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University of Washington Guide

University of Washington

The ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø guide to UW’s culture, admissions, and other essential information for prospective students and their families.

Location:

Seattle, WA

Type:

Public Research University

Acceptance Rate:

53%

Population:

49,025 (32,779 undergrads)

Jump to Section:

³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø

Statistics
Rankings

Admissions

Dates + Deadlines
Statistics
Strategy

Academics

Schools +Colleges
Core Requirements
Special Programs

Student Life

Housing
Campus + Area
Student Orgs + Athletics

Financials

Cost
Financial Aid
Scholarships

Fun Facts

³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø University of Washington

  • Statistics
  • Rankings

The largest research university in Washington, the school is the flagship of their public university system. With a campus just north of ³§±ð²¹³Ù³Ù±ô±ð’s downtown, students are able to enjoy all the perks of living in a major urban area. UW is well known for both its public health program and its medical school.

UW Statistics

Year Founded

1861

4 Year Graduation Rate:

65%

Gender Distribution

45.5% Male / 54.5% Female

Acceptance Rate:

53%

Residency:
Location Type:

Urban

Schedule System:

Quarters

Student / Faculty Ratio:

19:1

Average Class Size:

20

Demographics:

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National Rankings

US News Rankings:

  • #9 Computer Science Program
  • #19 Top Public Schools
  • #22 Best Undergraduate Engineering Program
  • #55 National Universities

Independent Rankings:

  • #15 Top Public Universities per Niche
  • #18 Best Universities in the World per Shanghai Ranking
  • #19 Best Colleges for Physics per Niche
  • #21 Best Colleges for Public Health per Niche
  • #26 Best World Universities per the Times of Higher Education

UW Admissions

  • Dates + Deadlines
  • Statistics
  • Admissions Strategy
Application Deadlines:
Notifcation Dates:
Regular Decision

Nov. 15

Regular Decision:

March 1-15

Transfer Deadline:

Feb. 315

Transfer:

May

Acceptance Rates:

  • Regular Decision: 53%
  • Transfer: 47%

Average Applicant Pool: 52,400

Average Number of Applicants Accepted: 24,900

Average Number Enrolled: 7,300

Application Systems: Common App

Average GPA (weighted):

3.80

SAT Scores: 25th% – 1220, 75th% – 1460

ACT Scores: 25th% – 27, 75th% – 32

*Test optional. Writing sections required.

Demonstrated Interest:

UW does not consider demonstrated interest.

Recommendation Letter Policies:

UW asks that you not send any letters of recommendation.

UW Essay Prompts:

  • They do not consider the Common App personal statement.
  • Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words)
  • Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW. (300 words)
  • 200 word optional additional information section, if you faced challenges or hardships in your education.

Special Notes:

  • Interviews are not offered.
  • Some majors are direct admit, and your choice of major is considered when they make admissions decisions. is a full list of majors which are direct admit.
  • UW does take residency into account when making admissions decisions, and Washington residents are more likely to get admitted, especially to the most competitive programs. Residents have a 27% acceptance rate to CS, for example, compared to 3% for non-residents.

Transfer:

  • Different majors have different requirements; some have an additional application, while others require that you enroll at UW first and then transfer to the desired major. Details for each can be found on their page.
  • They use their own platform to handle transfer applications.
  • They do not consider letters of recommendation, and are test optional for transfer students.
  • Official transcripts are required.
  • They require a as the only essay.

UW Academics

  • Schools & Colleges
  • Core Requirements
  • Special Programs

Score of 3+

Required to earn credit for AP tests

180

Majors Offered

100+

Minors Offered

Schools:

  • (9% acceptance rate)
  • (40% acceptance rate)
  • (Subset of Arts and Sciences)Ìý
  • Note that the Allen School of CS is a subsidiary of the College of ENgineering, but must be applied to directly.

Core Requirements:

  • UW requires all students complete the general education requirements. You are required to take courses in five basic skills: English Composition, Writing, Reasoning, Foreign Language, and Diversity. You are also required to take classes in three Areas of Inquiry: Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences.

Courses of Study:Ìý

  • The most popular majors are Biology, Engineering, and Social Science.Ìý

AP Credit Policies:

  • UW grants credit or course placement from scores of 3 or higher on AP exams. The total number of credits awarded is based on transfer credit limitations, and is capped at 135 credits. You may use AP credits to meet general education requirements.

Special Programs

Honors Programs:

  • The oversees both the interdisciplinary honors and departmental honors tracks. Honors are awarded alongside your degree at graduation. You can apply to the honors program either as an incoming freshman, or during your first year on campus. All applicants are evaluated holistically.Ìý

You can apply to the honors program either as an incoming freshman, or during your first year on campus.

Research Availability:

  • The serves to connect students to research opportunities on campus.

Study Abroad:Ìý

Business Options:Ìý

  • The offers a number of undergrad programs, including , , and .
  • You can either directly as a freshman, or gain acceptance through standard admissions, which requires you to apply as a current UW student.
  • There are to enhance your degree.
  • is an invitation-only honors program at the school.

Pre-Med Options:

  • There is no pre med major specifically, but serves to connect interested students to resources on campus.
  • UW is known for its public health program, and has other majors directly related to health.Ìý
  • UW has a very good medical school, but current UW undergrads do not have an advantage when applying to it.

Pre-Law Options:

  • There is a , though this is mainly focused on political sides of the law.
  • They also have for pre law students.
  • major.

Computer Science Options:Ìý

  • The is a top rated CS program, offering degrees in both computer science and computer engineering. You can gain as either a direct freshman admit or as a current UW student. Admission is capped at 550 each year across all pathways. It is slightly easier to get in as a current student than as a direct admit (25% vs 9% acceptance rate), but both are competitive.
  • Non-major students may still take introductory and advanced .
  • Undergrads are encouraged to get involved with .
  • There are many devoted to CS at UW as well.
  • There is a for students who wish to go right into advanced studies in CS.

Additional Specialty Programs:Ìý

  • the study of the evolution and existence of life on Earth and beyond.
  • .
  • options.

Programs for High Schoolers:

  • is a program meant to allow high school students in Washington to take UW courses in their schools, taught by their regular teachers. This is a partnership between UW and public high schools in Washington.
  • are regular UW classes offered during the summer. High school students can apply to take these courses.Ìý
  • are courses offered specifically for younger students. These are online courses, generally offered in the evenings.
  • allows small cohorts of academically talented 10th graders to gain early admission and enrollment to UW. This is only open to students in Washington. 35 students are able to enroll this way each year.
  • the lab selects a small number of high school students each summer to take part in an intensive research experience.

Student Life at UW

  • Housing
  • Campus + Area
  • Student Orgs + Athletics

D1

Athletics

14.4%

of students participate in Greek life

702

acres of campus
  • Mission: The primary mission of the University of Washington is the preservation, advancement, and dissemination of knowledge.
  • Values: Integrity, Diversity, Excellence, Collaboration, Innovation, and Respect
  • Student Testimonials (, , )

Many students live off campus in surrounding neighborhoods.

Residential Housing System:

Dormitories are located on North and West Campus, with both traditional dormitories and apartment style housing available. UW does not require students to live on campus, and does not guarantee spots in housing for incoming freshmen. If you are in housing, however, then you are guaranteed to be able to retain your spot. Many students live off campus in surrounding neighborhoods, and up to 1,000 students live in fraternity or sorority housing.

Housing Statistics:

  • 71% of Freshmen live on campus

71%

of freshmen live on campus.

Up to 1,000

students live in fraternity or sorority housing.

Campus & Surrounding Area:ÌýÌý

  • Located in the University District of Seattle, UW’s covers 703 acres, and is split into four zones; North, South, East and West. The campus is covered in trees and has several large quads. It is located on the shoreline, and students have easy access to water (not for swimming though, the Pacific is too cold for that).
  • Points of interest on and around campus include: and bays, , , the , the , and .Ìý
  • Safety Information (, )

Transportation:

  • Students are given the , which offers full fair transit on busses, light rail, commuter trains, and more. With multiple public bus routes and rail stops on campus, this allows students to travel both around the campus and through the broader Seattle area.
  • They recommend both and to campus.
  • There is a for students who have to get to class late.
  • ; note that there is limited parking available.

Traditions:

  • – An annual event to welcome new and returning UW students to campus in the fall. It’s a great chance to meet people and get to know the campus.
  • – An annual football game between University of Washington and Washington State University, with the winning team being presented with a trophy by the governor.
  • – Students’ families are invited to campus for a weekend of food, celebrations, and games each fall, so they can see how you’re doing at college.
  • – An annual sailing race and regatta hosted by the university in the bay it borders. Teams from around the world compete in the races.

Student-Run Organizations:Ìý

  • Sample Organizations (, , )

Sports:

  • Pac-12 conference, good men’s rowing and women’s rowing

Greek Life:Ìý

  • 14.4% of students are members of Greek life, including social, service, and academic organizations. There are more than 70 registered Greek organizations on campus.

Nightlife:

  • UW has an active part scene centered on the Greek community, though is not generally considered a party school. Football games can be large social events as well.
  • UW is located close to downtown, and most neighborhoods in Seattle are easily reachable by transit, opening all of that up to students.

UW Financial Information

  • Cost
  • Financial Aid
  • Scholarships

Yearly Cost of Attendance:

  • Total: $34,554/$63,906
  • Tuition: $12,645/$41,997
  • Housing and Food: $17,982
  • Transportation: $519
  • Books and Supplies: $900
  • Personal: $2,508

Financial Aid:

Around 50% of all students receive some form of financial aid. They use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) to determine eligibility. They recommend getting these in by January 15th for your best chance of receiving financial aid. International undergrads are not eligible for financial aid. Any aid awarded will be increased commensurately if tuition increases.

Scholarships:Ìý

There are numerous available, for both need based and merit based aid. The two main scholarships are the Presidential, offered to Washington residents, and the Purple and Gold, which is solely offered to out of state students.

UW Fun Facts

  • Notable alumni include actors Bruce Lee and Rainn Wilson, musician Kenny G, World War II flying ace Pappy Boyington, serial killer Ted Bundy, and USWNT goalkeeper Hope Solo.
  • The film War Games used UW’s campus for its filming.
  • Multiple professors were investigated by the House Un-American Activities Committee in the 1940s and 50s under suspicion of being communist sympathizers.Ìý
  • The school was founded in 1861, but struggled early; closing three times in 1863, 1867, and 1876. The first student graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1876.
  • UW’s men’s crew team won gold at the 1938 Berlin Olympics, beating both the German and the Italian teams. They were also the first American team to win a gold on Soviet soil, when they won the Moscow cup in 1958.
  • UW’s colors of purple and gold were chosen by student vote in 1892, inspired by Byron Shelley’s poem .
  • UW men’s football holds the record for longest undefeated streak of games in NCAA history at 64, and also the second place record at 40.

UW FAQ

Seattle, Washington.

November 4, 1861.

Its medical school and public health program.

$34,554 for in-state students, and $63,906 for out-of-state students on average.

The average SAT is 1340.

Regular decision applicants are notified in March.

Harry the Husky.

3.8

UW got 52,406 applicants in 2023.

Our experts make Houston students into Ivy League applicants.

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