HighSchoolOS How to Get Into Washington University in St Louis
St. Louis, MO · Private nonprofit · 2025-2026 cycle · Verified data
Washington University in St Louis Admissions Statistics
How to Actually Get Into Washington University in St Louis
Understand what 12.1% really means
Below roughly a 15% admit rate, admissions stops being something you earn cleanly and becomes probabilistic. Nearly everyone who applies to Washington University in St Louis has strong stats, so strong stats get you into contention, not into the class. Treat Washington University in St Louis as a reach no matter your profile, and build real targets and a real safety underneath it. If your list is all schools like this one, your expected outcome is mostly rejections, regardless of how strong you are.
Position your scores against the real bands
The middle 50% of enrolled students sits around 1500-1570 combined SAT or 33-35 ACT. Above the 75th percentile, scores work for you, though at this tier they only buy you a ticket. Below the 25th percentile, the rest of your application has to carry the file, treat it as a reach. Since scores are not required (test-optional) here, submit only if you're inside or above the band; a below-band score is information you don't have to volunteer.
Use the Early Decision round deliberately
Washington University in St Louis offers Early Decision, which is binding. The early bump is real but overstated (hooked applicants cluster early and inflate it). Spend ED once, on the school where it actually moves you a tier, and only if the money works without comparing aid offers. If that school is Washington University in St Louis, the deadline table below is your calendar.
The supplements are where files separate
Washington University in St Louis asks 3 supplemental questions (the exact prompts are below). At this tier, essays decide between equally qualified contenders, generic answers read as generic everywhere, so specificity about Washington University in St Louis is the whole game. Answer why THIS school, with details that could not be pasted into another application.
The bigger picture: no single school decides your outcome, the shape of your whole list does. Read how top counselors build a college list before you finalize where Washington University in St Louis fits.
Washington University in St Louis Application Deadlines (2025-2026)
| Round | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Early Decision (ED) | November 3, 2025 |
| Early Decision II (ED II) | January 2, 2026 |
| Regular Decision (RD) | January 2, 2026 |
Deadlines verified from official sources for the 2025-2026 cycle. Rounds change year to year, always confirm on the school's site before submitting.
Washington University in St Louis Supplemental Essay Prompts
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1. Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why. Undecided about your academic interest(s)? Don't worry—tell us what excites you about the academic division you selected. Remember that all of our first-year students enter officially "undeclared" and work closely with their team of academic advisors to discover their academic passions. You can explore all of our majors and programs on our website.
250 words
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2. Write your essay response (250 words or fewer)
250 words
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3. Who will you ask for recommendation letters? Teachers: 1 required, 1 optional. Other recommenders: up to 2 optional. List only.
50 words
Application Requirements & Costs
| Application platform | Common App |
| Application fee | $75 |
| Test scores | Not required (test-optional) |
| Writing supplement | Required |
| Counselor recommendation | Required |
| Teacher evaluations | 1 |
Washington University in St Louis Cost & Financial Aid
| Total cost of attendance (sticker, per year) | $88,488 |
| Tuition & fees | $65,790 |
| Room & board (on campus) | $21,854 |
| Average net price (aid-receiving families) | $21,786 |
What You'd Actually Pay, by Family Income
Average net price per year (after grants and scholarships) for aid-receiving families, from federal College Scorecard data:
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0-30k | $1,716 |
| $30-48k | $1,928 |
| $48-75k | $5,578 |
| $75-110k | $12,603 |
| $110k+ | $42,170 |
These are averages, not your number. Get your family's actual price in about 10 minutes:
Use Washington University in St Louis's Official Net Price Calculator →More Washington University in St Louis Data, Coming Soon
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