Sumers Welcome Center

At WashU, we begin the admissions process by getting to know each student by name and story. We review your application in a holistic and individualized manner, considering your academic potential but also your personal characteristics, accomplishments, and community involvement. We aim to advocate for you throughout the admissions process, highlighting all of the characteristics that make you unique.

All of these aspects come together to help us understand whether WashU might be a good fit for you. We're looking forward to getting to know you!

Student Financial Services wants to ensure cost does not stand in the way of making your WashU education a reality. We meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. Awards range up to the full cost of attendance, including no-loan packages for families with an annual income of $75,000 or less.

We encourage you to visit our Student Financial Services website to connect with a counselor, or to utilize our online tools to estimate your expected family contribution!

In addition to need-based financial aid, WashU offers a number of selective merit-based scholarships. These competitive scholarships are awarded to approximately 5% of students, who are a strong stand out either academically or in their community.

Each of our five academic divisions offers at least one merit scholarship, which students are automatically considered for upon submitting their application for admission. Emphasis is placed on the supplemental essay for a student's fit for the scholarship.

WashU also has three Signature Scholar Programs: the Annika Rodriguez, John B. Ervin, and the Danforth Scholars Programs. These cohort-based programs are community-oriented and each have their own unique history and traditions. Signature Scholar Programs require an additional application, which is accessed through your WashU Pathway after you submit your initial application for admission. These additional applications may include essays, short answers, or a letter of recommendation. If you choose to apply to one (or more!) of these Signature Scholar Programs, it is important to note that our scholarship deadline is the same as the Early Decision II and Regular Decision deadline!

Students can apply to WashU using the Common Application or the Coalition Application. Important components of your application include your transcript(s), a counselor recommendation and one teacher evaluation, extracurricular activities and community involvement, and SAT or ACT test scores*. Additionally, applicants will complete an essay found on either the Common or Coalition Application, as well as a supplemental essay so we can get to know you and your story.

WashU also partners with QuestBridge, a leading nonprofit that connects high-achieving, low-income students to the nation’s best colleges.

* Because of limited access during the COVID-19 pandemic, students applying as part of the entering class of Fall 2022 will have their standardized testing requirement waived.

WashU has a few different decision plans and deadlines that you may choose from as you move through the application process.

For students who know that WashU is their top choice, we offer two rounds of Early Decision (ED). These ED plans are binding agreements, which include an affidavit stating that should you be admitted under this plan that you will enroll at WashU. While we have two ED rounds, a majority of our applications come through Regular Decision (RD), a non-binding decision plan. It is important to note that while all need-based financial aid awards are released alongside an admissions decision, notifications regarding any merit-based scholarships are not available until closer to the Regular Decision admissions decisions release.

Please see below for important dates with each deadline:

Early Decision I - Deadline of November 1 (students hear back regarding an admissions decision by mid-December)
Early Decision II - Deadline of January 3 (students hear back regarding an admissions decision by mid-January)
Regular Decision - Deadline of January 3 (students hear back regarding an admissions decision by April 1)