Washington University in St Louis
St. Louis, MO 63130
About Washington University in St Louis
Washington University in St Louis is a selective private research university in St. Louis, Missouri, serving roughly 7,857 students. Admission is selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 12.06% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data.
Key findings
- Washington University in St Louis charges about 2.2× the national private non-profit median tuition ($65,790).
- Versus the Missouri median, sticker tuition is about 4.4×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 94.26%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $86,182.
Research findings
Finding
Average net price at Washington University in St Louis is about 67% below published tuition.
Published tuition is $65,790; average net price is $21,786 in the latest Scorecard extract.
Interpretation: Institutional aid and grants compress sticker price into a substantially lower typical undergraduate cost signal.
Limitation: Average net price masks variation by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the campus average.
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Washington University in St Louis is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 889% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Washington University in St Louis awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 168 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington University in St Louis | $65,790 | $21,786 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Missouri (state median) | $14,822 | $12,954 | 81 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 67% below published tuition at Washington University in St Louis
Key findings
- Washington University in St Louis's average net price ($21,786) is 67% below published tuition ($65,790).
- Washington University in St Louis charges about 2.2× the national private non-profit median tuition ($65,790).
- Versus the Missouri median, sticker tuition is about 4.4×.
Washington University in St Louis tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $65,790
Finding Washington University in St Louis charges about 2.2× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $65,790. That is about 2.2× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Missouri median ($14,822), sticker tuition is about 4.4×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 5.5×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Washington University in St Louis versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Washington University in St Louis versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Washington University in St Louis is $21,786.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $21,786 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $8,832 above the Missouri median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $3,086 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Washington University in St Louis’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 67% lower after grants and scholarships.
Washington University in St Louis: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Washington University in St Louis—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
Completion, earnings, and net price together describe a campus where sticker price overstates typical undergraduate cost while outcomes remain at the high end of Scorecard distributions.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$65,790
Avg. net price
$21,786
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $1,716 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $1,928 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $5,578 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $12,603 |
| $110,001+ | $42,170 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $263,160. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Washington University in St Louis is known for
Top program completions
- Business Statistics352
- Computer Science333
- Law285
- Business Administration and Management, General278
- Finance, General261
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Highly selective — fewer than 3 in 10 applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 47% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1530
- Midpoint ACT: 34
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Washington University in St Louis a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Washington University in St Louis is a good school for those looking for strong completion and solid mid-career earnings—especially where average net price sits well below published tuition (about 67% lower in this extract).
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Washington University in St Louis.
Campus
Location
St. Louis, MO
City / state
- ZIP
- 63130
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 17% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Plains
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
7,857
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 8,979
- Graduate
- 8,137
- Full-time share
- 96%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$17,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 17.75%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Washington University in St Louis.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Washington University in St Louis was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Washington University in St Louis in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $44,841 | $44,841 | $33,484 |
| 2014 | $46,467 | $46,467 | $31,281 |
| 2015 | $48,093 | $48,093 | $32,873 |
| 2016 | $49,770 | $49,770 | $29,957 |
| 2017 | $51,533 | $51,533 | $28,540 |
| 2018 | $53,399 | $53,399 | $27,427 |
| 2019 | $55,292 | $55,292 | $26,869 |
| 2020 | $57,386 | $57,386 | $26,921 |
| 2021 | $58,866 | $58,866 | $27,595 |
| 2022 | $60,590 | $60,590 | $20,768 |
| 2023 | $62,982 | $62,982 | $22,117 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is highly selective, accepting fewer than 3 in 10 applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1530 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 34 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 4.00
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Washington University in St Louis reported total enrollment of about 7,857 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 46% male and 54% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (39.7%), Asian (20.9%), and Hispanic or Latino (13.2%). About 17.75% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 11.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
95.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Washington University in St Louis in 2024 is 7,857 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 8,979 students. Graduate enrollment is about 8,137 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
95.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
85.14% 100% Completion Time
94.26% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 85.14% of students graduating from Washington University in St Louis completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Statistics: 52% male / 48% female
- Computer Science: 72% male / 28% female
- Law: 50% male / 50% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Washington University in St Louis graduates earn a median of $86,182 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Washington University in St Louis.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $86,182. Median federal loan debt: $17,500. Average net price used in cost models: $21,786.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Washington University in St Louis graduates report median earnings of $86,182 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Washington University in St Louis.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (168 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Washington University in St Louis.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Washington University in St Louis graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Washington University in St Louis—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$11.49B
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Missouri median 326× the median ($35.2M)
- Plains median 478× the median ($24.1M)
- U.S. median 435× the median ($26.4M)
- Missouri median 45× the median ($15,167)
- Plains median 45× the median ($15,020)
- U.S. median 56× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 72.5%
- Missouri median 7.2 pp above median (65.3%)
- Plains median 7.8 pp above median (64.7%)
- U.S. median 14.6 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $16,945
- Missouri median 2.5× the median ($6,803)
- Plains median 2.4× the median ($7,194)
- U.S. median 2.2× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $181,929
- Missouri median 25× the median ($7,371)
- Plains median 22× the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median 25× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Washington University in St Louis at a glance
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University in St Louis is a private non-profit institution in St. Louis, MO, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business StatisticsComputer ScienceLaw
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian39.7%Asian20.9%Hispanic or Latino13.2%
Schools near Washington University in St Louis
Other campuses in St. Louis, MO when available, plus nearby institutions in Missouri.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade A) within Missouri, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Washington University in St Louis located?
Washington University in St Louis is located in St. Louis, MO.
What is Washington University in St Louis's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Washington University in St Louis is 12.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 32,240 applicants and 3,855 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Washington University in St Louis's tuition?
Washington University in St Louis tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $65,790 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $21,786 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Washington University in St Louis cost?
Reported tuition is $65,790 and average net price is $21,786 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $21,854 annually.
Why is Washington University in St Louis's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Washington University in St Louis, published tuition is $65,790 while average net price is $21,786—about 67% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Washington University in St Louis's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($21,786), completion (94.3% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($86,182). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
Why is Washington University in St Louis's acceptance rate so low?
The acceptance rate at Washington University in St Louis is 12.1% among first-time degree-seeking applicants reporting admissions data. Very low rates usually reflect extraordinary applicant volume relative to class size—not a single test-score cutoff. When IPEDS reports applicants and admits, those counts show how selective the funnel is. Acceptance rate describes competition for seats; it does not measure outcomes for enrolled students. Yield (share of admits who enroll) further clarifies demand among those offered admission when available.
What is the student body demographics at Washington University in St Louis?
Washington University in St Louis reports undergraduate enrollment of about 8,979 students, White (39.7%), Asian (20.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Washington University in St Louis?
About 11.4% of students at Washington University in St Louis are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Washington University in St Louis?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Washington University in St Louis reports midpoint SAT about 1530 and midpoint ACT about 34.
What do graduates of Washington University in St Louis earn?
Median earnings are $78,073 six years after entry and $86,182 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Washington University in St Louis?
The 150%-time completion rate is 94.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.