CostByCollegeAdmissions
WashU acceptance rate
The acceptance rate at Washington University in St Louis is 12.0% for fall 2023. Out of 32,240 applicants, 3,855 were admitted and 1,828 enrolled.
The application numbers
| Figure | Fall 2023 |
|---|---|
| Applicants, fall 2023 | 32,240 |
| Admitted, fall 2023 | 3,855 |
| Acceptance rate, fall 2023 | 12.0% |
| Admitted students who enrolled, fall 2023 | 1,828 |
How this rate compares
Against the Missouri pilot school average of 48.8%, the rate at Washington University in St Louis is 36.8 points lower, which means a smaller share of applicants were admitted.
Against the national pilot school average of 53.0%, the rate at Washington University in St Louis is 41.0 points lower, which means a smaller share of applicants were admitted.
Averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a rate, 4 schools in Missouri and 235 schools nationwide on this site.
What the acceptance rate does and does not mean
The acceptance rate is the share of applicants who were offered a place. It is worked out by dividing the number of students admitted by the number who applied, for fall 2023.
A low rate means many more people applied than the school could admit. It does not by itself prove that a school is better, that teaching is stronger, or that graduates earn more. Some schools draw very large applicant pools because applying is free or simple, and some excellent schools admit a large share of a smaller, well matched pool.
A high rate does not mean admission is automatic. Schools still set entry requirements, and popular programs inside a school can be far harder to enter than the overall rate suggests. The rate also says nothing about cost. Read it beside the total cost, the average net price, and the outcomes on the cost page for Washington University in St Louis.
Similar schools to compare
- College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Missouri. Total cost $33,734 for one year.
- University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri. Total cost $32,272 for one year.
- Missouri State University-Springfield, Springfield, Missouri. Total cost $25,048 for one year.
- Colgate University, Hamilton, New York. Total cost $87,070 for one year.
- Hamilton College, Clinton, New York. Total cost $84,230 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at WashU?
The acceptance rate at Washington University in St Louis is 12.0% for fall 2023. It is the number admitted, 3,855, divided by the number who applied, 32,240.
How many students apply to WashU each year?
In fall 2023, 32,240 students applied to Washington University in St Louis, 3,855 were admitted, and 1,828 admitted students enrolled.
How selective is WashU compared with other schools in Missouri?
The average acceptance rate across the pilot schools in Missouri that publish a rate is 48.8%, and the national average across the pilot schools on this site is 53.0%. The rate at Washington University in St Louis is 12.0%.
Does a low acceptance rate mean a school is better?
No. A low rate means far more people applied than the school could admit. It says nothing on its own about teaching quality, cost, or graduate earnings, which is why this site prints the rate beside cost and outcomes figures.
How much does WashU cost?
The total cost for one year at Washington University in St Louis is $88,488 for in state students. The cost page on this site breaks that total into tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses.
What is the graduation rate at WashU?
The graduation rate at Washington University in St Louis is 94%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, United States Department of Education. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. See the methodology page for full detail.