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Colleges / University of Washington

University of Washington

Seattle, WA 4-Year Public
Acceptance Rate48%

About UW

University of Washington is ranked as one of the top public universities in the US. UW is known for its academic excellence and for offering a wide variety of programs. Some of the most popular fields of study include computer science, engineering, business administration, biology, communication, health sciences, and environmental science. 

University of Washington’s state-of-the-art facilities foster groundbreaking research and encourage collaborative learning. In fact, the university emphasizes student research and mentorships as a collaborative effort between students and faculty.

The atmosphere at UW is academically stimulating, socially inclusive and engaging. There is a strong sense of camaraderie among students. The university is known for providing spaces of inclusion where all are welcome and can thrive. 

The most competitive sports at University of Washington are football, basketball, soccer, and volleyball. UW students have a strong sense of school spirit and enthusiastically support the UW Huskies teams. University of Washington is an NCAA Division I school and a member of the Pac-12 conference. 

Did You Know?

In the spring, the UW campus features a beautiful display of cherry blossoms. Cherry blossom trees line the quad and when the trees bloom in the spring, the campus transforms into a sea of fluffy pink. 

What the CC Community is saying about University of Washington

"UW is a beautiful campus with all the benefits of a large city. Like most big schools, kids have to work to find their people but there are a lot of clubs, etc to do so."

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University of Washington Overview

University of Washington is a public, state school in an urban setting in Seattle, Washington. UW was founded in 1861 and now enrolls around 51,487 students a year, including 35,582 undergrads. UW provides on-campus housing for students. Most students live in off campus housing.

There are many ways for students to get involved at UW! Love music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of UW's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? UW students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Thinking of pledging? UW has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? UW has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at UW on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at UW on the Student Life page.

Mark your calendar! November 16, 2022 is the final deadline to submit an application for Fall. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2022 should hear from UW by March 15.

2021 UW Facts At-A-Glance
Academic Calendar Quarter
Overall Acceptance Rate 56%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate ED not offered
Early Action Acceptance Rate EA not offered
Average GPA 3.8
In-State Tuition $10,629
Out-of-State $37,998
Percent of Need Met 77.6%
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package $17,346

Is UW a Good School?

The definition of a "good school" is different for different people. Admissions difficulty and admitted student statistics can give you a sense of how competitive a college is, but they don't say much about the quality of the education or the student experience. There are a few statistics that can give you a good idea of how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its students.

Let's take a closer look at all of these areas to get a clearer sense of what UW offers and if it sounds like a good fit for you.

UW Acceptance Rate 2021

It is very difficult to get into UW. Around 56% of applicants get into UW each year. Out of 43,778 applications received in 2021, 24,467 students were offered admission.

Retention and Graduation Rates at UW

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

About 93% of students who start at UW return for their second year of college.Around 84% of students who started at UW earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outlook UW Graduates

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers. Within six months of graduating, 63% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.

Check with UW directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

UW's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students. UW's endowment was valued at $3.5 billion in 2021, compared to a national average of $905 million. For each full-time student, UW spends about $25,675 a year.

Tuition and Financial Aid at UW

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. UW meets 77.6% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $17,346 a year.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $19,163 in student loans for each student with debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at UW. Based on this information, how does UW sound? Remember, the best school for one person may be a terrible fit for another! So ask yourself: Is UW a good school for you?

If University of Washington seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

Still Searching for Colleges?

To learn more about UW, choose from the options below:

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Student Life

Academics

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UW Community Forums

Then use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting accepted at some of the most selective colleges and universities in the U.S.

Where is UW?

UW is located in the urban setting of Seattle, Washington, less than an hour from Seattle.

If you want to see UW for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 5 to Seattle, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Seattle-Tacoma International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what UW and Seattle are like without leaving home.

Considering Colleges in Washington?

See a full list of colleges in Washington and save your favorites to your college list.

College Info

1410 NE Campus Parkway Seattle, WA 98195

Campus Setting: Urban

UW Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Nov 15

Transfer Applications are Due

Feb 15

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to UW is Nov 15.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to UW is Feb 15.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

UW SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

Not available

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Math SAT Range

Not available

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Reading SAT Range

Not available

UW Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$28,310

In State

$56,808

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$11,189
$39,687
Fees
$1,053
$1,053
Housing
$16,068
$16,068
Books
Unknown
Unknown

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Student Life

Wondering what life at UW is like? There are approximately 53,083 students enrolled at UW, including 36,872 undergraduate students and 16,211 graduate students. 81% percent of students attend school full-time, 77% percent are from WA and 23% percent of students are from other states.

81%

Full Time

19%

Part Time

77%

In State

23%

Out-of-State

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

53,083

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

48%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$12,242

Out-of-State

$40,740

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Nov 15
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