Washington University in St Louis — College Profile

About

Washington University in St. Louis is a premier private research institution renowned for its elite pre-medical track, cutting-edge biomedical research, and nationally recognized programs in the Olin Business School and College of Arts & Sciences. Undergraduates benefit from an exceptionally flexible academic structure that encourages interdisciplinary exploration across engineering, design, and the liberal arts. Campus culture is collaborative and community-oriented, centered around the vibrant "South 40" residential life that consistently earns top-tier marks for student housing and dining quality. Bordering the expansive cultural landscape of Forest Park, WashU pairs a picturesque collegiate Gothic campus with direct access to clinical opportunities at its world-class medical center and a thriving tradition of undergraduate entrepreneurship.

Wikipedia:Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is a private research university in the St. Louis metropolitan area, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1853 by a group of civic leaders and named for the first U.S. president George Washington, the university spans 355 acres across its Danforth and Medical campuses. It comprises 10 schools and offers more than 150 undergraduate, 80 master's and professional, and 50 doctoral degree programs. As of 2024, Washington University enrolled 16,399 students representing all 50 U.S. states and more than 110 countries.

Location

St. Louis, MO, 63130 · Suburb campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

STL · St. Louis

8 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

YoursEveryone

Tuition & fees$65,790

Housing & food (on campus)$21,854

Books & supplies$1,304

Cost of attendance$88,488

Average net price$21,786

Same price for all students

Tuition & fees$65,790

Housing & food (on campus)$21,854

Books & supplies$1,304

Cost of attendance$88,488

Average net price$21,786

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · 2023-24

$0–30k

$1,716

$30–48k

$1,928

$48–75k

$5,578

$75–110k

$12,603

$110k+

$42,170

Your family's actual price → Washington University in St Louis net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$36,250

Share of first-years who get one2%

Source: Washington University in St Louis's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

94%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

85%

Back for yr 2

95%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

94% graduated · 4% transferred · 2% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$78,073

10 yrs after entry$86,182

Debt

Median at graduation$17,500

Monthly payment$186

Middle 50% owe$10k–$27k

90th percentile$35,610

Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs, $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

12%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1530

R 730–770 · M 770–800

ACT midpoint

Comp 33–35 · E 34–35 · M 31–35

SAT middle 50%: 1500–1570

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

From Washington University in St Louis (admissions.washu.edu) · 2026–27 application · checked Sep 28, 2026

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

Quoted from Washington University in St Louis's own page; answered in the Common Application or Coalition Application. The application itself is the final word.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 46%Women 54%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

7 : 1

Pell grant

18%

First-gen

11%

Family income

$88,696

Independent

Age at entry

20.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

40%

Hispanic

13%

Black

Asian

21%

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division III with football · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming and Diving (combined)
Men's · Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$78,073

After 10 yrs

$86,182

Computer Science181

Research and Experimental Psychology169

Finance and Financial Management Services150

Economics118

Mechanical Engineering103

Anthropology92

Biology, General83

Political Science and Government75

Marketing72

Neurobiology and Neurosciences69

Design and Applied Arts69

Mathematics66

Cognitive Science64

International/Globalization Studies50

Biomedical/Medical Engineering48

Business/Managerial Economics47

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$12.0B

Full-time faculty

73%

Faculty salary

$16,945/mo

Teaching spend

$181,929

per student

Federal loans

12%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral University

Research activity

R1 — very high research

$1.2B research spending · 365 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, more selective admissions