Washington State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Thompson Hall at Washington State University
Thompson Hall at Washington State University.

Candy29c / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Washington State University is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 76%. Located in Pullman, Washington, the university offers over 200 areas of study, with 98 majors for undergraduates. Academics at WSU are supported by a 15-to-1 student / faculty ratio, and nearly 80% of classes have fewer than 50 students. The university has extensive study abroad offerings through more than 500 programs in 48 countries. For it's strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, WSU earned a chapter of the prestigious ​Phi Beta Kappa honor society. WSU also offers 20 undergraduate and 12 graduate degree programs online. In athletics, the Washington State University Cougar's compete in the Division I Pacific 12 Conference.

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

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Washington State University had an acceptance rate of 76%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 76 students were admitted, making WSU's admissions process somewhat competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 21,434
Percent Admitted 76%
Percent Admitted Who Applied (Yield) 29%

SAT Scores and Requirements

WSU requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 85% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 510 620
Math 510 610
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of WSU's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to WSU scored between 510 and 620, while 25% scored below 510 and 25% scored above 620. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 510 and 610, while 25% scored below 510 and 25% scored above 610. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1230 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at WSU.

Requirements

WSU does not require the SAT writing section. Note that Washington State University 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.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Washington State University requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 24% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 19 25
Math 18 26
Composite 20 26

This admissions data tells us that most of WSU's admitted students fall within the top 48% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to WSU received a composite ACT score between 20 and 26, while 25% scored above 26 and 25% scored below 20.

Requirements

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

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA of WSU's incoming freshmen class was 3.46, and nearly half of the class had an average GPA of 3.5 or above. This information suggests that most successful applicants to Washington State University have primarily high B grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

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

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

Washington State University, which accepts over three-quarters of applicants, has a somewhat 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. Admissions decisions place most weight to GPA, grade trends, and rigor of high school coursework, followed by SAT/ACT scores. Applicants who rank in the top 10% of their high school class and those with an average unweighted GPA of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale can be admitted to WSU under the Assured Admission program.

In the graph above, the green and blue dots represent accepted students. As you can see, the majority of admitted students had a GPA of 3.0 or higher, an SAT score (ERW+M) above 950, and an ACT composite score of 18 or higher. Slightly higher grades and test scores increase your chances of being accepted measurably.

If You Like Washington State University, You May Also Like These Schools

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

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Grove, Allen. "Washington State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/washington-state-university-gpa-sat-act-786767. Grove, Allen. (2020, August 26). Washington State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/washington-state-university-gpa-sat-act-786767 Grove, Allen. "Washington State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/washington-state-university-gpa-sat-act-786767 (accessed March 28, 2024).