University of Washington

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.

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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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.