Admissions · United States
University of Washington Acceptance Rate: Admissions Statistics and TOEFL & IELTS Requirements
The University of Washington (Seattle) admitted 41.7% of first-year applicants for fall 2025: 30,446 of 72,933, according to its Common Data Set.
University of Washington (Seattle) TOEFL and IELTS requirements at a glance
| Applying for | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (international first-year) | TOEFL iBT4.0 on the 1–6 scale for exams taken on or after 21 January 2026; 76 on the 0–120 scale for exams taken before that date. | IELTS Academic6.0 |
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The University of Washington publishes a separate Common Data Set for each campus; this page uses the Seattle campus files from the Office of Planning & Budgeting, and the newest covers fall 2025. Below are the last three cycles, the in-state, out-of-state, international, wait-list and transfer figures UW has published, and the TOEFL and IELTS minimums for international first-year applicants.
Figures read from official sources on · English requirements updated · LingoLeap Admissions Research
University of Washington (Seattle) acceptance rate by year
University of Washington acceptance rate by applicant group
| Group | Cycle | Rate | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington residents | Fall 2025 entering class | 45.7% | 6,980 admitted of 15,260 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2025 entering class | 42.2% | 18,813 admitted of 44,619 source |
| International | Fall 2025 entering class | 35.6% | 4,653 admitted of 13,054 source |
| Washington residents | Fall 2024 entering class | 47.8% | 7,144 admitted of 14,930 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2024 entering class | 36.2% | 15,547 admitted of 42,942 source |
| International | Fall 2024 entering class | 38.8% | 4,385 admitted of 11,294 source |
| Washington residents | Fall 2023 entering class | 52.3% | 7,083 admitted of 13,551 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2023 entering class | 38.5% | 15,095 admitted of 39,246 source |
| International | Fall 2023 entering class | 45.4% | 4,374 admitted of 9,631 source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2025 entering class | 27.0% | 2,252 admitted of 8,350 who accepted a place; 15,363 were offered one source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2024 entering class | 20.0% | 1,596 admitted of 7,983 who accepted a place; 15,591 were offered one source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2023 entering class | 72.4% | 2,985 admitted of 4,122 who accepted a place; 7,915 were offered one source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2025 entering class | 23.4% | 7,129 enrolled of 30,446 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2024 entering class | 26.6% | 7,195 enrolled of 27,076 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2023 entering class | 26.4% | 7,006 enrolled of 26,552 admitted source |
| Transfer | Fall 2025 | 42.3% | 2,469 admitted of 5,830 source |
| Transfer | Fall 2024 | 43.8% | 2,379 admitted of 5,437 source |
What the numbers mean
The University of Washington's Seattle acceptance rate was 42.5% for fall 2023 (62,428 applicants), 39.1% for fall 2024 and 41.7% for fall 2025 (72,933). Applications grew by about 10,500 over the two years while admits rose from 26,552 to 30,446. Yield, the share of admits who enrolled, fell from 26.4% to 23.4%. These are Seattle-campus figures only; Bothell and Tacoma publish their own.
UW Seattle has no early decision or early action plan: its Common Data Set answers No to both, so there is no early-round rate to quote. It does use a wait list, and the numbers vary a lot by year. For fall 2025, 15,363 applicants were offered a place, 8,350 accepted, and 2,252 were admitted (27.0% of those who accepted); for fall 2024 the figure was 20.0% and for fall 2023 it was 72.4%.
By residency, fall 2025 admit rates were 45.7% for Washington residents (6,980 of 15,260), 42.2% for out-of-state US applicants (18,813 of 44,619) and 35.6% for international applicants (4,653 of 13,054). International admit rates were 45.4% for fall 2023 and 38.8% for fall 2024. Transfer applicants were admitted at 42.3% for fall 2025 (2,469 of 5,830) and 43.8% for fall 2024.
International first-year applicants must meet UW's English proficiency minimums: TOEFL iBT 76 for exams taken before 21 January 2026 and 4.0 for exams taken on or after that date, IELTS 6.0 and Duolingo 110. Applicants whose primary and secondary education was in Australia, English-speaking Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand or the US are exempt. The exam must be taken on or before 31 December of the year of application.
University of Washington (Seattle) TOEFL and IELTS requirements
Minimums for international applicants from the university's own pages. Since 21 January 2026 TOEFL iBT reports a 1–6 band score; the notes give the older 0–120 equivalent where the university states one. Convert TOEFL and IELTS scores.
Undergraduate (international first-year)
TOEFL iBT: 4.0 on the 1–6 scale for exams taken on or after 21 January 2026; 76 on the 0–120 scale for exams taken before that date.
IELTS Academic: 6.0
Duolingo English Test minimum 110. Exams must be taken on or before 31 December of the year of application; scores are valid for two years. Exempt if your primary and secondary education took place in Australia, English-speaking Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand or the US. UW also accepts an average B in grade 10–12 English courses taught in English plus SAT EBRW 580 or ACT English 22. TOEFL MyBest scores and superscoring are not accepted; UW does not offer conditional admission.
UW Undergraduate Admissions: English proficiency (international first-year) · checked 13 October 2026
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FAQ
What is the University of Washington's acceptance rate?
The University of Washington's Seattle campus admitted 30,446 of 72,933 first-year applicants for fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 41.7%, according to its Common Data Set. The rate was 39.1% for fall 2024 and 42.5% for fall 2023.
What is UW's out-of-state acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, UW Seattle admitted 18,813 of 44,619 out-of-state US applicants (42.2%), against 45.7% for Washington residents (6,980 of 15,260). For fall 2024 the out-of-state rate was 36.2%.
What is UW's international acceptance rate?
UW Seattle admitted 4,653 of 13,054 international first-year applicants for fall 2025 (35.6%), 4,385 of 11,294 for fall 2024 (38.8%) and 4,374 of 9,631 for fall 2023 (45.4%).
What is UW's transfer acceptance rate?
UW Seattle admitted 2,469 of 5,830 transfer applicants for fall 2025 (42.3%) and 2,379 of 5,437 for fall 2024 (43.8%).
Does UW have early decision or early action?
No. UW Seattle's 2025-26 Common Data Set answers No to both the early decision and early action questions, so it publishes no early-round admit rate.
What is UW's waitlist acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, UW Seattle offered 15,363 applicants a wait-list place, 8,350 accepted and 2,252 were admitted: 27.0% of those who accepted. The figure was 20.0% for fall 2024 and 72.4% for fall 2023.
What TOEFL score does the University of Washington require?
For international first-year applicants UW lists a minimum of TOEFL iBT 76 for exams taken before 21 January 2026 and 4.0 for exams taken on or after that date, plus IELTS 6.0 and Duolingo 110. Applicants educated entirely in Australia, English-speaking Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand or the US are exempt.
What IELTS score does University of Washington (Seattle) require?
Undergraduate (international first-year): IELTS Academic 6.0. Check your programme page, as some courses set higher scores.