12.1%
Acceptance Rate
$65,790
Avg Cost (In-State)
$65,790
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
94.4%
Graduation Rate
7,857
Total Enrollment
What they weigh most
Source: Common Data Set
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 15
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Decision)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
2
Application Fee
$75
Interview
Not required
Essays: Common App personal essay required; additional supplemental essays may vary by program
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$78,073
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$86,182
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
94%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science. | $110,302 | $177,066 | 68 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology. | $37,377 | $75,261 | 67 |
| Biology, General. | $24,925 | $68,359 | 59 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | $102,814 | $185,551 | 54 |
| Anthropology. | $34,489 | $71,018 | 49 |
| Economics. | $66,325 | $102,439 | 44 |
| Marketing. | $70,819 | $100,489 | 33 |
| Cognitive Science. | $30,996 | $67,212 | 31 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
Calculate Your Cost at Washington University in St Louis
Get a personalized estimate of what you'd pay to attend Washington University in St Louis
Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Missouri Access Missouri
Up to $2,850 (4-yr publics); $2,150 (CC); $4,600 (privates)
stateMO residents with financial need at MO postsecondary institutions.
Deadline: FAFSA by February 1
Learn more ↗Missouri Bright Flight
Up to $3,000/year
stateMO residents in top 3% of MO ACT scores (~31+ ACT or equivalent).
Deadline: FAFSA by February 1
Learn more ↗Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Scholarships
$500-$5,000+
localKC metro students; one app for dozens of funds.
Deadline: January 31
Learn more ↗Missouri A+ Scholarship
Tuition + fees at MO public 2-year/technical schools
stateMO HS grads from A+-designated schools with 2.5+ GPA, 95% attendance, 50 hours mentoring service.
Deadline: FAFSA + school certification
Learn more ↗WashU Need-Met (Pell Promise)
Full tuition + housing for Pell-eligible students
universityWashU admitted students who are Pell-eligible; loan-free aid package.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗St. Louis Promise (STL College Now)
Tuition + fees at STLCC
localSt. Louis area HS grads attending St. Louis CC.
Deadline: Through STLCC
Learn more ↗St. Louis University Presidential Scholarship
Up to full tuition
universityTop SLU incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: January 15
Learn more ↗Missouri State University Presidential Scholarship
Up to full tuition + fees + stipend
universityTop MSU incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: November 15
Learn more ↗Missouri University of Science and Technology Chancellor's Scholarship
Full tuition + room/board
universityTop Missouri S&T incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Net price by income
What it actually costs your family.
Average net price (tuition, fees, room/board minus grant aid) by household income tier, AY 2023–24. Source: IPEDS NPRC1.
| Household income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0 – $30,000 | $5,200 |
| $30,001 – $48,000 | $7,100 |
| $48,001 – $75,000 | $14,800 |
| $75,001 – $110,000 | $30,400 |
| $110,001+ | $69,600 |
Cost calculator
See the full income-tier cost breakdown for Washington University in St Louis →
Type your household income and get a per-family estimate, plus % off sticker and a methodology breakdown.
Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 12.1% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Early Decision I
30%
acceptance
ED edgeBinding ED1. WashU has historically had high ED admit rates ~28-32%.
Source ↗Early Decision II
25%
acceptance
ED edgeBinding ED2.
Source ↗Regular Decision
10%
acceptance
Overall ~12% Class of 2028.
Source ↗Regular Decision
12.06%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
13.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
13.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
7.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
19.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
41.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
97.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
95.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Considered
Visiting, attending info sessions and opening admissions emails meaningfully helps your chances. Track your touchpoints.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
11.7% acceptance
Both admit around 12% of applicants, with 7k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN
11.3% acceptance
Both admit around 11% of applicants, with 9k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Georgetown University
Washington, DC
12.9% acceptance
Both admit around 13% of applicants, with 8k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Tallahassee, FL
20.6% acceptance
Similar selectivity (21% vs 12%) but out-of-state cost runs $18k — meaningfully less than $66k.
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Atlanta, GA
14.1% acceptance
Similar selectivity (14% vs 12%) but out-of-state cost runs $34k — meaningfully less than $66k.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
16% acceptance
Similar selectivity (16% vs 12%) but out-of-state cost runs $38k — meaningfully less than $66k.
Safer alternatives
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
53% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (53% vs 12%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
San Juan, PR
54.6% acceptance
Same u setting in the region, but higher admit rate (55% vs 12%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of Akron Main Campus
Akron, OH
59.7% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (60% vs 12%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
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