How to Get Into WashU: Admissions Stats + Tips

What’s Covered:

• How Hard Is It To Get Into WashU?
• Average Academic Profile of Accepted WashU Students
• What is WashU Looking for?
• How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into WashU

Known as the “Harvard of the Midwest,” Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) was founded in 1853 and has long been recognized as a leading research university. It consistently produces leaders across a wide range of fields, offering abundant opportunities for students with diverse interests and ambitions. This is one reason WashU attracts students from across the country and around the world.

Admission is highly competitive, so it’s important to understand what it takes to be accepted.

How Hard Is It to Get Into WashU?

During the 2024–2025 admissions cycle, WashU received 32,754 applications and admitted 3,951 students, resulting in a 12% acceptance rate, the same as the previous year (2023–2024). In recent years, the Early Decision acceptance rate has been higher than the overall rate, at 26% for both 2024–2025 and 2023–2024.

These rates are extremely low, but your personal chances of admission depend on the strength of your profile. CollegeVine’s free admissions calculator can estimate your unique odds of acceptance. This free tool uses your grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and more to predict your real chances of admission to WashU, plus it gives you tips on how to improve your profile.

Average Academic Profile of Accepted WashU Students

GPA

The average high school GPA for the freshman class at WashU is 4.19, with 65% who had a GPA of 4.0 or above.

SAT/ACT

The middle 50% SAT score range is 1500-1570, and the ACT range is 33-35. WashU practices test-optional admissions; however, 29% of students in the freshman class submitted SAT scores, and 28% submitted ACT scores.

Class Rank

Roughly one-quarter of students submitted their class rank, with 86% ranking in the top 10% of their graduating class and 98% in the top 25%.

What is WashU Looking for?

Like other schools of its caliber, WashU employs a holistic admissions process. It takes into account factors like grades, test scores, extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations.

WashU seeks students who it believes are interested in attending the university. If you have an exceptionally strong profile and WashU is your first choice, it’s a good idea to apply Early Decision I or II so the admissions committee knows your interest in attending. Otherwise, you risk the suspicion that WashU is a safety option.

Each undergraduate division offers a unique experience based on your academic interests. When you apply, you’ll choose a division, so make sure your experiences and goals align with its focus. You can change majors or take courses in other divisions later, but it helps to come prepared in the division you pick.

For example, if you’re applying to the College of Art, you should have a portfolio and evidence of your artistic skill and talent. Meanwhile, if you’re applying to study at the School of Engineering, high-level coursework in math and science courses is a must.

How WashU Evaluates Applications

According to the 2024–2025 Common Data Set, WashU considers the following factors “very important”: 

• Rigor of secondary school record
• Class rank
• Academic GPA
• Standardized test scores
• Application essay
• Recommendations
• Talent/ability
• Character/personal qualities

WashU considers these factors “important”:

• Extracurricular activities
• First generation
• Volunteer work
• Work experience

These are “considered”:

• Alumni/ae relation
• Geographical residence
• Level of applicant’s interest

These are “not considered”:

• State residency
• Religious affiliation/commitment

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into WashU

1. Achieve at least a 4.19 while taking the most challenging classes available

Most schools with WashU’s selectivity use the Academic Index to screen applicants. This metric combines factors like GPA and test scores to determine whether students meet the initial threshold, before considering qualitative factors.  

WashU’s average weighted GPA is extremely high, so it’s pivotal that you not only get all (or mostly) A’s in your courses but also take the most challenging curriculum available to you. This should include plenty of APs and honors courses, especially in or related to your area of focus. 

In fact, WashU says, “Your main goal should be to challenge yourself in high school to the extent that your high school allows, so you’ll be better prepared for the academic challenges in college.” While it’s ideal to get an A in an advanced class, if you can get at least a B in, say, an AP course, you should take that option over the regular version.

If your GPA is lower, and you’re earlier on in your high school career, there’s still time to increase your GPA. If you’re a junior or senior, it will be harder to improve your GPA, so the easiest way to raise your Academic Index is to get a high standardized test score.

2. Aim for a 1570 SAT and 35 ACT

At WashU, the middle 50% SAT score range is 1500-1570, and the ACT range is 33-35. Anything within this range is fine, although you should strive for as high a score as possible to be competitive.  

While submitting test scores is optional, we recommend taking a test and submitting scores if they are at the 25th percentile at WashU—1500 SAT or 33 ACT—or higher. Applicants who submit scores are typically admitted at a higher rate than those who don’t. Remember, too, that WashU superscores, meaning they will use only the highest scores from each section, so we advise taking the test two or three times.

Here are some resources to help you prepare for the SAT and ACT:

• How to Get a Perfect 1600 Score on the SAT
• How to Get a Perfect 36 Score on the ACT
• More SAT Info and Tips
• More ACT Info and Tips 

Should you apply test-optional? Use our free Chancing Engine to find out. 

3. Cultivate at least one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars (find your “spike”)

WashU evaluates activities according to the 4 tiers of extracurriculars. A Tier 1 activity is the most exceptional, rare, and impressive category, while Tier 4 is the type that is most commonly found on applications.  

Your activities should align with your interests and the specific division to which you’re applying. Aim to develop interests in one or two areas, rather than have multiple, disparate extracurriculars without a common theme. WashU wants to see a “spike” — a well-developed passion.

For example, earning a national Scholastic award in art or writing will serve well as a Tier 1 or 2 activity for artists or writers. While many of your activities will be Tier 3 or 4, such as school club membership or minor leadership positions, you should have at least one or two Tier 1 or 2 activities, too.

4. Write engaging essays

After clearing the academic threshold, essays are one of the best ways to set yourself apart from other academically qualified applicants. While WashU only recently added a supplemental essay to its application, it weighs this, along with the application essay, considerably in the admissions process. 

WashU requires additional essays for specific programs, but the main supplemental essay topic is: 

Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why. Undecided about your academic interest(s)? Don’t worry—tell us what excites you about the academic division you selected. Remember that all of our first-year students enter officially “undeclared” and work closely with their team of academic advisors to discover their academic passions. (250 words)

This “why this college?” prompt is typical among colleges and underscores the importance of interest in studying at WashU in particular.

5. Apply Early Decision

The ED acceptance rate at WashU is considerably higher than the overall acceptance rate—26% to 12%. This indicates that you will have an advantage if you apply under this plan. Remember that WashU offers two ED plans—ED I and ED II—so you can apply under either of these plans to gain that benefit.

Keep in mind that while applying early can increase your chances even when controlling for profile strength, you should still be aware of the limitations of applying Early Decision. You should only apply ED if WashU is your top choice.

6. Develop strong relationships with teachers

Recommendations are highly valued in the admissions process at WashU—the school considers them “very important.” Cultivating strong relationships with teachers early in high school, so they can get to know you as a person and student, is a fantastic first step to securing recommendations that will influence admissions committees.  

7. Demonstrate engagement and interest

WashU seeks students who want to attend the university. That means you should be demonstrating interest by asking questions, engaging with admissions officers, opening emails the school sends, and visiting the school if possible. Ultimately, you want to show that you’re truly interested in attending WashU.

How to Apply to WashU

Deadlines

Application Requirements

• Common Application or Coalition Application 
• Grades and class rank*
• One counselor recommendation
• One teacher recommendation
• A 250-word response to the question “Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why.”
• Extracurricular and community activities
• SAT or ACT scores (test-optional in 2022), writing not required
• Portfolio for College of Art applicants (strongly encouraged for College of Architecture)

*Most transcripts include:

• 4 years of English
• 4 years of mathematics (architecture, business, and engineering strongly recommend calculus)
• 3-4 years of laboratory science (engineering recommends chemistry and physics)
• 3-4 years of history or social science
• At least 2 years of the same foreign language in high school
• The College of Arts & Sciences recommends both chemistry and physics for students who plan to do coursework in pre-medicine or the natural sciences.

Learn more about WashU

Looking for more information about WashU? Check out these resources:

• What is WashU in St. Louis Known For?
• The Ultimate Guide to Applying to Washington University in St. Louis
• How I Got Into WashU