Washington University admits approximately 12.0% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 8 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Washington University among the most selective universities in the United States, falling within the Highly Selective tier (10-25% acceptance rate). The peer median admission rate of 70.6% highlights the stark difference between Washington University's selectivity and typical four-year institutions, with Washington University admitting 58.6 percentage points fewer applicants than peer institutions. This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students face significant uncertainty in the admission process. Many students who would thrive at Washington University do not receive admission due to the competitive applicant pool and limited enrollment capacity. Students considering Washington University should build comprehensive college lists that include schools with higher acceptance rates but comparable academic quality and career outcomes. Treating Washington University as a reach school regardless of qualifications represents sound application strategy, given that highly qualified applicants routinely face rejection at institutions with sub-15% acceptance rates.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Admitted students at Washington University demonstrate exceptional academic credentials across standardized testing measures. SAT scores for enrolled students range from 1500 to 1570, with most admitted students falling within this 70-point band and a median of 1530. The middle 50% of students score between 770-800 on SAT Math and 730-770 on SAT Verbal, indicating strength across both quantitative and verbal reasoning. ACT scores range from 33 to 35 with a median of 34, placing most admitted students in the top 1-2% of all test-takers nationally. These ranges rank at the 99.9th percentile nationally, representing some of the highest academic credentials among four-year institutions. Washington University's test score profile exceeds peer institutions by 274 points on the SAT and 7 points on the ACT, demonstrating substantially higher academic selectivity than similar universities. Students scoring below 1500 SAT or 33 ACT should expect to be at a competitive disadvantage but are not automatically excluded from consideration. For prospective students, scores within the middle 50% ranges indicate academic competitiveness for admission, though test scores represent only one factor in holistic review processes.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
Washington University enrolls a student body that reflects both academic selectivity and some economic diversity within the constraints of highly competitive admission. The university enrolls 15.9% Pell-eligible students, indicating that roughly 1 in 6 students comes from lower-income families eligible for federal grants. First-generation college students comprise 11.4% of enrolled students, showing the university serves some students whose parents did not complete college degrees. Transfer students represent 9.9% of the student body, reflecting limited opportunities for transfer admission given overall selectivity constraints. While these diversity measures are lower than at public flagships or open-access institutions, they indicate Washington University does enroll students from varied economic and educational backgrounds alongside those from more privileged circumstances. The combination of high academic selectivity with meaningful representation of Pell-eligible and first-generation students suggests the institution values both academic excellence and some degree of socioeconomic diversity. First-generation students should note that more than 1 in 10 enrolled students share their background, while students from lower-income families should consider the 15.9% Pell share when assessing institutional fit.
Given Washington University's 12% acceptance rate, most applicants face significant admission uncertainty. Smart students build balanced college lists including alternatives with stronger outcomes, better admission odds, or improved affordability.
Strong options in your region with comparable outcomes.
Students who enroll at Washington University demonstrate exceptional persistence and degree completion outcomes. 95.9% of freshmen return for sophomore year, compared to a peer median retention rate of 83.1%, indicating strong institutional support and student satisfaction. The six-year graduation rate reaches 94.5%, substantially above the peer median of 70.0% and reflecting both student preparedness and institutional effectiveness in supporting degree completion. Pell-eligible students graduate at 87.9%, creating a 6.6 percentage point gap between overall and Pell completion rates. While this gap indicates some additional challenges for lower-income students, the absolute Pell completion rate of 87.9% remains well above national averages for any institution type. These metrics suggest that students who gain admission can expect strong institutional support systems and high probability of degree completion. The relatively modest Pell completion gap, combined with exceptionally high overall graduation rates, indicates Washington University maintains effective support structures for students from diverse economic backgrounds. Prospective students should view these retention and completion rates as indicators of the supportive academic environment they will experience if admitted.
Similar quality tier in Midwest (#4253 ranked)
Schools with comparable admission profiles — useful for building a balanced list.
Similar quality tier (#4207 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#4231 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#4203 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#4239 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#4189 ranked)
Higher acceptance rates with similar career outcomes.
Build a balanced list with schools at different selectivity and price points.
Explore More Schools