University of Washington: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

The University of Washington

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The University of Washington is a large public research university with an acceptance rate of 52%. Located in Seattle, Washington, the university is one of the top public colleges in the country. UW is a member of the Association of American Universities for research strengths and has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.

Considering applying to the University of Washington? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Why the University of Washington?

  • Location: Seattle, Washington
  • Campus Features: The largest university on the West Coast, the University of Washington's attractive campus sits on the shores of Portage and Union Bays, and some locations have views of Mount Rainier. Spring sees the campus explode with cherry blossoms.
  • Student/Faculty Ratio: 21:1
  • Athletics: The Washington Huskies compete in the NCAA Division I Pac 12 Conference.
  • Highlights: A highly-ranked public research university, the University of Washington has strengths that span a wide range of academic fields. Students can choose from over 180 majors.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, the University of Washington had an acceptance rate of 52%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 52 were admitted, making UW's admissions process competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 45,579
Percent Admitted 52%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 29%

SAT Scores and Requirements

The University of Washington requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 81% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 600 700
Math 620 770
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of UW's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to the University of Washington scored between 600 and 700, while 25% scored below 600 and 25% scored above 700. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 620 and 770, while 25% scored below 620 and 25% scored above 770. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1470 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at the University of Washington.

Requirements

The University of Washington does not require the optional SAT essay section. Note that UW participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. SAT Subject tests are not required at the University of Washington.

ACT Scores and Requirements

The University of Washington requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 30% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 25 35
Math 26 33
Composite 27 33

This admissions data tells us that most of UW's admitted students fall within the top 15% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to the University of Washington received a composite ACT score between 27 and 33, while 25% scored above 33 and 25% scored below 27.

Requirements

The University of Washington does not require the ACT writing section. Unlike many universities, UW superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered.

GPA

In 2019, the middle 50% of the University of Washington's incoming class had high school GPAs between 3.72 and 3.95. 25% had a GPA above 3.95, and 25% had a GPA below 3.72. These results suggest that most successful applicants to UW have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

University of Washington Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
University of Washington Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

The​ admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to the University of Washington. 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

The University of Washington, which accepts just over half of applicants, has a selective admissions process. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the school's average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. However, the University of Washington has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Note that the University of Washington does not use letters of recommendation in the admissions process. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and test scores are outside UW's average range.

In the graph above, the green and blue dots represent accepted students. As you can see, the majority of students who got in had an unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher, an SAT score (ERW+M) above 1050, and an ACT composite score of 20 or higher. Strong students can be rejected if they don't have high grades in challenging AP, IB, and Honors courses.

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of Washington Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "University of Washington: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/washington-gpa-sat-act-data-786744. Grove, Allen. (2023, April 5). University of Washington: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/washington-gpa-sat-act-data-786744 Grove, Allen. "University of Washington: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/washington-gpa-sat-act-data-786744 (accessed March 28, 2024).