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Washington University in St Louis

Washington University in St Louis

St. Louis, MO · Suburb · 7,857 students
Website Common App Forbes ranking Scorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$21,786
Average net priceYour net price
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
94%
Graduation rate
70% typical
$86,182
Earnings 10 years on
$63,395 typical
12%
Acceptance rate
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
About

Washington University in St. Louis is a premier private research institution renowned for its elite pre-medical track, cutting-edge biomedical research, and nationally recognized programs in the Olin Business School and College of Arts & Sciences. Undergraduates benefit from an exceptionally flexible academic structure that encourages interdisciplinary exploration across engineering, design, and the liberal arts. Campus culture is collaborative and community-oriented, centered around the vibrant "South 40" residential life that consistently earns top-tier marks for student housing and dining quality. Bordering the expansive cultural landscape of Forest Park, WashU pairs a picturesque collegiate Gothic campus with direct access to clinical opportunities at its world-class medical center and a thriving tradition of undergraduate entrepreneurship.

Wikipedia:Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is a private research university in the St. Louis metropolitan area, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1853 by a group of civic leaders and named for the first U.S. president George Washington, the university spans 355 acres across its Danforth and Medical campuses. It comprises 10 schools and offers more than 150 undergraduate, 80 master's and professional, and 50 doctoral degree programs. As of 2024, Washington University enrolled 16,399 students representing all 50 U.S. states and more than 110 countries.

Location
St. Louis, MO, 63130 · Suburb campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
STL · St. Louis
8 mi away
Open in Google MapsView official campus map
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$65,790
Housing & food (on campus)$21,854
Books & supplies$1,304
Cost of attendance$88,488
Average net price$21,786
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$65,790
Housing & food (on campus)$21,854
Books & supplies$1,304
Cost of attendance$88,488
Average net price$21,786
Net price by family income
$0–30k
$1,716
$30–48k
$1,928
$48–75k
$5,578
$75–110k
$12,603
$110k+
$42,170
Grants from the school
47% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $63,036
Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)
Merit aid
Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.
Average award$36,250
Share of first-years who get one2%
Source: Washington University in St Louis's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
94%
Within 4 yrs
85%
Back for yr 2
95%
Transferred
0%
Pell students: 91.8% · others: 94.7% 
8 yrs after starting
94% graduated · 4% transferred · 2% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings
6 yrs after entry$78,073
10 yrs after entry$86,182
Debt
Median at graduation$17,500
Monthly payment$186
Middle 50% owe$10k–$27k
90th percentile$35,610
Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs, $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in
Admit rate
12%
Test policy
Test optional
SAT average
1530
R 730–770 · M 770–800
ACT midpoint
34
Comp 33–35 · E 34–35 · M 31–35
SAT middle 50%: 1500–1570
40080012001600
Admitted students
Admit rate: men 12.5% · women 11.7% 
Yield: 46.7% of admitted students enroll 

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Essay prompts
From Washington University in St Louis (admissions.washu.edu) · 2026–27 application · checked Sep 28, 2026
  • Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why.
    250 words max

Quoted from Washington University in St Louis's own page; answered in the Common Application or Coalition Application. The application itself is the final word.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 46%Women 54%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
7 : 1
Pell grant
18%
First-gen
11%
Family income
$88,696
Independent
5%
Age at entry
20.0
Part-time
4%
Where first-years come from
In state (MO)
14.5%
Out of state
73.3%
International
12.1%

Most out-of-state first-years from: CA 192 · IL 168 · NY 158 · TX 134 · MA 56

Race & ethnicity
White
40%
Hispanic
13%
Black
9%
Asian
21%
Two or more
6%
Non-resident
9%
Unknown
2%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division III with football
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs
After 6 yrs
$78,073
After 10 yrs
$86,182
Computer Science181
Research and Experimental Psychology169
Finance and Financial Management Services150
Economics118
Mechanical Engineering103
Anthropology92
Biology, General83
Political Science and Government75
Marketing72
Neurobiology and Neurosciences69
Design and Applied Arts69
Mathematics66
Cognitive Science64
International/Globalization Studies50
Biomedical/Medical Engineering48
Business/Managerial Economics47
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$12.0B
Full-time faculty
73%
Faculty salary
$16,945/mo
Teaching spend
$181,929
per student
Federal loans
12%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$1.2B research spending · 365 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

Wondering if Washington University in St Louis is the right fit for you?

omhu builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
Scholarship search