What is Washington University in St Louis ranked?

Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) consistently ranks among the top universities nationally, often in the top 20 by U.S. News & World Report, with recent rankings placing it around #20 for National Universities and #11 for Best Value, while also receiving high marks for dorms and quality of life by its students. Internationally, QS World University Rankings places it around #167, with strong subject-specific rankings.

Is Washington University in St. Louis a prestigious school?

Yes, Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is very prestigious, consistently ranking in the top 20 national universities by U.S. News & World Report, known as a "Hidden Ivy" for its elite academics, selective admissions, strong research, and top programs in medicine (WashUMed), business, and STEM, often grouped with other top-tier private universities like Northwestern, Duke, and Johns Hopkins.
 

Is WashU as good as an ivy?

Yes, WashU (Washington University in St. Louis) is widely considered as good as many Ivy League schools, often called a "Hidden Ivy" or "New Ivy" due to its selective admissions, top-tier academics, strong research, and excellent career outcomes, with some rankings placing it even above lower-tier Ivies in certain metrics or specific program strengths like business, biology, and pre-med, though traditional Ivy prestige and name recognition differ. 

How hard is it to get into WashU?

Getting into Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is extremely difficult, with a very low acceptance rate (around 12% for recent cycles) and highly competitive academic standards, requiring near-perfect grades (average 4.19 GPA) and test scores (1500-1570 SAT, 33-35 ACT) for admitted students, plus exceptional extracurriculars and essays to stand out from other top applicants. Applying Early Decision significantly boosts your chances, but overall, it's a top-tier selective university. 

Is WashU a new ivy?

Like many New Ivies, WashU offers a small community inside a smaller metropolitan city. St. Louis offers the ideal balance of small-town feel and big-city opportunities that will connect students to real-world projects and companies.

Washington University in St. Louis: The pros, the cons, and how to get in.

Why is WashU so prestigious?

WashU (Washington University in St. Louis) is prestigious due to its high academic rankings in fields like business, psychology, pre-med, and engineering, coupled with an exceptional student-faculty ratio, rigorous experiential learning, a stunning campus with great amenities (food, dorms), a strong research focus, and excellent career outcomes, particularly for professional schools and top firms, making it a highly selective, elite institution.
 

What is the easiest little ivy to get into?

The "easiest" Little Ivy to get into depends on your definition, but schools like Union College, Lafayette College, and Connecticut College generally have higher acceptance rates (around 40-50% or more) compared to highly selective ones like Williams or Amherst (often 7-10%), making them more accessible target schools for strong applicants. However, all Little Ivies are selective, so "easiest" is relative; look for schools with acceptance rates above 20-30% if you're aiming for the less exclusive end.
 

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

What GPA do I need for WashU?

Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) doesn't have a strict minimum GPA cutoff for admission, but successful applicants typically have a very high weighted GPA, around 4.19 or higher, coupled with rigorous coursework (AP/IB classes) to demonstrate academic challenge; while a 2.0 GPA is needed for current students to maintain good standing, admission requires top-tier grades to compete with other highly selective applicants.
 

What are the big 3 law schools?

The "Big Three" law schools, consistently ranked at the very top, are Yale Law School, Stanford Law School, and Harvard Law School, known for prestige, high selectivity, and strong placement into top-tier legal careers, though some sources group University of Chicago and Columbia into a slightly broader elite tier (T14) alongside these three. These schools, along with others like NYU, UPenn, Berkeley, Virginia, and Michigan, dominate the highest rankings and offer excellent paths to "BigLaw" firms. 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, often defined by family income, tend to go to highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth, Yale, Penn, Brown, Princeton, and Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, with some Ivy League schools having a higher concentration of these students than the bottom 60% of income earners. Rankings vary, but MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley consistently appear at the top for overall academic standing, attracting top talent across all income levels. 

What is the best major at WashU?

Most Popular Majors

• Computer Science. 181 Graduates.
• Finance. 150 Graduates.
• Research and Experimental Psychology. 135 Graduates.
• Economics. 127 Graduates.
• Mechanical Engineering. 103 Graduates.
• Anthropology. 92 Graduates.
• Biology. 83 Graduates.
• Political Science and Government. 75 Graduates.

What is special about Washington University in St. Louis?

The university is counted among the world's leaders in teaching and research, and it draws students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Students and faculty come from more than 100 countries around the world.

Is the area around Washington University in St. Louis safe?

The campus is right next to Clayton, an affluent and safe suburb of St Louis. I'd recommend a visit if this is a school you're interested in-you will fall in love. It's got a beautiful campus, adjacent to Forest Park and museums, access to St Louis and its amenities, and lots of social activities.

Is WashU difficult to get into?

Getting into Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is extremely difficult, as it's a highly selective university with low acceptance rates (around 12%) and requires exceptional academic performance, with admitted students typically having high GPAs (around 4.19) and top SAT/ACT scores (mid 1500s SAT, 33-35 ACT), alongside impressive extracurriculars and compelling personal essays, especially if applying Early Decision. 

Is UW better than Harvard?

Neither University of Washington (UW) nor Harvard is definitively "better"; they excel in different areas, with Harvard often seen as more prestigious overall but UW dominating specific fields like computer science, public health, and biology, offering strong research opportunities and lower costs, while Harvard provides unparalleled global network and resources. Your choice depends heavily on your intended major, financial situation, and career goals, as UW shines in specialized STEM/public health, while Harvard offers broader, traditional prestige. 

Is WashU as good as ivy?

Yes, WashU (Washington University in St. Louis) is widely considered as good as many Ivy League schools, often called a "Hidden Ivy" or "New Ivy" due to its selective admissions, top-tier academics, strong research, and excellent career outcomes, with some rankings placing it even above lower-tier Ivies in certain metrics or specific program strengths like business, biology, and pre-med, though traditional Ivy prestige and name recognition differ. 

What is the #1 party school?

For 2026, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), is widely ranked as the #1 party school by sources like Niche, based on student surveys about campus party scenes, access to nightlife, and Greek life, followed by schools like Florida State and Tulane. Other strong contenders often mentioned include the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USC, and the University of Alabama, with rankings varying slightly by publication and criteria.
 

What is the easiest ivy to get into?

While all Ivy League schools are highly selective, Cornell University is generally considered the "easiest" to get into due to having the highest acceptance rate (around 8-9%), partly because it's the largest Ivy with diverse colleges, like the less competitive Agriculture and Life Sciences, though its engineering programs are tough. Dartmouth College and Brown University often follow as the next most accessible Ivies, while Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia are typically the most difficult, with lower acceptance rates. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

What is a hidden ivy?

The Hidden Ivies are colleges that have an excellent reputation and academic programs but aren't members of the Ivy League.

What's harder to get into, Brown or Cornell?

If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then Brown University is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.