A
Excellent
Score: 80/100
Overall (traditional)
A+
Outcome Rating
96/100 · earnings-weighted

Washington University in St Louis

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Saint Louis, Missouri 63130
Washington University in St Louis campus, Saint Louis, MO
Washington University in St Louis campus, Saint Louis, MO. Photo: Baili Min, Attribution via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A+
96/100
Affordability
F
26/100
Resources
A+
93/100
Experience
A+
97/100
Prestige
A
89/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

16,500
Total Enrollment
94%
Graduation Rate
96%
Retention Rate
7.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
12%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Washington University in St Louis, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$86,182
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$78,073
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$17,500
Median debt at graduation
94.3%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,530
Average SAT
34
Median ACT
17.8%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 20% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 98th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MO wage index 0.87). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Washington University in St Louis

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Finance and Financial Management Services$102,814$185,551+123%#2 of 452#2$19,500
Computer Science$110,302$177,066+65%#19 of 349#9$15,250
Business/Managerial Economics$106,701$162,355+108%#1 of 84#1—
Systems Engineering$83,874$119,297+13%#5 of 11#3$23,139
Chemical Engineering$69,801$107,843+10%#21 of 158#12—
Economics$66,325$102,439+24%#60 of 368#43$14,805
Marketing$70,819$100,489+45%#7 of 516#3$17,500
Mathematics$79,799$98,497+42%#30 of 309#19$18,700
Mechanical Engineering$72,057$95,965+4%#76 of 318#45$12,503
Psychology—$91,787+81%#2 of 1027#1—
Political Science and Government—$90,778+43%#15 of 565#6$18,500
Research and Experimental Psychology$37,377$75,261+35%#10 of 82#4$15,285
Anthropology$34,489$71,018+52%#4 of 188#4$15,000
Biology$24,925$68,359+19%#122 of 841#55$13,500
Design and Applied Arts$33,615$67,771+32%#29 of 299#16$19,089
Cognitive Science$30,996$67,212-18%#16 of 19#12$17,500
International/Globalization Studies$38,854$66,498+11%#20 of 87#14$18,500
Area Studies$30,716—————
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$16,635—————

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Washington University in St Louis Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $286,538
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,477/mo — vs ~$1,465/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 63120 (18.8% cap, Saint Louis)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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🏆 Where Washington University in St Louis Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥈
Financial Mathematics
of 64 schools
🥉
Business Statistics
of 47 schools
🥉
Experimental Psychology
of 25 schools
#4
Advanced Legal Research/Studies, General
of 30 schools
#6
Finance, General
of 100 schools
#10
Social Work
of 100 schools
#13
Law
of 100 schools
#18
Computer Science
of 100 schools
#18
Mechanical Engineering
of 100 schools
#24
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
of 100 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $61,750 $61,750
Room $13,188
Board $7,590
Total Cost (On-Campus) $88,488 $88,488

Financial Aid

54%
Receive Any Aid
20%
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

16,500
Total Students
53%
Women
91%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 36%
Hispanic 9%
Black 7%
Asian 14%
Two or More 5%
Non-Resident 27%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 92%
Hybrid (Some Online) 4%
Fully Online 4%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 91%
25-64 (Adult) 8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Washington University in St Louis?
Washington University in St Louis has an acceptance rate of 12%. This makes it a highly selective institution where admission is very competitive.
How much does it cost to attend Washington University in St Louis?
Tuition at Washington University in St Louis is $61,750 for in-state students and $61,750 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Washington University in St Louis?
The graduation rate at Washington University in St Louis is 94%. This is considered an excellent graduation rate, indicating strong student success and support systems.
Is Washington University in St Louis a good school?
Washington University in St Louis has a Repit College Score of 80/100 (Grade: A). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (A+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (A): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Washington University in St Louis?
Washington University in St Louis has a total enrollment of 16,500 students. Most students (91%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Washington University in St Louis — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Washington University in St Louis

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

B
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO · 17,202 students
C+
Webster University
Saint Louis, MO · 7,606 students
C+
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO · 9,883 students
C+
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO · 7,288 students
C
Park University
Parkville, MO · 6,634 students
C
Columbia College
Columbia, MO · 6,046 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology