University of Washington: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.

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.

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.