Washington University in St. Louis 2025 Admission Statistics

Washington University in St. Louis Admission Guide — Class of 2030 (Applying 2025‑26)

“WashU looks for students who stretch intellect and kindness in equal measure—then hand them the resources to amplify both.” — WashU admissions dean, June 2025

Why read this?

You’re a rising senior preparing to submit applications in the 2025‑26 cycle.
WashU’s freshly released 2024‑25 Common Data Set reveals updated admit rates, test-score bands, costs, and aid. Skip the spreadsheets and use this narrative cheat‑sheet—no tables, no citations—to benchmark your odds, time every deadline, and craft an application that shouts Go Bears.

The Admission Landscape — Numbers in Plain English

• 32,754 first‑year applications last cycle.
• 3,951 offers went out → overall admit rate ≈ 12 %.
• 1,847 freshmen enrolled → ≈ 47 % yield—Ivy‑level pull in the Midwest.
• Early Decision edge. ED I & II combined admitted about 14 %, nearly triple Regular Decision.
• Wait‑list reality. Almost 2000 students accepted a WL spot; fewer than 70 were admitted—treat WL as a lottery ticket.

Academic Profile of the 2024‑25 Admitted Class

• Test‑optional continues. About 29 % submitted SAT, 28 % ACT.
  • SAT middle 50 %: 1500 – 1570 composite (EBRW 730‑770; Math 770‑800).
  • ACT middle 50 %: 33 – 35 composite.
  • Submit scores only if they clear 1510 / 34.
• Average unweighted GPA: 4.19 on a 4.0 scale (yes, plenty of A+ weighting).
• Class rank: 98 % of enrollees graduated in the top quarter; 86 % in the top decile.
• Course rigor rules. Admits show 10‑12 AP/IB/dual‑enrollment courses; multivariable calculus, calc‑based physics, and a fourth‑year language catch the committee’s eye.
• Holistic hotspots. Rigor, GPA trend, essays, recommendations, extracurricular impact, talent, and first‑gen status land in the “very important” bucket.

What WashU Values (and How to Show It)

• Intellectual experimentation. Essays that unpack a question you chased—designing CRISPR tools or mapping jazz harmony with Python—signal fit for an R1 powerhouse.
• Collaboration over competition. Stories of lifting peers—tutoring refugees, co‑founding a girls‑who‑code camp—resonate.
• Community + equity. Tie impact to St. Louis’ context: public‑health disparities, urban farming, or arts accessibility.
• Authentic voice. WashU readers spend ~12 min per file; vivid storytelling beats flowery prose.
• Program match. Name‑drop special institutes: Beyond Boundaries, McKelvey iDesign Lab, Olin CEL Consulting—skip generic “mid‑size research university” praise.

The Money Question

• Sticker price 2025‑26 (annual):
  • Tuition: about $68,240
  • Mandatory fees: ~$1,350
  • Housing & meals: ~$23,300
  • Total cost of attendance: ≈ $93,000
• Need met 100 %. WashU meets full demonstrated need for all admitted students.
• No‑loan policy. Loans are removed from need‑based packages.
• WashU Pledge. Missouri & southern Illinois families earning ≤ $75 k receive full cost—tuition, housing, meals—covered for four years.
• Merit awards. Signature scholarships (Danforth, Rodriguez, Ervin) cover full tuition plus stipends—automatic ED/RD consideration, but separate finalists’ weekends in spring.
• Aid paperwork. CSS Profile + FAFSA by Nov  18  2025 (ED I) · Jan  13  2026 (ED II) · Feb  2  2026 (RD).

Anticipated Timeline for Class of 2030

Spring  2025

• Confirm senior schedule: AP Calc BC, AP Chem/Bio/Phys C, advanced humanities, fourth‑year language.
• Register for August SAT/ACT only if trending ≥ 1510/34.

Summer  2025

• Draft Common App essay + three WashU supplements (250 words each).
• Deepen a flagship project—publish code, scale a nonprofit, present at a research symposium.

Early Fall  2025

• Nov  3  2025 — Early Decision I deadline.
• Jan  2  2026 — ED II & Regular Decision deadline (same date).
• Visit campus or join a virtual Engineering & Beyond Boundaries session; note specifics for essays.

Winter  2026

• Dec  12  2025 — ED  I decisions.
• Feb  13  2026 — ED  II decisions.
• Scholarship finalist invites land mid‑February.

Spring  2026

• Apr  1  2026 — Regular Decision releases.
• May  1  2026 — $600 enrollment deposit due (non‑refundable).

Life on the Danforth Campus

• 7 : 1 student‑faculty ratio; 64 % of classes under 20 students.
• Residential colleges. All first‑years live on the South 40; each Res College hosts faculty fellows and intramural rivalries.
• Traditions. Convocation candle‑lit walk, Thurtene Carnival, Lopata Sand Volleyball, free concert nights at the Gargoyle.
• Research horsepower. $1 B+ annual R&D across neuro‑engineering, social policy, and sustainability; undergrads present at the Undergraduate Research Symposium each spring.
• St. Louis advantage. Intern with Boeing, Cortex Innovation District, or Barnes‑Jewish Hospital; grab gooey butter cake between lab shifts.

Quick‑Hit Checklist

• [ ] Keep unweighted GPA ≥ 3.9 with upward trend.
• [ ] Submit SAT ≥ 1510 or ACT ≥ 34 only if it helps.
• [ ] Finish one measurable impact project by September.
• [ ] Reference Beyond Boundaries, the Pledge, or St. Louis‑based engagement in your supplements.
• [ ] Apply ED  I by Nov  3 or ED  II/RD by Jan  2 2026.
• [ ] File CSS + FAFSA by posted deadlines (Nov  18 · Jan  13 · Feb  2).
• [ ] Celebrate with frozen custard at Ted Drewes after smashing “Submit.”

Final Word

WashU blends top‑15 research prowess with Midwestern warmth and a no‑loan commitment that levels the playing field. Admission is fiercely selective but transparent: rigorous academics, a quantified impact story, and essays that connect curiosity to community. Nail those, respect the timeline, and you could soon be strolling Brookings Quadrangle between a morning seminar on immuno‑engineering and an afternoon service shift at the Saturday Scholars program.

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