← All colleges
Washington University in St Louis

Washington University in St Louis

St. Louis, MO · 7.9k students

Highly SelectivePrivateSuburbGraduateCampus-basedwashu.edu
81.8/100

Trajecta score

+2.3 since '20

Ranked #24 of 2,375

5-year trend

'20'24

79.3 · #25

2020

79.0 · #32

2021

81.8 · #21

2022

81.4 · #23

2023

81.6 · #26

2024

AcademicCareersSuccessAfford.Invest.Access

Academic Profile

91/ 100

Career Outcomes

85/ 100

Student Success

91/ 100

Affordability

66/ 100

Academic Investment

99/ 100

Access & Equity

48/ 100

Academic Profile

91

Career Outcomes

85

Student Success

91

Affordability

66

Academic Investment

99

Access & Equity

48

AI Fit Analysis

Unlock your AI fit analysis

See how your profile stacks up at Washington University in St Louis — predicted chances, program fit, and a personalized application strategy.

Sign up free

Already have an account? Log in

Cost / Net Price

$88k / $22k

SAT Avg

1,530

Retention

95%

Grad Rate

94%

Admissions

12%admission rate
EliteH.SelSelectiveModerateOpen

Test Scores

SAT Range1,530
4001000120014001600
25th: 1,500Average: 1,53075th: 1,570
ACT Range34
118243036
25th: 33Midpoint: 3475th: 35

Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.

Finances

Tuition

In-State Tuition

$65,790

per year

Out-of-State Tuition

$65,790

per year

Aid & Debt

Pell Grant Share

18%

undergraduates receiving Pell

Federal Loan Share

12%

students borrowing

Median Debt

among completers

$17,500

Admissions Factors

What Washington University in St Louis says it weighs

Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.

Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026, what Washington University in St Louis reports weighing in admissions.

FactorVery ImportantImportantConsideredNot Considered
Rigor of secondary school recordRigor of secondary school record: Very Important
Class rankClass rank: Very Important
Academic GPAAcademic GPA: Very Important
Standardized test scoresStandardized test scores: Very Important
Application essayApplication essay: Very Important
Recommendation(s)Recommendation(s): Very Important
Extracurricular activitiesExtracurricular activities: Important
Talent/abilityTalent/ability: Very Important
Character/personal qualitiesCharacter/personal qualities: Very Important
First generationFirst generation: Important
Alumni/ae relationAlumni/ae relation: Considered
Geographical residenceGeographical residence: Considered
State residencyState residency: Considered
Religious affiliation/commitmentReligious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered
Volunteer workVolunteer work: Considered
Work experienceWork experience: Considered
Level of applicant's interestLevel of applicant's interest: Considered

Supplemental Essays · 2026-27

school's admissions site ↗

Washington University in St Louis essay prompts

Academic interest

Required250 words

Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why.

Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →

Methodology

How these rankings work

The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.

Read the full methodology

Selectivity tiers

EliteUnder 10% admit rate
Highly Selective10–20% admit rate
Selective20–40% admit rate
Moderate40–65% admit rate
Open65%+ admit rate

Score dimensions & weights

Career Outcomes25%

Median earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.

Academic Profile22%

Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.

Affordability15%

Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.

Student Success13%

Graduation rate and first-year retention.

Academic Investment12%

Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.

Access10%

Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.

Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.

Share this score card

Download Washington University in St Louis's Trajecta Score as an image.

Colleges similar to Washington University in St Louis

Neighbors in Missouri, plus the closest schools nationally by Trajecta Score.