What are Washington University in St. Louis's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:
- GPA requirements
- Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
- Application requirements
In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Washington University in St. Louis and build a strong application.
School location: St. Louis, MO
This school is also known as: Wash U, WUSTL
Admissions Rate: 11.3%
If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.
The acceptance rate at Washington University in St. Louis is 11.3%. For every 100 applicants, only 11 are admitted.
This means the school isextremely selective. Meeting their GPA requirements and SAT/ACT requirements is very important to getting past their first round of filters and proving your academic preparation. If you don't meet their expectations, your chance of getting in is nearly zero.
After crossing this hurdle, you'll need to impress Washington University in St. Louis application readers through their other application requirements, including extracurriculars, essays, and letters of recommendation. We'll cover more below.
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Washington University in St. Louis GPA Requirements
Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.
The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.
Average GPA: 4
The average GPA at Washington University in St. Louis is 4.
(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.
With a GPA of 4, Washington University in St. Louisrequires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.
If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate. This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.
SAT and ACT Requirements
Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.
Washington University in St. Louis hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."
Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Washington University in St. Louis will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.
Washington University in St. Louis SAT Requirements
Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.
Average SAT: 1527
The average SAT score composite at Washington University in St. Louis is a 1527 on the 1600 SAT scale.
This score makes Washington University in St. Louis Extremely Competitive for SAT test scores.
Washington University in St. Louis SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)
The 25th percentile SAT score is 1500, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1570. In other words, a 1500 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1570 will move you up to above average.
Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
| Math | 777 | 770 | 800 |
| Reading + Writing | 750 | 730 | 770 |
| Composite | 1527 | 1500 | 1570 |
SAT Score Choice Policy
The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.
Washington University in St. Louis has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."
This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit.
Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.
How does superscoring change your test strategy? (Click to Learn)
For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:
| Section | R+W | Math | Composite |
| Test 1 | 700 | 300 | 1000 |
| Test 2 | 300 | 700 | 1000 |
| Test 3 | 300 | 300 | 600 |
| Superscore | 700 | 700 | 1400 |
Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, Washington University in St. Louis will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.
This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Washington University in St. Louis forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.
Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1570, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it. You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.
Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.
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Washington University in St. Louis ACT Requirements
Just like for the SAT, Washington University in St. Louis likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.
Average ACT: 34
The average ACT score at Washington University in St. Louis is 34. This score makes Washington University in St. Louis Extremely Competitive for ACT scores.
The 25th percentile ACT score is 33, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 35.
Even though Washington University in St. Louis likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 33 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 34 and above that a 33 will look academically weak.
ACT Score Sending Policy
If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.
Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.
This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 35 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.
ACT Superscore Policy
By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.
However, in our research, we found that Washington University in St. Louis does in fact offer an ACT superscore policy. To quote their Admissions Office:
Consideration will only be given to the highest individual scores, whenever they occurred. Washington University considers your highest section scores across all SAT and/or ACT test dates that you submit. Final admissions decisions will be made using only your highest scores.
Superscoring is powerful to your testing strategy, and you need to make sure you plan your testing accordingly. Of all the scores that Washington University in St. Louis receives, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all ACT test dates you submit.
Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.
How does superscoring change your test strategy? (Click to Learn)
For example, say you submit the following 4 test scores:
| English | Math | Reading | Science | Composite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test 1 | 32 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 |
| Test 2 | 16 | 32 | 16 | 16 | 20 |
| Test 3 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 16 | 20 |
| Test 4 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 20 |
| Superscore | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
Even though the highest ACT composite you scored on any one test date was 20, Washington University in St. Louis will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 20 to 32 in this example.
This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Washington University in St. Louis forms your Superscore, you can take the ACT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.
Therefore, if your ACT score is currently below a 35, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the ACT and retaking it. You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.
Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the ACT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.
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SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements
Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.
Washington University in St. Louis considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.
Final Admissions Verdict
Because this school is extremely selective, getting a high SAT/ACT score and GPA is vital to having a chance at getting in. If you don't pass their SAT/ACT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration.
To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1570 SAT or a 35 ACT. You should also have a 4 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.
For a school as selective as Washington University in St. Louis, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application. We'll cover those details next.
But if you apply with a score below a 1570 SAT or a 35 ACT, you unfortunately start out with the odds against you and have a tiny chance of getting in. There are just too many students with high SAT/ACT scores and strong applications, and you need to compete against them.
Want to build the best possible college application?
We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.
We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.
Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.
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Admissions Calculator
What are your chances of admission at Washington University in St. Louis?
Chances of admission with these scores:
Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.
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Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:
We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to, while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range.
How would your chances improve with a better score?
Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?
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Application Requirements
Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Washington University in St. Louis here.
Application Requirements Overview
- Common ApplicationAccepted
- Electronic ApplicationAvailable
- Essay or Personal StatementRequired for all freshmen
- Letters of Recommendation2
- InterviewNot required
- Application Fee$75
- Fee Waiver Available?Available
- Other NotesPortfolio for the College of Art and College of Architecture recommended for freshmen
Testing Requirements
- SAT or ACTConsidered if submitted
- SAT Essay or ACT WritingOptional
- SAT Subject Tests
- Scores Due in OfficeJanuary 3
Coursework Requirements
- SubjectRequired Years
- English
- Math
- Science
- Foreign Language
- Social Studies
- History
- Electives
Deadlines and Early Admissions
- Offered?DeadlineNotification
- Regular Admission
- YesJanuary 3April 1
- Early Action
- No
- Early Decision
- YesNovember 1, January 4December 15
Admissions Office Information
- Address:One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899 - Phone:(314) 935-5000 x5000
- Fax:(314) 935-4290
- Email:[emailprotected]
Other Schools For You
If you're interested in Washington University in St. Louis, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Washington University in St. Louis.
Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into
These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Washington University in St. Louis. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University | New York, NY | 1524 | 35 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | 1520 | 34 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 1520 | 34 |
Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into
If you're competitive for Washington University in St. Louis, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | 1518 | 34 |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | 1515 | 34 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | 1510 | 34 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | 1480 | 34 |
| Tufts University | Medford, MA | 1465 | 33 |
| Northeastern University | Boston, MA | 1465 | 34 |
| New York University | New York, NY | 1455 | 34 |
Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into
If you're currently competitive for Washington University in St. Louis, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Washington University in St. Louis is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA | 1435 | 33 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 1435 | 33 |
| Binghamton University | Binghamton, NY | 1375 | 31 |
Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.
Want to build the best possible college application?
We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.
We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.
Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.
Get Into Your Top Choice School
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