Admissions Factors

What UW Looks For

UW rates 4 factors as very important: rigor of high school courses, academic GPA, application essay and state residency.

How UW rates each factor

Each college sorts 18 factors into four levels on its Common Data Set.

Very important

Important

Considered

Character and personal qualities

Not considered

The numbers behind the class

Overall admit rate

41.7%

30,446 of 72,933 applicants

Early decision admit rate

No early decision

Admitted from the waitlist

27%

2,252 of 8,350 who stayed on it

Enrolled first-years had an average high school GPA of 3.84.

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Frequently asked questions

What does UW look for in applicants?

UW rates 4 factors as very important: rigor of high school courses, academic GPA, application essay and state residency.

Does UW consider legacy status?

UW rates alumni relation as "not considered" in its 2025-26 Common Data Set.

Does UW track demonstrated interest?

UW rates the level of an applicant's interest as "not considered".

What is UW's waitlist acceptance rate?

8,350 students stayed on the waitlist and 2,252 were admitted, a rate of 27%. The number changes a lot from year to year because it depends on how many admitted students enroll.

Source: UW’s own Common Data Set 2025-26, Section C. Last checked 2026-10-08. The ratings are the college’s own description of its process. Counts are for one entering class.