UW Seattle Acceptance Rate 2026: 41.7% Admit Rate, GPA, SAT, ACT & Admissions Guide
Direct answer: UW Seattle acceptance rate for 2026 planning is about 41.7%. The 2025–2026 Seattle Common Data Set reports 72,933 first-year applicants, 30,446 admitted students and about 7,133 enrolled students.
The overall rate does not tell the full story. Washington residents, out-of-state students, international students, engineering applicants, Foster applicants and computer science applicants can face very different competition.
This guide answers the high-intent questions first: acceptance rate, GPA, SAT/ACT, test-optional policy, direct-to-major selectivity, deadlines, STARS self-reporting, CADRs, essays, cost, scholarships and the checklist before you apply.
30,446 admits from 72,933 first-year applicants in the latest Seattle CDS cycle.
Average high school GPA among enrolled first-year students who submitted GPA.
CDS middle 50% SAT composite among enrolled students who submitted scores.
CDS middle 50% ACT composite among enrolled students who submitted scores.
Quick navigation for UW Seattle applicants
UW Seattle acceptance rate 2026: answer first
| Admissions number | Latest Seattle CDS figure | What it means for applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Total first-year applicants | 72,933 | UW Seattle receives a very large applicant pool, so incomplete or rushed applications are risky. |
| Total admitted | 30,446 | UW admits many students, but the university is still selective. |
| Acceptance rate | 41.7% | UW Seattle is a target-to-reach school depending on residency, major and academic profile. |
| Total enrolled | About 7,133 | Large class, but direct-entry seats in some majors are limited. |
| Estimated yield | About 23.4% | Many admitted students compare UW with other flagship, UC, Big Ten and private options. |
| Residency group | CDS applications | CDS admits | Approx. admit rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington residents | 15,260 | 6,980 | 45.7% |
| Domestic nonresidents | 44,619 | 18,813 | 42.2% |
| International applicants | 13,054 | 4,653 | 35.6% |
UW Seattle GPA, SAT and ACT: what is competitive?
GPA answer
Average enrolled GPA: about 3.84. UW’s first-year profile lists middle 50% admitted GPA as 3.75–3.98 on a 4.0 scale.
SAT answer
CDS SAT range: 1320–1502. UW says SAT/ACT are no longer required and generally are not used in holistic review.
ACT answer
CDS ACT range: 30–34. A high score may be seen only for a handful of students, but testing is not the main review factor.
What matters more
Course rigor, grades, senior-year academic choices, CADRs, essay, activities, context and direct-to-major readiness.
| Academic profile item | Official detail | Applicant strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Average high school GPA | 3.84 among enrolled students who submitted GPA | Strong grades are central. UW says preparation and performance lead the review. |
| GPA 4.0 | 18.12% of enrolled students | A perfect GPA helps but does not guarantee direct-to-major admission. |
| GPA 3.75–3.99 | 58.07% of enrolled students | This is the most common strong enrolled range. |
| GPA 3.50–3.74 | 18.08% of enrolled students | Admission can be realistic, but competitive majors need stronger evidence. |
| SAT composite | 1320 | 1440 | 1502 | Submit if you want, but UW says low or missing scores do not disadvantage you. |
| ACT composite | 30 | 32 | 34 | Test scores do not advantage CS, engineering or Honors review. |
| Score submission share | SAT: 19.12%; ACT: 4.89% of enrolled students | Most enrolled students did not submit national test scores. |
Direct-to-major and direct-to-college: where UW Seattle gets much harder
| UW pathway | Official admit-rate context | What applicants should do |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science / Computer Engineering | UW first-year profile lists 3-year average DTM admit rates of 30% for Washington residents and 2% for non-Washington residents. | Treat CS/CE as far more selective than UW overall. Show math, computing, problem-solving and impact. |
| College of Engineering | UW first-year profile lists 3-year average direct-to-college engineering admit rates of 43% for Washington residents and 37% for non-Washington residents. | Prioritize rigorous math/science coursework, senior-year quantitative classes and engineering-related evidence. |
| Foster School of Business | Direct admission is tied to first-choice major/program selection and may be capacity constrained. | Select business-related first choice only if your coursework, activities and essay support the plan. |
| Other capacity-constrained majors | Some majors require direct admission, department admission later, or additional steps. | Use UW’s major pages before applying. Second-choice major does not place you into direct-to-major options. |
UW Seattle first-year deadlines and decision dates
| Deadline item | Official date | Applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| Application opens | August 15 | Start early because STARS self-reporting takes time. |
| Application deadline | November 15 | Applies to summer and autumn first-year admission. |
| Test-score deadline | December 31 | Mainly relevant for required cases and English-proficiency alternatives. |
| FAFSA/WASFA priority date | February 1 | Submit even before knowing your admission decision. |
| Decision notification | March 1–15 | Check UW admission portal during this window. |
| National College Decision Day | May 1 | Confirm enrollment and pay the Enrollment Confirmation Deposit by your offer-letter deadline. |
UW Seattle application requirements: what is actually required?
| Item | UW detail | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Application | First-year autumn applicants use the Common App. | Waiting until deadline week and rushing major selection. |
| Writing section | Common App personal essay required; maximum 650 words, minimum 250 words. | Writing a generic essay that repeats activities instead of showing context and voice. |
| STARS self-report | All first-year applicants self-report courses and grades through STARS. | Using a different email than Common App or submitting inaccurate course/grade details. |
| Application fee | $85 for U.S. first-year applicants; $95 for international first-year applicants. | Assuming international fee waivers are available; UW says they are not. |
| Test scores | Not required for most applicants; homeschooled or non-standard grading applicants may need scores. | Spending more time on testing than on courses, essay and major fit. |
| Transcripts | Do not send high school or college transcripts unless UW requests them, except certain non-U.S. curriculum cases. | Mailing transcripts early instead of following UW instructions. |
CADR course requirements: minimum academic preparation
UW requires College Academic Distribution Requirements, called CADRs. Meeting the minimum is not the same as being competitive, especially for direct-to-major programs.
| CADR subject | Required credits | Applicant tip |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | Strong writing supports the Common App essay. |
| Mathematics | 3 | Must include algebra, geometry and second-year algebra level or equivalent. |
| Social sciences / social studies | 3 | History and social science courses support broad academic readiness. |
| World languages | 2 | Two credits should be in the same language through second-year level. |
| Science | 3, including 2 lab sciences | At least one lab science should be biology, chemistry or physics. |
| Senior-year math-based quantitative course | 1 | Important for STEM, business, CS, engineering and quantitative readiness. |
| Fine, visual or performing arts | 0.5 | Do not leave this requirement until the last minute. |
| Academic elective | 0.5 | Use electives to support your intended major, not random scheduling. |
How UW Seattle reviews applications
| Review area | What UW says | How to strengthen it |
|---|---|---|
| Academic preparation | Academic preparation and performance are primary. | Show strong grades, rigorous courses and senior-year follow-through. |
| Curriculum quality | Course rigor and performance remain more important than SAT/ACT. | Choose challenging courses that fit your intended major. |
| Positive grade trend | UW considers improvement. | Use the essay or optional context if your transcript has a real story. |
| Personal achievements | Leadership, service, responsibility and unique perspectives matter. | Explain impact, not just membership. |
| Context | UW considers family, community, work and socioeconomic context where relevant. | Use optional sections to add facts that are not visible in grades. |
| Major readiness | Direct-to-major and direct-to-college applicants need aligned preparation. | CS, engineering and business applicants should show related coursework and evidence. |
International applicants and English proficiency
| English-proficiency item | UW detail | Applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| Who needs it? | International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency unless they meet an official exemption. | Do not assume English coursework automatically waives the requirement. |
| Exam deadline | Exams must be taken on or before December 31 of the application year. | List UW as a score recipient when registering if testing after Nov. 15. |
| TOEFL code | 4854 | Scores must be sent directly from the testing agency if required. |
| SAT/ACT alternative | Minimum SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 580 or ACT English 22, plus B average in grade 10–12 English writing/literature courses where English is primary instruction. | These scores meet English proficiency only and are not included in holistic review. |
| No conditional admission | UW does not offer conditional admission for missing English proficiency. | Applicants without qualifying scores by Dec. 31 will not be considered. |
UW Seattle cost of attendance 2026–2027
| Cost item | Seattle campus amount | What families should know |
|---|---|---|
| Room and board | $18,858 | Traditional undergraduate budget estimate. |
| Books, personal and transportation | $4,482 | These may not be billed directly but still affect real cost. |
| Annual student fees total | $1,676 | Includes required student fee budget items. |
| Resident undergraduate tuition | $12,664 | Washington resident rate for regular academic year. |
| Resident annual total | $37,680 | Use as a broad Seattle-campus annual planning number. |
| Non-resident undergraduate tuition | $44,580 | Higher tuition for non-Washington residents. |
| Non-resident annual total | $69,596 | Compare with Purple & Gold, outside aid and other offers. |
UW lists February 1 as the FAFSA/WASFA priority date for first-year applicants.
$10,000 per year for selected Washington residents; renewable up to four years.
For selected U.S. non-Washington residents; amounts vary and apply only to Seattle campus.
$10,000 per year for four years for selected high-achieving, high-need first-year students.
UW Seattle application checklist: scan before submitting
Common mistakes that hurt UW Seattle applicants
Using only the overall rate
41.7% is not the CS, CE, engineering or Foster admit rate. Major choice changes everything.
Wrong first-choice major
If a major uses direct admission, second choice will not place you into that direct pathway.
STARS mistakes
Self-reported courses and grades must be complete and accurate. UW cannot accept changes after submission.
Generic essay
The personal essay is required. Do not waste it repeating a resume or writing only about UW prestige.
Weak senior schedule
UW specifically considers taking full advantage of senior year.
International English delay
English proficiency exams must be taken by Dec. 31. UW does not offer conditional admission for missing scores.
Official UW Seattle links and sources
The key facts are included above. Use these official links to verify requirements, dates, costs, policies and major-specific rules before submitting.
Official source for applicants, admits, enrolled students, GPA, SAT/ACT and institutional data.
Official UW admitted GPA profile, residency admit rates, engineering and CS admit-rate context.
Common App, writing, STARS, CADRs, fees, test scores and transcript instructions.
Application open date, Nov. 15 deadline, FAFSA/WASFA date and decision window.
Official UW test-optional policy and score-use explanation.
2026–2027 Seattle resident and non-resident cost estimates.
FAQs about UW Seattle acceptance rate 2026
What is UW Seattle acceptance rate for 2026?
UW Seattle acceptance rate for 2026 planning is about 41.7%, based on 30,446 admits from 72,933 first-year applicants in the 2025–2026 Seattle Common Data Set.
Is UW Seattle hard to get into?
Yes. UW Seattle is selective overall, and direct-to-major pathways like computer science, computer engineering and engineering can be much harder than the overall rate.
What GPA do you need for UW Seattle?
There is no guaranteed GPA cutoff. The latest Seattle CDS average GPA was about 3.84 among enrolled students who submitted GPA, and UW’s admitted profile lists 3.75–3.98 as the middle 50% admitted GPA range.
What SAT score is good for UW Seattle?
The CDS middle 50% SAT composite for enrolled score submitters was 1320–1502, but UW no longer requires SAT/ACT and generally does not use scores in holistic review.
What ACT score is good for UW Seattle?
The CDS middle 50% ACT composite for enrolled score submitters was 30–34, but ACT is not required for most applicants and does not advantage CS, engineering or Honors review.
Is UW Seattle test optional?
Yes. UW permanently removed the SAT/ACT requirement. Homeschooled applicants and applicants from non-standard grading schools may still be required to submit scores.
What are UW Seattle application deadlines?
The first-year application opens Aug. 15, the deadline is Nov. 15, test-score deadline is Dec. 31, FAFSA/WASFA priority date is Feb. 1 and decisions are released Mar. 1–15.
What does UW Seattle require to apply?
UW requires the Common App, required personal essay, STARS self-reported courses and grades, CADR coursework and the application fee or waiver if eligible. Transcripts usually are not sent unless requested.
Is UW computer science harder than UW overall?
Yes. UW lists three-year average direct-to-major admit rates for CS/CE of 30% for Washington residents and 2% for non-Washington residents, far below the overall rate.
How can I improve my UW Seattle application?
Improve your UW application by taking rigorous courses, completing CADRs, keeping senior-year academics strong, choosing major carefully, writing a strong essay, self-reporting grades accurately in STARS and applying by Nov. 15.