How to Get Into the University of Washington Seattle: Acceptance Rate & Strategies

August 12, 2025

university of washington acceptance rate, uw acceptance rate

Sitting in the company of other top public university gems like UCLA, UNC-Chapel Hill, UVA, the University of Michigan, and UT Austin, the University of Washington-Seattle perhaps flies a bit under the radar. However, like the others, UW-Seattle is consistently ranked as a top-20 public institution in the U.S., possessing a magnetic pull that attracts high achievers from all around the country and even the world. Historically, close to 40% of the Husky undergraduate population hails from out-of-state and overseas. Even more impressively, UW-Seattle鈥檚 undergraduate programs in business, engineering, and computer science can be found at the very top of any rankings alongside the likes of Princeton, MIT, and Georgia Tech. Even so, the University of Washington acceptance rate remains at a not-so-terrible 50-ish percent.

The 36,000+ undergrads who attend this school, affectionately nicknamed UDub, own increasingly eye-popping academic credentials with each passing year. Given this enhanced level of selectivity, this article is intended to educate prospective UW-Seattle applicants on:

  • The University of Washington acceptance rate (plus how to predict your chances with our free admissions calculator)
  • The University of Washington’s in-state vs. out-of-state acceptance rate
  • SAT/ACT, GPA, and class rank of accepted University of Washington applicants
  • Admissions trends
  • The University of Washington鈥檚 system for rating applicants
  • A look at the demographics of current UW-Seattle undergraduates
  • The percentage of accepted students who attend the University of Washington (yield rate)
  • Tips for applying to UDub
  • How to assess whether applying to the UW Seattle is even worth the $80 application fee (for you)

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The University of Washington Acceptance Rate 鈥 Class of 2028

The University of Washington acceptance rate has declined over the last several years. The Class of 2028 continues this trend. Of the 69,166 students who submitted applications, only 27,076 were accepted. This gives the University of Washington an admit rate of 39%.

Applicants Admits Acceptance Rate
Class of 2027 62,428 26,552 42%
Class of 2026 52,448 24,942 48%
Class of 2025 48,840 26,121 53%
Class of 2024 43,778 24,467 56%

University of Washington In-State vs. Out-of-State Acceptance Rate

If you’re a Washington resident, the road to UW Seattle will be much smoother than if you live out of state. For the Class of 2028, the UW Seattle in-state acceptance rate was 48%, while the out-of-state acceptance rate was 36%. Moreover, the admissions office has stated that in-state applicants are prioritized, with their applications receiving more attention than out-of-state applicants.

What GPA do you need to get into the University of Washington?

Among enrolled 2024-25 first-year students, the average GPA was 3.83. Moreover, over 80% of the incoming class had a GPA of 3.75+.

What class rank do you need to get accepted to the University of Washington?

The University of Washington does not report or consider class rank. However, based on the average GPA of enrolled students as well as class rank data at peer institutions, most accepted students likely fall within the top quarter of their graduating class.

What is the minimum SAT or ACT score for the University of Washington?

According to Class of 2028 statistics, the mid-50% SAT range for enrolled freshmen was 1333-1500, while the mid-50% ACT range was 28-33.

However, less than 20% of enrolled students submitted test scores, so interpret this data with that in mind.

Admissions Trends & Notes

  • Firstly, in 2020, the University of Washington went permanently test-optional. Additionally, this policy does not punish anyone for having low test scores or not submitting scores. Instead, they only consider high test scores (1400/31+) for applicants who may otherwise not be admitted.
  • Historically, the College of Engineering acceptance rate averages around 49% for in-state applicants. Looking deeper, the out-of-state acceptance rate was only 42%.
  • Similarly, only 2% of non-resident applicants (yes, 2%) were admitted directly to the Paul G. Allen College of Computer Science. However, Washington residents have tended to enjoy a 25% acceptance rate.
  • UW experienced a 10% surge in applications this past cycle.
  • Lastly, nearly 20% of the Class of 2028 hailed from historically underrepresented backgrounds, which was the highest percentage in school history.

How the University of Washington Rates Applicants

The University of Washington rates three factors as 鈥渧ery important鈥 to the admissions process: rigor of high school course load, GPA, and application essays. Items that are 鈥渋mportant鈥 as part of the admissions process are: first-generation status, volunteer work, paid work, extracurricular activities, and talent/ability. Considered factors are: character/personal qualities and state residency.

The admissions office wants applicants to know that despite receiving large numbers of applications, “your application will receive a holistic and in-depth review.鈥 In addition to the items of importance mentioned above, the following also receive consideration:

  • Taking full advantage of the senior year
  • Demonstrating a positive grade trend
  • Demonstrating a commitment to community service and leadership
  • Exercising significant responsibility in a family, community, employment situation or through activities
  • Attaining a college-preparatory education despite economic disadvantage (Washington state residents only)
  • Demonstrating cultural awareness or unique perspectives or experiences

It is also worth highlighting that recruited athletes enjoy a huge edge. This is because the University of Washington takes great pride in its . Overall, 800+ student-athletes are presently attending the university. Of course, other outside-the-classroom endeavors can also enhance your application profile. For additional advice about how to stand out on the extracurricular front, check out our previous blog entitled How Many Extracurricular Activities Do I Need for College?

Who Actually Gets Into The University of Washington?

Let鈥檚 look at the demographics of the current UW-Seattle student body. Geographically, the breakdown of the Class of 2028 was as follows:

  • In-State: 65%
  • Out-of-State: 24%
  • International: 10.7%

Among non-residents, competition is stiffest among those hailing from states with endless streams of qualified applicants (the entire Northeast & the West Coast). If you hail from the Deep South or a less-populated state like Idaho or South Dakota, your location is more likely to provide a boost to your admissions chances at the University of Washington.

Historically, the greatest number of international students at UW-Seattle hail from the following countries:

  1. China
  2. Taiwan
  3. India
  4. Korea
  5. Indonesia

To illustrate UDub’s diversity, we turn to the ethnic identity of the Class of 2028:

  • Black or African American: 4.5%
  • Asian: 27%
  • White: 30.7%
  • Hispanic/Latino: 11%
  • International: 10.7%
  • Two or More Races: 8.6%

Looking at the gender breakdown, the university enrolled far more women than men into the Class of 2028:

  • Men: 43.5%
  • Women: 55.7%

The University of Washington鈥檚 Yield Rate

The University of Washington鈥檚 yield rate is 26%. This figure is significantly lower than other powerhouse state universities like the University of Michigan, UNC-Chapel Hill, and UCLA.

Tips for Applying to the University of Washington

If you plan on joining the almost 70,000 Husky hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

  • The University of Washington does not use interviews as part of their evaluation process.
  • This school does truly on admitting a high percentage of students who will be the first in their family to graduate from college.
  • The University of Washington does not consider demonstrated interest; therefore, you will not be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit, contacted an admissions officer, etc.
  • Lastly, make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the personal statement required by the聽University of Washington. In the 2025-26 cycle, it was as follows:

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words)

The UW-Seattle admissions staff offers some advice for penning a winning composition. Those recommendations are as follows:

  • We recommend composing in advance, then copying and pasting into the application. Double-spacing, italics and other formatting will be lost, but this will not affect the evaluation of your application.
  • Give your essay your best effort, presenting yourself in standard, formal English.
  • Proofread, proofread, proofread!

For detailed advice on the University of Washington essay prompts, visit our blog on the subject.

Should I apply to the University of Washington?

Those with SAT/ACT scores within the mid-50% band who are also near the top of their respective high school class are certainly viable candidates to the University of Washington. If you reside in Washington, your road to acceptance will be a tad smoother than if you are an out-of-state or international applicant. If you do not hail from the university’s home state (or if you wish to enter into a direct-admit engineering/computer science program), you will need to bring higher test scores and, possibly, a special skill or 鈥渉ook.”

University of Washington Seattle Acceptance Rate – Final Thoughts

It goes without saying that all teens applying to a school of the University of Washington鈥檚 ilk also need to have a proper mix of 鈥渢arget鈥 and 鈥渟afety鈥 schools on their college list. More on creating a balanced college list can be found here.

Ready to start crafting your applications? Consider reviewing the following: