1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. [Washington University in St Louis](/school/washington-university-in-st-louis/) 4. / 5. Admissions & selectivity Admissions & selectivity Copy linkPrint brief # Washington University in St Louis Acceptance Rate & Admissions Updated October 1, 2026 [Overview](/school/washington-university-in-st-louis/)[Cost & aid](/school/washington-university-in-st-louis/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/washington-university-in-st-louis/outcomes/)Admissions[Majors](/school/washington-university-in-st-louis/majors/)[Similar schools](/school/washington-university-in-st-louis/similar/) **On this page**+ ## What is the acceptance rate at WashU? WashU’s reported acceptance rate is 12.1%. **Acceptance rate · Fall 2024** 12.1% Source: College Scorecard · Fall 2024 admissions. Acceptance rates can change from year to year; this figure does not predict the current or next admission cycle. First-year applicants and admitted students · CDS 2025-26 **Applicants** 33,283 **Admitted** 3,968 Source: Washington University in St Louis Common Data Set 2025-26, C1 · first-time, first-year students. How to interpret the acceptance rate Washington University in St Louis admitted 12.1% of applicants in the most recent cycle, well below the median of 71.2% for comparable institutions (same type and size). In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported 33,283 applicants, 3,968 admitted, and 1,961 enrolled first-year students. ## What SAT and ACT scores do enrolled WashU students report? In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported SAT scores for enrolled first-year students. The middle half of those who submitted scores earned between 1500 and 1550. 32% of the entering class provided scores. Among ACT submitters, the middle half scored between 33 and 35, and 29% submitted ACT results. Among entering students with a reported high-school class rank, 86% were in the highest tenth of their class and 98% were in the highest quarter. Applicants whose own scores sit near or above the 1500 to 1550 SAT range are closest to the profile of recent enrolled students who submitted those tests. The same holds for the 33 to 35 ACT range. The ranges below describe enrolled students who submitted test scores at WashU. Use them as academic context, then check the university’s current testing policy for your application cycle. **32% of entering students submitted SAT scores** SAT: reported composite scores **25th percentile** 1500 **Median** 1530 **75th percentile** 1550 CDS 2025-26 · enrolled first-year score submitters. This range is not an admission cutoff. **29% of entering students submitted ACT scores** ACT: reported composite scores **25th percentile** 33 **Median** 34 **75th percentile** 35 CDS 2025-26 · enrolled first-year score submitters. This range is not an admission cutoff. Source: Washington University in St Louis Common Data Set 2025-26, C9 · Enrolled first-time, first-year score submitters. ## Who enrolls at WashU? **Pell Grant recipients** 17.7% **Entering students outside the first-time, full-time group** 8.5% **First-year retention** 95.0% Retention source: College Scorecard; full-time first-year retention. About these student measures The entering-student group includes part-time entrants as well as other attendance patterns. Washington University in St Louis enrolls 7,857 undergraduates, with an estimated 8.5% of students entering as transfers or part-time students. The share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants is 17.8%, a financial-access measure that sits alongside a predominantly traditional-entry student body. In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported 33,283 first-year applicants, 3,968 admitted, and 1,961 enrolled. For transfer students, it reported 1,603 applicants, 244 admitted, and 84 enrolled. Pell-eligible applicants should prepare a file that reflects the academic profile of the entering class. Transfer applicants face a selective process, and presenting a strong record from prior college work is important. The first-year retention rate at Washington University in St Louis is 95.0%, well above the peer median of 83.4% for comparable institutions. The [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) for the first-time full-time cohort is 94.3%, compared with a peer median of 68.8%. For Pell recipients, the six-year completion rate is 87.9%, which sits 6.4 percentage points below the overall rate. Enrolled students can expect a campus where nearly everyone returns for a second year and the vast majority finish within six years. Pell recipients should connect early with academic-support and advising resources to stay on track. ## Data & methodology Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/). Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth. Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source. Admission rates describe past applicants, not an individual’s chance of admission; confirm requirements and deadlines with the institution. Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).