The Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is located in the state of Missouri. Named after George Washington, it was founded in 1853 in response to the lack of higher learning institutions in the growing Midwest. The university is now a private research institution for around 14,500 students drawn from all 50 US states and 80 different countries.
Key Facts
- #21 in National Universities according to US News & World Report 2025
- #13 in Business Programs
- #18 in Best Value Schools
- #20 in Psychology programs
Latest undergraduate enrolment
Latest graduate enrolment
Average SAT/ ACT for freshman entry
- SAT between 1500 and 1570 / ACT between 33 and 35
Average GPA for freshman entry
International student population
Employment/ job placement rate
Median starting salary of alumni
- Computer Science; Experimental Psychology; Finance, General; Mechanical Engineering; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Econometrics and Quantitative Economics; Political Science and Government; Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering; Cognitive Science; Design and Visual Communications
About the university
- WashU consists of seven schools: art and architecture, arts and sciences, business, engineering, law, medicine, and social work and public health. It comprises over 150 buildings spread across five, centrally-located campuses.
- The main Danforth Campus is at the heart of the university and is recognizable by its Gothic architecture. The Washington University Medical Center, home to the School of Medicine, is located in the city’s vibrant Central West End district, close to restaurants, shopping and nightlife.
- A total of 25 Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with WashU over the years; its alumni includes three Pulitzer Prize winners, two Poet Laureates of the United States and 16 recipients of the National Medal of Science.
