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Public 4-Year Selective Seattle, WA NCAA Division I-FBS

University of Washington

Seattle, WA

39.1%
Acceptance Rate
$35,305/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$14,091/yr
Avg Price After Aid
84.5%
6-yr Grad Rate
31,942
Undergrads

About University of Washington

University of Washington is a public institution located in Seattle, WA, situated in a large city setting. The university enrolls 31,942 undergraduate students and maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 20:1.

Type
Public 4-Year
Undergrads
31,942
Avg Faculty Salary
$137,062
Athletics
NCAA Division I-FBS
Endowment
$5.3B
Pell Students
14.9%
First-Gen
32.7%
What University of Washington Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Informatics 365 graduates · 4.3% of degrees here vs 0.07% nationally 59×
Electrical and Computer Engineering 169 graduates · 2% of degrees here vs 0.04% nationally 51×
Research and Experimental Psychology 462 graduates · 5.5% of degrees here vs 0.6% nationally
Biochemistry 270 graduates · 3.2% of degrees here vs 0.44% nationally
Public Health 270 graduates · 3.2% of degrees here vs 0.53% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
39.1%
Acceptance rate · Selective
62,428
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$14,091 avg net
Average net price after aid
$6,384
Under $30K income
$5.3B
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$62,979 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
84.5%
6-yr Grad Rate
$14,615
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

University of Washington Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
39.1%
62,428 applicants
Student:Faculty Ratio
20:1
Undergrad instruction

University of Washington has a 39.1% acceptance rate, indicating selective admissions where applicants have a reasonable chance of admission. Prospective students should expect meaningful competition, as the institution admits fewer than four in ten applicants.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 3 applicants is admitted · 62,428 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 27,518 10,590 38.5% 3,109
Women 34,910 15,962 45.7% 3,902
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

University of Washington admits 39.1% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 83%.

Acceptance rate
This school
39.1%
Similar colleges (532)
83%
WA (23)
82.5%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

University of Washington Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$14,091
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$14,615
Federal Loan Rate
14.9%
Students borrowing federal loans

University of Washington's sticker price of $35,305 exceeds the average net price of $14,091, meaning students on average pay considerably less than the full cost of attendance.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$35,305
In-state Tuition & Fees
$12,973
37%
Room & Board
$18,405
52%
Books & Supplies
$900
3%
Other Expenses
$3,027
9%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$6,384
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,039
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,110
$75,001 – $110,000
$14,328
Over $110,000
$30,019
Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
71%
Federal loans
15%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $155.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, University of Washington costs $14,091 a year — about 3% less than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$32,446
Similar colleges (565)
$25,083
WA (62)
$20,952
Seattle-Tacoma, WA (36)
$20,764
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
71.3%
Similar colleges (583)
84.8%
WA (75)
78%
Seattle-Tacoma, WA (44)
74.7%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$14,615
Similar colleges (585)
$21,000
WA (81)
$12,112
Seattle-Tacoma, WA (46)
$12,244
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$14,091
Similar colleges (565)
$14,600
WA (87)
$14,149
Seattle-Tacoma, WA (48)
$13,947
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

University of Washington Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
84.5%
Median Earnings 6yr
$62,979
6 years after entering

University of Washington has a graduation rate of 84.5%. Six years after entry, median earnings are $62,979, rising to $78,466 ten years after entry.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$69,612
Men
$58,546
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
80.3%
Pell recipients
82%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Computer Science515
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other462
Informatics365
Speech Communication and Rhetoric304
Biochemistry270
Public Health, General270
Finance, General257
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics241
Political Science and Government, General218
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse205
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
Asian
87.1%
White
84.8%
Hispanic
77.5%
Black
72.3%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering University of Washington are $70,968, and 77% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former University of Washington students earn $62,979 — 37% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$78,466
Similar colleges (587)
$54,560
WA (80)
$47,350
Seattle-Tacoma, WA (47)
$48,144
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$62,979
Similar colleges (589)
$46,058
WA (83)
$39,406
Seattle-Tacoma, WA (48)
$43,097
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
84.5%
Similar colleges (566)
51.7%
WA (57)
41.8%
Seattle-Tacoma, WA (34)
42.1%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
94.8%
Similar colleges (567)
76%
WA (25)
78.8%
Seattle-Tacoma, WA (15)
77.5%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

University of Washington Campus, Athletics & Faculty

University of Washington is a public institution located in Seattle's large city setting with an undergraduate enrollment of 31,942 students. The student body includes 56.6% women, 32.7% first-generation students, and 14.9% Pell grant recipients.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
33.2%
Asian
27.4%
Hispanic
10.3%
Black
4.3%
Other Indicators
First-generation
32.7%
Pell grant recipients
14.9%
Women
56.6%
University of Washington Athletics
Total Revenue
$14.4M
Total Expense
$39.4M
Athletes
746
377 men · 369 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$1,362,570
Women's sports
$277,151

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Athletic Aid
Scholarship spending by gender · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's aid
$9,562,237
Women's aid
$8,334,064
Academic Resources
2,195
Full-time faculty
$137,062
Avg faculty salary
57,242
FT staff
$5.3B
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$146,327
Women (avg)
$127,213
Overall avg
$137,062
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
31,942
Graduate students
16,313
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
2.1%

634 of 29,653 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
1.6%
Undergrads taking any
19.5%
Grad students fully online
5.2%

634 of 39,515 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 842 of 16,105 graduate students.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and operates its own medical school and teaching hospital.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

University of Washington spends $189,508 per student on research — about 22× a typical similar college.

Pell grant share
This school
14.9%
Similar colleges (590)
34%
WA (90)
29.5%
Seattle-Tacoma, WA (50)
22.5%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$189,508
Similar colleges (531)
$8,786
WA (61)
$7,412
Seattle-Tacoma, WA (33)
$6,436
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
20:1
Similar colleges (595)
16:1
WA (89)
15:1
Seattle-Tacoma, WA (50)
16:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at University of Washington
133 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
8,460 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences 1,061 grads · 4 majors
Computer Science 515
Informatics 365
Information Technology 107
Human-Centered Technology Design 74
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 965 grads · 9 majors
Biochemistry 270
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 194
Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology 147
Physiology, General 123
Microbiology, General 88
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography 54
Neurobiology and Anatomy 54
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and... 21
Botany/Plant Biology 14
Social Sciences 883 grads · 8 majors
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 241
Political Science and Government, General 218
Sociology, General 158
Geographic Information Science and... 103
Political Science and Government, Other 55
Social Sciences, General 47
Anthropology, General 39
Archeology 22
Engineering 879 grads · 13 majors
Electrical and Computer Engineering 169
Mechanical Engineering 143
Electrical and Electronics Engineering 140
Civil Engineering, General 79
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 78
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and... 64
Chemical Engineering 52
Materials Engineering 41
Computer Engineering, General 30
Environmental/Environmental Health... 29
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation... 28
Industrial Engineering 21
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 5
Business and Marketing 688 grads · 8 majors
Finance, General 257
Accounting 136
Management Sciences and Quantitative... 121
Marketing/Marketing Management, General 98
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies 30
Business Administration and Management,... 27
Human Resources Management/Personnel... 11
Management Science 8
Health Professions 624 grads · 7 majors
Public Health, General 270
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 205
Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 45
Health Information/Medical Records... 44
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical... 35
Environmental Health 23
Public Health Education and Promotion 2
Psychology 462 grads · 1 major
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other 462
Communication and Journalism 337 grads · 2 majors
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 304
Journalism 33
Visual and Performing Arts 327 grads · 17 majors
Art/Art Studies, General 139
Film/Cinema/Media Studies 78
Art History, Criticism and Conservation 21
Design and Visual Communications, General 20
Industrial and Product Design 15
Dance, General 11
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 11
Acting 9
Directing and Theatrical Production 6
Music Theory and Composition 3
Music, General 3
Musicology and Ethnomusicology 3
Jazz/Jazz Studies 2
Music Performance, General 2
Voice and Opera 2
Keyboard Instruments 1
Stringed Instruments 1
Mathematics and Statistics 321 grads · 6 majors
Mathematics, General 151
Applied Mathematics, General 69
Applied Mathematics, Other 38
Statistics, General 31
Computational Mathematics 29
Mathematics, Other 3
Multidisciplinary Studies 291 grads · 4 majors
Human Biology 127
Nutrition Sciences 109
Geography and Environmental Studies 34
Human Computer Interaction 21
Physical Sciences 266 grads · 9 majors
Chemistry, General 76
Physics, General 62
Astronomy 41
Oceanography, Chemical and Physical 27
Geological and Earth... 19
Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology 13
Geology/Earth Science, General 12
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General 10
Geophysics and Seismology 6
Natural Resources and Conservation 217 grads · 2 majors
Environmental Science 119
Environmental Studies 98
Education 213 grads · 4 majors
Education, General 101
Early Childhood Education and Teaching 94
Music Teacher Education 10
Mathematics Teacher Education 8
Area, Ethnic and Gender Studies 173 grads · 8 majors
Area Studies, Other 98
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and... 31
Women's Studies 18
Asian Studies/Civilization 11
American Indian/Native American Studies 6
Latin American Studies 5
European Studies/Civilization 3
Scandinavian Studies 1
Architecture 149 grads · 4 majors
Architecture 64
Architectural and Building... 42
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning 35
Landscape Architecture 8
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 141 grads · 16 majors
Linguistics 39
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and... 24
Japanese Language and Literature 17
French Language and Literature 12
Spanish Language and Literature 12
Classics and Classical Languages,... 8
Chinese Language and Literature 6
Comparative Literature 6
Russian Language and Literature 4
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and... 3
Korean Language and Literature 3
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic... 2
Norwegian Language and Literature 2
Ancient/Classical Greek Language and... 1
Danish Language and Literature 1
Latin Language and Literature 1
English Language and Literature 127 grads · 2 majors
English Language and Literature, General 96
Creative Writing 31
History 112 grads · 3 majors
History, General 74
History, Other 37
History and Philosophy of Science and... 1
Legal Professions 104 grads · 1 major
Legal Studies 104
Philosophy and Religious Studies 75 grads · 3 majors
Philosophy 59
Ethics 15
Jewish/Judaic Studies 1
Public Administration and Social Services 44 grads · 1 major
Social Work 44
Liberal Arts and General Studies 1 grads · 1 major
General Studies 1
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

University of Washington Location & Campus Safety

University of Washington is in Seattle, WA, in what IPEDS classifies as a large city setting. The campus sits about 3.3 miles from the center of Seattle. There are 6 other colleges within 25 miles, and Seattle, WA is 3.3 miles away.

University of Washington
Large city
Campus Setting
3.3 mi
To City Center
6
Colleges Within 25 mi
741,440
Seattle Population
Living in Seattle
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$1,998
Median Rent / mo
$121,984
Median Household Income
27.4%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
37.6%
Walk
8.3%
Public transit
13.9%

King County scores 13.0 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — above average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 6.6% of Seattle's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index

Campus Safety at University of Washington

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures University of Washington reported for 2024.

238
On-Campus Offenses
15
In Residence Halls
4.2
Per 1,000 Students
76
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
248
2023
274
2024
238
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Motor vehicle theft
128
Burglary
65
Sexual offenses
20
Aggravated assault
16
Robbery
6
Arson
3

Separately, University of Washington reported 1 arrests and 343 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about University of Washington admissions, costs, and outcomes.