Washington University in St Louis (WashU)
Private nonprofit four-year university in St. Louis, MO that costs an average of $13,360 a year after financial aid, admits 12% of applicants and graduates 93% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$13,360
Acceptance rate
12%
Graduation rate
93%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$91,497
Private nonprofitLarge suburb7,857 undergraduates
Cost of WashU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $92,523 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $69,594 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $23,338 |
| Books and supplies | $1,357 |
| Average net price after aid | $13,360 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $2,578 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $589 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $7,361 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $15,636 |
| $110,001+ | $47,130 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with WashU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 12% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,530 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 730–770 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 770–800 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 33–35 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 93% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 95% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $82,157 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $91,497 |
| Rank in Missouri (earnings) | 3rd of 53 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $15,250 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $173 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 22% |
| Students with federal loans | 5.9% |
Majors and programs at WashU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (85)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 411 | $121,535 | $15,250 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 306 | $108,590 | $20,750 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 94 | $102,081 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 51 | $91,446 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 216 | $78,601 | $11,500 |
| Mathematics | 96 | $75,712 | — |
| Economics | 228 | $75,702 | $20,000 |
| Marketing | 149 | $66,898 | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 127 | $63,377 | $16,750 |
| Political Science and Government | 157 | $57,981 | $17,000 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 106 | $56,070 | $15,000 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 351 | $41,685 | $17,897 |
| Cognitive Science | 127 | $39,205 | $17,750 |
| Anthropology | 174 | $36,515 | $15,000 |
| Biology | 190 | $26,927 | $14,423 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 133 | $23,056 | $17,875 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 60 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 10 | — | — |
| Archeology | — | — | — |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 63 | — | — |
| Architecture | 31 | — | — |
| Area Studies | 47 | — | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 7 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 68 | — | $15,000 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 45 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 116 | — | $17,741 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 41 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 66 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 76 | — | — |
| Classical and Ancient Studies | 9 | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 13 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 6 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | — | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 50 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 38 | — | — |
| Dance | 9 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 14 | — | — |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 20 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 39 | — | — |
| Economics and Computer Science | 24 | — | — |
| Education | 26 | — | — |
| Engineering | 10 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 24 | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | 1 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 54 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 57 | — | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 16 | — | — |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 11 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 54 | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 49 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 72 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 9 | — | — |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 8 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 34 | — | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | 9 | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| History | 64 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 74 | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | — | — | — |
| Iranian/Persian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Journalism | — | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 2 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 10 | — | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 48 | — | — |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | 87 | — | — |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 36 | — | — |
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 5 | — | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | — | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 39 | — | — |
| Music | 10 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 59 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 31 | — | — |
| Physics | 28 | — | — |
| Psychology | 8 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 5 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 7 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 33 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 58 | — | — |
| Sociology | 43 | — | — |
| Statistics | 27 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 4 | — | — |
| Systems Engineering | 37 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 9 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 7 | — | — |
Certificate programs (19)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | — | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 4 | — | — |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 10 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 17 | — | — |
| Data Processing | — | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | — | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 5 | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | 1 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | — | — |
| Journalism | — | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | — | — |
| Marketing | 6 | — | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | — | — | — |
| Public Health | — | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 7 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 3 | — | — |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | 1 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 2 | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 47 | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (7)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behavioral Sciences | — | — | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | — | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| Public Health | — | — | — |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (71)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies | 33 | $216,623 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 570 | $141,228 | $55,030 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 170 | $138,917 | — |
| Computer Science | 234 | $126,391 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 201 | $111,891 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 116 | $106,020 | — |
| Engineering, Other | 97 | $100,544 | — |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 60 | $98,506 | — |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 596 | $75,904 | $64,320 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 108 | $71,034 | $95,317 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 107 | $69,108 | $62,750 |
| Biology | 52 | $61,732 | — |
| Public Health | 207 | $57,689 | $54,528 |
| Social Work | 367 | $54,090 | $51,367 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 17 | $49,828 | — |
| Education | 50 | $48,799 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 32 | — | — |
| Anthropology | 14 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 577 | — | — |
| Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation | 2 | — | — |
| Architecture | 3 | — | — |
| Area Studies | 9 | — | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 47 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 93 | — | — |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 1 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 47 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 10 | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 11 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 31 | — | — |
| Construction Engineering | 8 | — | — |
| Dance | 5 | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 25 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 10 | — | — |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 5 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | — | — | — |
| Economics | 49 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 20 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 13 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 3 | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 9 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 213 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 30 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 13 | — | — |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 5 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 9 | — | — |
| History | 2 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 12 | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 12 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 1 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 1 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 889 | — | — |
| Marketing | 1 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | 25 | — | — |
| Materials Sciences | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | 25 | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 8 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 2 | — | — |
| Music | 3 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 1 | — | — |
| Physics | 19 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 7 | — | — |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | — | — | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | 26 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | — | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 27 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 29 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Sociology | 5 | — | — |
| Statistics | 40 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 38 | — | — |
| Systems Engineering | 16 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (54)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 38 | $90,911 | — |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 3 | — | — |
| Anthropology | 14 | — | — |
| Behavioral Sciences | 5 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 18 | — | — |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4 | — | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 17 | — | — |
| Botany/Plant Biology | 13 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 15 | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 33 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 35 | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 2 | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | — | — | — |
| Computational Science | 1 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 2 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 24 | — | — |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 6 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9 | — | — |
| Economics | 22 | — | — |
| Education | 3 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 19 | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | 45 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 9 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 4 | — | — |
| Genetics | 39 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 9 | — | — |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 5 | — | — |
| History | 5 | — | — |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 21 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 1 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 5 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 32 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | — | — | — |
| Materials Sciences | 7 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 7 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 16 | — | — |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 39 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 4 | — | — |
| Music | 3 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 34 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 4 | — | — |
| Physics | 21 | — | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | — | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 10 | — | — |
| Public Health | 4 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 1 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 4 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 23 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 10 | — | — |
| Social Work | 21 | — | — |
| Sociology | — | — | — |
| Statistics | 7 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 3 | — | — |
| Systems Engineering | 3 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (5)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 515 | $150,675 | $98,271 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 26 | $77,638 | — |
| Behavioral Sciences | 103 | $74,291 | $116,156 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 190 | $73,445 | $142,697 |
| Medicine | 209 | $67,417 | $75,886 |
Graduate certificate programs (37)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Area Studies | 10 | — | — |
| Behavioral Sciences | 1 | — | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 4 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 4 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 21 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 4 | — | — |
| Construction Engineering | 1 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | — | — | — |
| Education | 3 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 4 | — | — |
| Engineering Physics | 2 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 6 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 6 | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 2 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | — | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | 58 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 344 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | — | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 1 | — | — |
| Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | — | — | — |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | — | — | — |
| Public Health | 3 | — | — |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 3 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 8 | — | — |
| Social Work | — | — | — |
| Statistics | — | — | — |
| Systems Engineering | 15 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 1 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 1 | — | — |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in Missouri
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis | $29,674 | 75% | $75,998 |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis | Saint Louis | $20,199 | 95% | $67,386 |
| Columbia College | Columbia | $25,982 | — | $48,161 |
| Lindenwood University | Saint Charles | $21,443 | 57% | $58,321 |
| Park University | Parkville | $19,119 | — | $62,154 |
| Webster University | Saint Louis | $26,955 | 86% | $56,096 |
| Rockhurst University | Kansas City | $24,702 | 70% | $73,697 |
| Missouri Baptist University | Saint Louis | $27,032 | 69% | $49,360 |
About WashU
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | St. Louis, MO |
| Setting | Large suburb |
| Undergraduates | 7,857 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 7 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | washu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is WashU's acceptance rate?
Washington University in St Louis admits 12% of applicants, making it highly selective. Admitted students average 1,530 on the SAT.
How much does WashU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $92,523 a year (tuition and fees: $69,594). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $13,360 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $2,578.
How much do WashU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $91,497 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 3rd of 53 similar colleges in Missouri. The best-paid bachelor's program is computer science ($121,535 a year after graduation).
What is WashU's graduation rate?
93% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 95% of first-year students return for a second year.