Admissions · United States
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) Acceptance Rate: Admissions Statistics and TOEFL & IELTS Requirements
WashU admitted 11.9% of first-year applicants for fall 2025: 3,968 of 33,283, according to its Common Data Set.
Washington University in St. Louis TOEFL and IELTS requirements at a glance
| Applying for | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| University-wide minimum (applies to undergraduate applicants) | TOEFL iBT5.0 overall on the 1–6 scale. For the pre-2026 0–120 scale the policy page reads '4.5 ≥ 90 overall (old scale)'. | IELTS Academic6.5 composite minimum |
| Undergraduate Admissions (recommended for competitive applicants, not a minimum) | TOEFL iBT5.0 or above for tests taken on or after 21 January 2026; 100 or above for tests taken before that date. | IELTS Academic7.0 or above |
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Washington University in St. Louis publishes its admissions figures in the Common Data Set; the newest edition covers fall 2025. This page shows the overall acceptance rate for the last three entering classes, the early decision, Missouri-resident, out-of-state and international figures, the wait-list and transfer numbers, and the TOEFL and IELTS scores WashU sets.
Figures read from official sources on · LingoLeap Admissions Research
Washington University in St. Louis acceptance rate by year
WashU acceptance rate by applicant group
| Group | Cycle | Rate | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early decision (ED I and ED II) | Fall 2025 entering class | 27.0% | 1,333 admitted of 4,934 early decision applicants source |
| Early decision (ED I and ED II) | Fall 2024 entering class | 25.3% | 1,217 admitted of 4,817 source |
| Early decision (ED I and ED II) | Fall 2023 entering class | 25.6% | 1,158 admitted of 4,517 source |
| Missouri residents | Fall 2025 entering class | 19.3% | 390 admitted of 2,017 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2025 entering class | 12.8% | 3,003 admitted of 23,436 source |
| International | Fall 2025 entering class | 7.3% | 575 admitted of 7,830; 275 enrolled source |
| Missouri residents | Fall 2024 entering class | 18.8% | 386 admitted of 2,051 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2024 entering class | 13.1% | 3,064 admitted of 23,334 source |
| International | Fall 2024 entering class | 6.8% | 501 admitted of 7,369; 228 enrolled source |
| Missouri residents | Fall 2023 entering class | 18.0% | 319 admitted of 1,776 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2023 entering class | 13.3% | 3,121 admitted of 23,454 source |
| International | Fall 2023 entering class | 5.9% | 415 admitted of 7,010; 229 enrolled source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2025 entering class | 8.5% | 327 admitted of 3,865 who accepted a place; the number offered a place is not reported source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2024 entering class | 7.9% | 210 admitted of 2,658 who accepted a place source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2023 entering class | 7.4% | 200 admitted of 2,713 who accepted a place source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2025 entering class | 49.4% | 1,961 enrolled of 3,968 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2024 entering class | 46.7% | 1,847 enrolled of 3,951 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2023 entering class | 47.4% | 1,828 enrolled of 3,855 admitted source |
| Transfer | Fall 2025 | 15.2% | 244 admitted of 1,603; 84 enrolled source |
| Transfer | Fall 2024 | 14.0% | 239 admitted of 1,706; 99 enrolled source |
| Transfer | Fall 2023 | 12.2% | 215 admitted of 1,761; 105 enrolled source |
What the numbers mean
WashU's acceptance rate has been steady at about 12%: 11.9% for fall 2025 (3,968 of 33,283), 12.1% for fall 2024 (3,951 of 32,754) and 12.0% for fall 2023 (3,855 of 32,240). Roughly half of admitted students enrol: 1,961 for fall 2025.
Early decision is a large part of the class. WashU has two binding rounds (ED I closing in early November, ED II in early January), and its Common Data Set reports them together: 1,333 of 4,934 early decision applicants were admitted for fall 2025 (27.0%), so early decision admits made up about a third (33.6%) of all 3,968 admits. The 2025-26 edition also reports a non-binding early action plan (closing 2 November, decisions by 23 December) that the two earlier editions did not have; it does not give early action counts.
International applicants face the lowest rate. For fall 2025 WashU admitted 575 of 7,830 international applicants (7.3%), against 12.8% for out-of-state US applicants and 19.3% for Missouri residents. The international rate was 6.8% for fall 2024 and 5.9% for fall 2023. Transfer admission is similarly selective: 244 of 1,603 applicants for fall 2025 (15.2%).
WashU's university-wide English minimums, set by its Office for International Students & Scholars, are IELTS Academic 6.5, Duolingo 125 and TOEFL iBT 5.0 on the new scale; for the old 0–120 scale the page reads '4.5 ≥ 90 overall (old scale)'. Undergraduate Admissions adds that its most competitive applicants have TOEFL 100 (tests before 21 January 2026) or 5.0 (tests from that date), IELTS 7.0 or Duolingo 130 or above; it describes these as recommended ranges, not minimums.
Washington University in St. Louis 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.
University-wide minimum (applies to undergraduate applicants)
TOEFL iBT: 5.0 overall on the 1–6 scale. For the pre-2026 0–120 scale the policy page reads '4.5 ≥ 90 overall (old scale)'.
IELTS Academic: 6.5 composite minimum
Duolingo English Test minimum 125; GATEWAY English Test 495. Scores must be under two years old and sent by the testing agency; no superscored results such as TOEFL MyBest. Some schools and programmes set higher scores.
WashU Office for International Students & Scholars: English Language Proficiency · checked 26 October 2026
Undergraduate Admissions (recommended for competitive applicants, not a minimum)
TOEFL iBT: 5.0 or above for tests taken on or after 21 January 2026; 100 or above for tests taken before that date.
IELTS Academic: 7.0 or above
Duolingo English Test 130 or above. Applicants with three or more years in an English-medium programme or a US high school and strong grades may be exempted case by case (online high schools do not usually qualify). From fall 2027 entry, SAT or ACT scores no longer replace an English test. Undocumented or DACA-eligible students do not need to submit an English test.
WashU Undergraduate Admissions: English Testing Requirements · checked 26 October 2026
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FAQ
What is WashU's acceptance rate?
WashU admitted 3,968 of 33,283 first-year applicants for fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 11.9%, according to its Common Data Set. The rate was 12.1% for fall 2024 and 12.0% for fall 2023.
What is WashU's early decision acceptance rate?
WashU admitted 1,333 of 4,934 early decision applicants for fall 2025 (27.0%), 1,217 of 4,817 for fall 2024 (25.3%) and 1,158 of 4,517 for fall 2023 (25.6%). The figures combine the ED I and ED II rounds.
What is WashU's international acceptance rate?
WashU admitted 575 of 7,830 international first-year applicants for fall 2025 (7.3%), 501 of 7,369 for fall 2024 (6.8%) and 415 of 7,010 for fall 2023 (5.9%).
What is WashU's transfer acceptance rate?
WashU admitted 244 of 1,603 transfer applicants for fall 2025 (15.2%), 239 of 1,706 for fall 2024 (14.0%) and 215 of 1,761 for fall 2023 (12.2%).
What TOEFL score does WashU require?
WashU's university-wide minimum is TOEFL iBT 5.0 overall on the new 1–6 scale. For the older 0–120 scale its policy page reads '4.5 ≥ 90 overall (old scale)'. Undergraduate Admissions says its most competitive applicants score 5.0 or above (tests from 21 January 2026) or 100 or above (earlier tests). MyBest scores are not accepted.
What IELTS score does WashU require?
WashU's university-wide minimum is an IELTS Academic composite score of 6.5. Undergraduate Admissions says its most competitive applicants have IELTS 7.0 or above. No section minimums are stated.