UW Acceptance Rate 2026: 47% Resident, 39% Nonresident, GPA, SAT & Admissions Guide
Direct answer: University of Washington Seattle reports 3-year average first-year admit rates of 47% for Washington residents and 39% for non-Washington residents. For 2026 applicants, UW should be treated as selective, and much more selective for computer science and some direct-admission pathways.
UW admission is not one simple number. Your odds change by residency, major, GPA, coursework, essay strength and whether your first-choice major is general admission, Direct to Major or Direct to College.
This guide gives the answers students actually need: UW acceptance rate, CS and engineering admit rates, GPA range, SAT/ACT policy, deadlines, CADRs, Common App, STARS, essay strategy, cost, international requirements, video guide and FAQs.
UW’s official 3-year average admit rate for Washington residents.
UW’s official 3-year average admit rate for non-Washington residents.
Admitted-student high school GPA range for autumn 2025.
UW first-year autumn application deadline; decisions release March 1–15.
Quick navigation for UW applicants
UW acceptance rate 2026: official answer by residency
| Search question | Official UW answer | What it means for applicants |
|---|---|---|
| UW acceptance rate 2026 | 47% Washington resident; 39% non-Washington resident. | UW is selective, especially for out-of-state and international applicants. |
| Is there one overall rate? | UW’s public admissions page gives residency-based 3-year average rates. | Use residency and major pathway instead of one blended number. |
| Washington resident chance | 47% 3-year average admit rate. | Still competitive; strong CADRs and GPA matter. |
| Non-Washington chance | 39% 3-year average admit rate. | More competitive; major selection and essays need extra care. |
| Personal chance | Not exactly 47% or 39% for every applicant. | CS, engineering, business and major pathway can change difficulty. |
UW computer science, computer engineering and engineering admit rates
Many students searching “UW acceptance rate” are really asking about computer science, computer engineering or engineering. Those are not the same as general UW admission.
| Pathway | Washington resident admit rate | Non-Washington resident admit rate | Applicant strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall first-year admission | 47% | 39% | Selective, but broader than direct major pathways. |
| Direct to College Engineering | 43% | 37% | Show math, science, engineering interest and problem-solving evidence. |
| Direct to Major: CS/CSE | 30% | 2% | Extremely selective for nonresidents. Your first-choice major strategy matters. |
UW GPA, SAT and ACT: what is competitive?
GPA answer
3.75–3.98 is UW’s middle 50% admitted GPA range for autumn 2025. This means half of admitted students were inside that range.
Course rigor answer
UW says academic preparation and achievement are among the most important parts of review. CADRs are minimum requirements, not a maximum target.
SAT/ACT answer
UW no longer requires SAT/ACT for most applicants. Scores are still required for homeschool applicants and applicants from non-standard grading systems without letter or numeric grades.
Score strategy
Submit scores only if required or if they clearly support your academic readiness. UW is more than test scores and GPA, but academics still matter heavily.
| Academic item | UW detail | Applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| GPA | Middle 50% admitted GPA: 3.75–3.98. | If below range, use rigor, essays and context to strengthen the file. |
| Rigor | AP, IB, A Level and other demanding programs are encouraged. | Take challenging courses you can complete successfully. |
| SAT/ACT | Not required for most applicants. | Do not submit weak scores unless required by your applicant type. |
| Homeschool / non-standard grading | SAT/ACT required for some applicants. | Check testing rules early so scores arrive on time. |
| International English proficiency | International applicants must meet UW English proficiency rules. | Prepare TOEFL, IELTS or other accepted proof early. |
UW application deadlines: no Early Action, no Early Decision
| Quarter | Application opens | Deadline | Notification period | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn | August 15 | November 15 | March 1–15 | Main first-year application term. |
| Winter | August 1 | September 1 | November + December | Not open to international first-year applicants. |
| Spring | N/A | N/A | N/A | Spring is not available for first-year applicants. |
| Summer | September 1 | November 15 | March 1–15 | Most degree-seeking students apply for autumn; consult admissions counselor for summer degree-seeking plans. |
UW CADRs: required high school coursework
All first-year applicants must meet UW’s College Academic Distribution Requirements. These are minimum preparation requirements, not a guarantee of admission.
| Subject | Credits required | Applicant tip |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | Strong writing matters because essays are central. |
| Mathematics | 3 | Take more if applying to engineering, CS, business or STEM. |
| Social sciences / social studies | 3 | Complete a full college-prep sequence. |
| World languages | 2 | Do not leave this until the last minute. |
| Science | 3, including 2 lab science credits | Lab science is important for STEM readiness. |
| Senior-year quantitative course | 1 | Avoid a weak senior math/science schedule if applying to competitive majors. |
| Fine, visual or performing arts | 0.5 | Check this requirement before senior year. |
| Academic elective | 0.5 | Use electives to support your intended field when possible. |
UW application materials: what to prepare
| Application item | UW rule | Do this correctly |
|---|---|---|
| Common App | UW first-year autumn application opens Aug. 15 through Common App. | Do not wait until Nov. 15 to start. |
| STARS | All first-year applicants self-report courses and grades through STARS. | Submit STARS after submitting the UW application and use the same email address. |
| Transcripts | Do not send transcripts unless UW requests them; admitted students send final official transcript later. | Have an unofficial transcript handy for accurate self-reporting. |
| Letters of recommendation | UW asks applicants not to send recommendation letters or extra supplemental materials. | Put your strongest evidence inside essays, activities and coursework. |
| Application fee | $85 for U.S. first-year applicants; $95 for international first-year applicants. | Fee waivers are available for U.S. first-year applicants; international fee waivers are not available. |
UW essay strategy: what to write when there are no interviews or recommendation letters
UW admissions video guide
This video focuses on UW computer science acceptance rate, which is one of the most searched and most misunderstood UW admissions topics.
UW Seattle cost and financial aid basics
| 2026–27 budget item | Lives with parents/relatives | Lives on/off campus | Students with dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Books and course supplies | $900 | $900 | $900 |
| Housing and food | $6,156 | $18,858 | $23,199 |
| Resident tuition | $13,406 | $13,406 | $13,406 |
| Resident total cost | $24,044 | $36,746 | $41,594 |
| Nonresident tuition | $44,460 | $44,460 | $44,460 |
| Nonresident total cost | $55,098 | $67,800 | $72,648 |
UW application checklist: scan before submitting
Common mistakes that hurt UW applicants
- Using one overall acceptance rate: UW admits by residency and major pathway; CS/CSE is very different from general admission.
- Ignoring the first-choice major: Direct admission review depends heavily on the first-choice major.
- Assuming test optional means easy: UW still values academic preparation and achievement.
- Missing CADRs: Required coursework must be completed.
- Sending recommendation letters: UW asks applicants not to send them.
- Submitting transcripts too early: UW says not to send transcripts unless requested.
- Submitting inaccurate STARS data: UW says changes are not accepted after submission.
- Waiting for Early Action: UW does not offer ED or EA.
- Writing a generic essay: The essay must show who you are beyond grades and coursework.
- Not planning cost: Nonresident and international costs are much higher than resident costs.
Official UW links and sources
The important official details are summarized above. Use these links to verify current numbers, application rules, cost and program-specific admission instructions before submitting.
Admit rates by residency, GPA range, engineering and CS/CSE direct admission rates.
Deadlines, holistic review, CADRs, transcripts and admission-to-major overview.
Common App, STARS, application fee, test scores, transcripts and materials rules.
Common App essay rules, optional writing sections, format and proofreading guidance.
Official annual CDS files for Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma campuses.
2026–27 resident, nonresident, housing, food, supplies and transportation estimates.
FAQs about UW acceptance rate 2026
What is the UW acceptance rate for 2026?
UW Seattle reports 3-year average admit rates of 47% for Washington residents and 39% for non-Washington residents. These are better planning numbers than one blended rate.
Is University of Washington hard to get into?
Yes, UW Seattle is selective. It becomes much more selective for direct admission to computer science, computer engineering and some engineering pathways.
What GPA do you need for UW?
UW reports an admitted middle 50% GPA range of 3.75–3.98 for autumn 2025. This is not a cutoff, but it is a strong competitiveness benchmark.
Is UW test optional?
UW no longer requires SAT or ACT for most applicants. Scores are still required for homeschool applicants and applicants from schools with non-standard grading systems without letter or numeric grades.
What is the UW computer science acceptance rate?
UW reports 3-year average direct-to-major CS/CSE admit rates of 30% for Washington residents and 2% for non-Washington residents.
What is the UW engineering acceptance rate?
UW reports 3-year average Direct to College engineering admit rates of 43% for Washington residents and 37% for non-Washington residents.
What is the UW application deadline?
For autumn first-year admission, the application opens August 15 and the deadline is November 15. Decisions release March 1–15.
Does UW offer Early Action or Early Decision?
No. UW does not participate in Early Decision or Early Action admission.
Does UW require recommendation letters?
No. UW asks applicants not to send recommendation letters or extra supplemental materials.
Do I need to send transcripts to UW when applying?
Usually no. UW says applicants should not send transcripts unless requested. Applicants self-report courses and grades through STARS, and admitted students submit final official transcripts later.