Washington University in St. Louis
Campus Box 1098, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130
Washington University in St. Louis is a private university in MO, founded in 1853 and offers Bachelor’s degrees for undergraduates and Master’s and Doctoral degrees for graduate students. The undergraduate enrollment is 7,653, and the graduate enrollment is 7,796. Washington University in St. Louis is a hyper-selective school, receiving 27,949 applications and accepting 16.0% of applicants. Washington University in St. Louis’s athletics teams competes in the club, intramural, and varsity levels. Additionally, Washington University in St. Louis employs 1,026 full-time instructional staff (93% of whom hold doctorate degrees) and has a 7:1 student to faculty ratio.
Empowerly Score®
90
University Score
- School Performance
- Extracurriculars
- Standardized Tests
- Essays
Empowerly Score®
At Empowerly, we prioritize data to customize our approach to student counseling. College admissions is becoming more selective by the year, so it’s never been more important than now to prepare in advance and give yourself the best chance for success.
Take the Empowerly QuizESSAYS
Applicants applying to Washington University in St. Louis will apply through the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or the QuestBridge Application (if qualified). On top of the required application essay, applicants have the option to write one personal statement based on a set of prompts within the application, but it is not required and serves as the application for the Signature Scholar Programs.
Deadlines For Submitting Applications
Early Decision I Application Deadline
November 1st
Early Decision II Application Deadline
January 3rd
Regular Application Deadline
January 3rd
ATTENDANCE FACTORS
- Extracurricular Activities - Very Important
- Character/Personal Qualities - Very Important
- Application Essay - Very Important
- Academic GPA - Very Important
- Rigor of Secondary School Record - Very Important
Average Acceptance Rate
16.00%
STUDENT LIFE
Washington University in St. Louis’s main Danforth campus in Greater St. Louis, Missouri, is a picturesque yet practical setting with a small-town attitude near big city activities. Wash U students are strongly suited to balance their academic, athletic, and social lives with all the resources outside their front door. The school’s outstanding 7:1 student-faculty ratio means first-year students benefit from smaller classes. However, Wash U student life isn’t just about academics. The university’s extensive club sports program lets students join sports activities like frisbee, volleyball, and water polo. Over 480 student-run organizations covering a broad range of interests invite first-year students to participate in Washington University in St. Louis’s vibrant campus community while making lifelong connections.
Housing
- 72% of students live on campus
- Guaranteed housing for freshmen
- Freshmen required to live on campus
Washington University in St. Louis’ first-year students must live on campus in an undergraduate residential college system that the Princeton Review has ranked #1 “Best College Dorms.” It’s therefore not a surprise that 50% of undergraduate students live in the 40-acre campus area called the “South 40,” home to many of the residence halls. Additionally, first-year students live in assigned “freshman” buildings, all co-ed. Because much of a first-year student’s life revolves around the South 40, the location accommodates every need to feel at home, including a gym, technology center, meeting rooms, practice rooms for performing arts, and dining halls. Student-run businesses such as the Paws & Go convenience store, Bear Necessities gift shop, and even the mailroom, among others, give the Washington University in St. Louis campus its cozy “small town” vibe.
Life as a Student
Life as a Washington University in St. Louis student is one of the highest quality in the nation. Newsweek has called the school a “hidden Ivy,” thanks to the high standard of excellence offered to first-year students from the ground up. Wash U painstakingly designed its campus community to empower students to make the most of their time. The university sponsors innovative events and long-time traditions, such as the semesterly WILD quad concert, the bi-weekly Student Life campus newspaper (since 1878), and its popular KWUR radio station. Finally, student organizations make it easy to connect students with others who share their interests or discover a new one. Everything from facilities to housing to student organizations share the same underlying mission: to teach students how to get involved at Washington University in St. Louis beyond the classroom.
TOP MAJORS
Computer Science
Biology
Research and Experimental Psychology
Finance
Anthropology
Economics
SERVICES
Health and Safety
- 24-hour trained security on campus
- Student security patrol
- Late night ride/safe escort service available
- Noonlight safety app for reporting emergencies
Student Services
- Health Center
- Psychological Counseling
Athletics
Varsity
Varsity
Triathlon
Archery
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Equestrian Sports
Fencing
Football
Golf
Gymnastics
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Rock Climbing
Rowing
Rugby
Sailing
Soccer
Squash
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Weightlifting
Water Polo
Wrestling
Cross-Country Running
Triathlon
Archery
Badminton
Basketball
Equestrian Sports
Fencing
Field Hockey
Golf
Gymnastics
Lacrosse
Rock Climbing
Rowing
Rugby
Sailing
Soccer
Softball
Squash
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Weightlifting
Water Polo
Cross-Country Running
Club
Club
Baseball
Basketball
Soccer
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Cross-Country Running
Basketball
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Volleyball
Cross-Country Running
Intramural
Intramural
Archery
Badminton
Bowling
Football
Golf
Racquetball
Sand Volleyball
Softball
Squash
Track and Field
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Weight Lifting
Water Polo
Archery
Badminton
Bowling
Football
Racquetball
Sand Volleyball
Squash
Track and Field
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Weight Lifting
Water Polo
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to meeting 100% of the demonstrated need of students and offers free undergraduate education for qualifying incoming, full-time Missouri and southern Illinois students who fit within the financial criteria.
*All costs below are estimates and may differ depending on your circumstances.
- Tuition - $59,420
- Student Activity Fee - $594
- Student Health and Wellness Fee - $576
- Average Room and Board - $18,470
- Total Estimated Cost of Attendance - $79,060
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP / AFFILIATES
HISTORY
Washington University (sometimes casually shortened to Wash U) in St. Louis (Missouri) was founded in 1853 as “Washington Institute.” This institute was formed by a group led by Missouri State Senator Wayman Crow and Unitarian minister William Greenleaf Eliot, grandfather of poet T.S. Eliot, in honor of George Washington. The group wanted to establish an institution of higher learning in the Midwest. In 1856, the school was renamed Washington University with “in St. Louis” to differentiate it from other universities named after President Washington. The school was rare in that it had no financial support from a religious organization, the government, or even a wealthy donor. Washington University in St. Louis nevertheless survived thanks to the city’s growing immigrant population seeking general education courses and industrial training after working hours.
For its first 50 years, Washington University in St. Louis succeeded at its downtown St. Louis location, transforming from an institution with a popular evening program to a fully-fledged university providing a broad range of scientific, liberal arts, and classical courses. It also opened the Midwest’s first private, nonsectarian law school in 1867 and incorporated St. Louis Medical College as its medical department in 1891. By the late 1890s, Wash U’s dramatic growth led it to move west of the city limits in St. Louis County, its present-day location. Washington University in St. Louis’ early history established much of what it’s known for today, including its strong bonds with the community and leadership in higher education globally.
Today, Washington University in St. Louis is ranked #1 in National Universities by U.S. News Best Colleges; it counts a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,653 and graduate enrollment of 8,338. With its 13.9% acceptance rate, first-year Wash U students pass a selection process characterized as “most selective” by the Carnegie Foundation. The College of Arts & Sciences is the heart of its highly-regarded undergraduate academic curriculum, with 40 academic departments and programs providing a comprehensive Integrated Inquiry (IQ) Curriculum. Meanwhile, Wash U’s Bears sports teams have won 23 NCAA Division III Championships in basketball to volleyball. The university proudly boasts 25 Nobel laureates in economics, physiology and medicine, chemistry, and physics, among other awards. Washington University in St. Louis’ most prestigious alumni includes Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tennessee Williams, nylon inventor Julian W. Hill, and Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Mike Peters.