degree. This integrated experience is a joint offering by the McKelvey School of Engineering and the Olin Business School.

Designed to attract motivated, talented students who want to take on significant intellectual and societal questions, the Beyond Boundaries program offers opportunities to explore many issues — ranging from artificial intelligence to climate change — from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. 

The Beyond Boundaries Program focuses on collaboration and teamwork and is led by teams of professors from the four schools at WashU.

As one of the nation’s leading research universities, WUSTL offers additional special programs, including:

• Interdisciplinary Projects in the Humanities (IPH)
• Study abroad programs
• Undergraduate research programs
• Summer school programs for high school students

Students who are eager to be inspired, challenged, and pushed to achieve great goals can hone a variety of skills through experience with all of the WashU special programs.

The admissions staff selects members of each incoming class using professional standards set forth by the university.

Admissions counselors will evaluate your academic record within the context of the opportunities you had available to you during high school.

They see the potential in students that lies beyond standard academic measures. They are also aware of bias and work to remove it from all processes. 

They look to include a variety of students in every class who represent diversity and inclusivity. They believe that student diversity is what fuels the collective community experience on campus.

Finally, they commit to creating a collaborative environment in which students prepare to become productive members not only of the university community but also of a global society. 

When going through your Washington University admission journey, keep in mind that the admissions staff is seeking students who are creative, intellectually curious, collaborative, solution-seeking, and supportive. 

Your completed application and the accompanying essays, as well as your entire academic record, should exhibit what is important to you, what kind of person you hope to become, how you have demonstrated your character, and what you can contribute to the WashU community.