AccessibleUpdated for the 2025-2026 cycle

Washington State University acceptance rate and admissions profile

Washington State University, a public university in Washington, reports a 87% acceptance rate and sits in the accessible band. In practice that means it admits most qualified applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Use this page to see what Washington State University weighs, where it ranks among Washington schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1240, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
87%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1240
of admitted students
Type
Public
Washington
Selectivity in state
#9
of 15 in WA
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Will I get into Washington State University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Washington State University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Washington State University?

Your odds at Washington State University are not the same as its 87% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Washington State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Washington State University hard to get into?

Washington State University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 87% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Washington State University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Washington State University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Washington State University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Washington State University?

Washington State University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1240. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Washington State University.

Calculate your chances at Washington State University

What Washington State University looks for

What Washington State University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, modeled from its selectivity and profile.

The factors that carry the most weight at Washington State University are academic GPA and state residency. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. The full breakdown is charted below; with no reported data published, it is modeled from schools of this selectivity and type, so treat it as a planning guide rather than an official rubric.

Rigor of secondary school record
Considered
Academic GPA
Important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
State residency
Important
Work experience
Considered

SAT score positioning at Washington State University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Washington State University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1250 SAT →Colleges for a 26 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Washington State University compares in Washington

Washington State University ranks #9 most selective of 15 schools in Washington in our database.

Among the 15 Washington schools we track, Washington State University ranks #9 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Whitman College (38%) and University of Washington (39%) sit nearby, which makes Washington a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Whitman College
38%acceptance · WA
University of Washington
39%acceptance · WA
Walla Walla University
65%acceptance · WA
Seattle University
77%acceptance · WA
Pacific Lutheran University
78%acceptance · WA
Gonzaga University
82%acceptance · WA
Seattle Pacific University
83%acceptance · WA
Northwest University
83%acceptance · WA
See all Washington schools →

Similar to Washington State University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting Washington State University often weigh Boise State University, George Mason University, and North Carolina Central University, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Boise State University
87%acceptance · ID
George Mason University
87%acceptance · VA
North Carolina Central University
87%acceptance · NC
Southern Illinois University
87%acceptance · IL
University of Hawaiʻi
87%acceptance · HI
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
87%acceptance · LA

Frequently asked questions

What does Washington State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Washington State University weighs academic GPA and state residency most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Washington State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Washington State University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at Washington State University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Washington State University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Washington State University?

Washington State University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Is Washington State University test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm Washington State University's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1240; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.