Washington College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Casey Academic Center at Washington College
Casey Academic Center at Washington College. Photo Courtesy of Washington College

Founded in 1782 under the patronage of George Washington, Washington College has a long and rich history. The college earned a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its many strengths in the liberal arts and sciences. The Center for Environment & Society, the C. V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, and the Rose O’Neill Literary House are all valuable resources for supporting undergraduate education. Popular majors include Business Administration, Economics, English, Biology, and Psychology.

Washington College's location in scenic Chestertown, Maryland, provides students with opportunities to explore the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the Chester River. On the athletic front, the Washington College Shoremen and Shorewomen compete in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference. The college fields seven men's and nine women's varsity sports. Popular sports include basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis, and rowing. The college also has a co-ed sailing team.

Considering applying to Washington College? Here are the admission statistics you should know including average SAT and ACT scores, typical high school GPAs, and the college's acceptance rate.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2019-20 admissions cycle, Washington College had an acceptance rate of 92%. This means that for every 100 applicants, only 8 students were not admitted. Overall, Washington College's admissions process is not very competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2019-20)
Number of Applicants 2,225
Percent Admitted 92%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 16%

SAT Scores and Requirements

SAT scores are not currently required for admission to Washington College, but in the 2019-20 admissions cycle, 74% of applicants submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 560 660
Math 530 640
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores during the 2019-20 admissions cycle, most of Washington College's admitted students fall within the top 50% of test-takers nationally. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students who enrolled at the college scored between a 560 and 660, while 25% earned a 560 or lower, and another 25% got a 660 or higher. On the math section, 50% of matriculated students scored between a 530 and 640, while 25% scored a 530 or lower, and 25% got a 640 or higher. While SAT scores are not currently required for admission to Washington College, this data tells us that students who earn a composite score of 1300 or higher will be particularly competitive.

Requirements

SAT scores are not required for admission to Washington College for most students, but students may need scores to meet NCAA eligibility requirements or qualify for certain scholarships. Also, Washington College will use SAT scores for advising purposes and course placement. The college does not use SAT Subject Tests for placement purposes, and the college does not require the now obsolete SAT essay test.

ACT Scores and Requirements

The SAT is considerably more popular than the ACT at Washington College. During the 2019-20 admissions cycle, just 21% of applicants submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English n/a n/a
Math n/a n/a
Composite 20 29

Because of the low number of students submitting ACT scores and the small size of the college, Washington College does not report data for subsections of the ACT. We can see, however, that the middle 50% of students who enroll at the college received a composite score between 20 and 29. This tells us that 25% scored a 20 or lower, and another 25% scored a 29 or higher. These numbers indicate that most matriculated students fall within the top 47% nationally on the ACT.

Requirements

Since standardized test scores are not required for admission to Washington College, applicants do not need to take the SAT or ACT. However, students should check to see if scores are needed for scholarships and/or NCAA athletics eligibility. Washington College does not use the ACT essay in the admissions process, but they will use ACT scores to assist with academic advising.

GPA

For the 2019-20 admissions cycle, the average high school GPA was 3.61. 89% of enrolled students had a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and 26% had 4.0 averages. 81% were ranked in the top quarter of their graduating class. This shows us that although the college has a high acceptance rate, students tend to be academically strong.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

Washington College GPA, SAT and ACT Data for Admission
Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Washington College. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Don't be fooled by Washington College's high acceptance rate. The applicant pool tends to be fairly strong. Most admitted students had grades and standardized test scores that were above average, and the majority of admitted students had grades up in the "A" range. Grades matter much more than test scores, for Washington College has a test-optional policy for all students with qualifying high school GPAs.

Washington College, like most selective colleges and universities, has holistic admissions, so grades and test scores are just part of the admissions equation. This explains why there are a few red dots (rejected students) and yellow dots (waitlisted students) mixed in with the green and blue in the middle of the graph. It also explains why some students were accepted with test scores and grades below the norm. Washington College uses the Common Application, and the admissions folks will be looking for a strong application essay, meaningful extracurricular activities, and positive letters of recommendation. Also, Washington College takes into consideration the rigor of your high school courses, not just your grades. And if you visit the campus in Chestertown, be sure to sign up for an interview.

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Grove, Allen. "Washington College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Jul. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/washington-college-admissions-788209. Grove, Allen. (2021, July 16). Washington College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/washington-college-admissions-788209 Grove, Allen. "Washington College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/washington-college-admissions-788209 (accessed March 29, 2024).