If you want to apply to UW, the deadline for Fall 2023 admissions is November 16 and the application fee costs $80.
Application fees can add up, but some colleges do have free applications and students who are struggling to afford application fees may qualify for for an application fee waiver.
Students who submit their applications to UW for fall should hear back from UW by March 15.
UW Admissions Stats at a Glance
Here's an overiew of some of UW's admissions stats.
Mean Unweighted GPA | 3.8 |
Admissions Test Policy | Not optional and are not considered |
Waitlist | Yes |
Continue scrolling for more information on UW's admissions stats.
Applying Early to UW?
These are the early application deadlines for University of Washington.
Early Decision I | No | –– | –– |
Early Decision II | No | –– | –– |
Early Action | No | –– | –– |
UW does not offer early decision or early action.
Some students apply to college early because they believe it will help their chances. Early deadlines may increase the chance of being admitted, since applying early shows your are very interested in a school, and your application is being considered before all the regular decision applicants apply.
See a list of some selective colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.
How To Get Into University of Washington
UW is a very difficult school to get into. UW evaluates applicants carefully based on multiple criteria to decide who to admit, and who to deny or waitlist.
In 2021, UW accepted 53% of students, around 26,121 of the 48,840 students who applied.
Schools that are very difficult to get into, like UW, accept fewer than 60% of all applicants. At least 50% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on the SAT and over 26 on the ACT.
It is very difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.
In 2022, UW waitlisted 10,239 students. Of those, 4,565 eventually got off the waitlist.
What's Most Important for Getting Into UW?
Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are they consider most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the areas where you stand out.
Admissions Factors at UW
What does UW consider during the admissions process? Listed below are factors commonly taken into consideration during admissions decisions.
Application Essay | Very Important |
Academic GPA | Very Important |
Rigor of Secondary School Record | Very Important |
Extracurricular Activities | Important |
Talent/Ability | Important |
Volunteer Work | Important |
Work Experience | Important |
First Generation | Important |
Character/Personal Qualities | Considered |
State Residency | Considered |
Make sure to check with UW for more information on admission factors.
UW 2022-2023 Application Requirements
To apply, all applicants to UW must submit the following items. Double check with UW's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.
Interview | ||||
Transcript(S) of College Record | ||||
Transcript of High School Record | √ | |||
Standardized Test Scores | ||||
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S) | ||||
Written Essay or Personal Statement | √ |
What GPA Do I Need To Get Into UW?
Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.
An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. 4.0. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.
Students admitted to UW have an average unweighted GPA of 3.8
GPAs of Admitted Students
At University of Washington, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.
4.0 GPA | –– |
3.75 and 3.99 | 59.77% |
3.50 and 3.74 | 19.6% |
3.25 and 3.49 | 5.1% |
3.00 and 3.24 | 1.52% |
2.50 and 2.9 | 0.3% |
2.00 and 2.49 | 0.04% |
This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.
UW doesn't consider ACT or SAT scores as part of the admissions process.
UW does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.
On the SAT Math Section, 25% of UW students scored 590 or higher and 75% of students scored 450 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of UW students scored 580 or higher, and 75% scored a 450 or higher.
Transferring to University of Washington
For transfer students, it is very difficult to get admitted to UW.
For transfer students wishing to start in the Fall, the deadline to apply is February 15. Applicants should hear back by June 30.
Transfer students can enroll in UW during the following terms:
• Fall Term
• Winter Term
• Spring Term
• Winter Term
• Summer Term
UW Admissions FAQs
Can I defer my acceptance to UW?
❌ Students who are admitted to UW must attend in the term they start. Deferring admissions is not encouraged. If you have a unusual circumstance, contact the admissions department.
Does UW accept transfer credits?
✅ UW accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.
Does UW accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?
✅ UW accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.
Do I have to submit test scores to UW?
✅ UW is not test optional. Test scores will not be considered during the admissions process, even if you submit them.
What is UW's acceptance rate?
✅ UW's acceptance rate is 53%.
What is the early decision acceptance rate at UW?
❌ UW does not offer early decision.
What is the early action acceptance rate at UW?
❌ UW does not offer eary action.
Want To Learn More About UW?
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