The University of Washington (UW) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. It was established in 1861, and it is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast. The University of Washington is known for its strong programs in engineering, business, and computer science. The University of Washington has an acceptance rate of 48-50% implying that almost half of the applicants gets accepted to the institution.
UW offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It has 16 schools and colleges. The offered University of Washington degrees are bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. The university also offers professional programmes, certificate courses, continuing education, and online programmes. The university is ranked among the top public universities in the US and the world. The University of Washington MBA programme is offered by the Foster School of Business.
The university is also home to a number of world-renowned research institutes, including the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. The University of Washington QS ranking for the year 2024 is 63 in the world. As per the QS World University Rankings, 2024, the university undergraduate programmes are ranked at 2nd position, and postgraduate programmes are ranked at 16th position. All international candidates must have a proof of proficiency in English langauge such as IELTS, TOEFL and Duolingo English Test.
UW is a member of the Association of American Universities and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. The university is also a charter member of the Space Grant Consortium and the Sea Grant College Program. UW's alumni include a number of notable figures, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. UW Seattle also has a 71% four-year graduation rate.
The University of Washington provides ample opportunities to study in the USA. University of Washington Seattle has a career and internship centre, which provides guidance to the students in writing resumes, and cover letters, in job search, and help prepare interviews. The services offered by career and internship centre include career fairs, online resume reviews, drop-in coaching, workshops and events, career courses, and many more.
UW has three campuses: Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma. The Seattle campus is the largest and most well-known of the three. The campus of Washington University Seattle spreads over an area of 807 acres of land. The University of Washington has three campuses in Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma. All three campuses offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Many facilities are provided by the Washington University Seattle like a library, cafeteria, sports, gym, medical facility, IT infrastructure, and many more.
Read more: Benefits of studying in USA
The University of Washington is consistently ranked as one of the top public universities in the United States and the world. In the 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), the University of Washington was ranked 18th in the world and 3rd in the U.S. In the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the University of Washington was ranked 25th in the world. According to QS World University 2024 rankings, the University of Washington is ranked 63rd among global universities.
The University of Washington offers over 400 programmes and 180 majors to choose including The Arts, Biological & Environmental Sciences, Business, Computing, Engineering, Health Sciences, Language & Literature, Maths, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and many others. In the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject, the University of Washington was ranked in the top 10 in 17 subjects, including Computer Science (14th), Geography (10th), Library and Information Science (6th), Nursing (8th), Pharmacy and Pharmacology (7th), Public Administration (9th), Sociology (7th), Statistics and Probability (8th), Surgery (10th), and Veterinary Science (9th).
Courses | Duration | International Student | Local Student |
---|---|---|---|
B.A.(94 courses) | 3 years-4 years | ₹39.13 L - ₹39.14 L/yr | ₹14.07 L/yr |
BS(44 courses) | 4 years | ₹39.14 L/yr | ₹14.07 L/yr |
M.A.(42 courses) | 2 years | ₹26.95 L - ₹44.64 L/yr | ₹15.44 L - ₹28.15 L/yr |
Ph.D(34 courses) | 3 years-5 years | ₹31.34 L - ₹35.59 L/yr | ₹19.72 L - ₹22.63 L/yr |
M.S(23 courses) | 1 year-3 years | ₹21.91 L - ₹42.80 L/yr | ₹19.54 L - ₹30.37 L/yr |
Tuition costs at the University of Washington are charged based on the number of credits taken by a candidate during their undergraduate or postgraduate study period. The University of Washington tuition fee for international students ranges from ₹26.25 L to ₹34.04 L per year for undergraduate and postgraduate courses for the year 2023-2024. However, the tuition fee can vary according to the chosen course. For more information, overseas students can visit the official website of the University of Washington at washington.edu.
Students must plan a budget as to the cost of studying in the USA. The student budget at the University of Washington Seattle is the estimated amount of money needed for tuition, books and other expenses. The UW Seattle academic year is of nine months from October to June. The student living expenses are subject to change depending upon the individual. The prices go higher or lower every academic year.
Budget Items | Lives on/off campus | Lives with parents/relatives |
Books & course supplies | 900 USD | 900 USD |
Housing & food | 16,068 USD | 5,196 USD |
Personal/miscellaneous | 2,388 USD | 2,388 USD |
Transportation | 492 USD | 714 USD |
Resident tuition | 12,242 USD | 12,242 USD |
Non-resident tuition | 40,740 USD | 40,740 USD |
Expenses | Academic Year (Autumn Quarter Start) | Calendar Year (Winter, Spring, or Summer Start) |
ISHIP Health insurance (mandatory) | 1,816 USD | 1,816 USD |
Rent, utilities, food | 19,950 USD | 26,600 USD |
Books and supplies | 825 USD | 1,100 USD |
Local transportation | 1,368 USD | 1,824 USD |
Personal expenses | 2,388 USD | 3,184 USD |
University of Washington acceptance rate is approximately 48-50%, which shows that 1 out of 2 students are admitted to the university every year. Applicants looking for admission to the University of Washington are required to apply in online mode. Students can submit their application during winter, autumn, spring and summer. A detailed procedure is mentioned below.
For University of Washington admissions, students have to apply in online mode. Students can submit their application during winter, autumn, spring and summer. Before applying for admission at Seattle University of Washington, students must check their eligibility criteria. After that, students have to fill the application form with all the required documents.
For undergraduate programme admission, students have to apply through the Common Application or ApplyWeb. For postbaccalaureate admission, students have to apply online on Washington University Seattle website.
Students can apply by two ways: ApplyWeb or The Common App.
Transfer students have to review major requirements by using MyMajor tool.
All the applicants have to self-report their courses while filling the application.
Next, choose the programme.
After that, students have to fill the essay question and additional information about themselves.
Next, students have to pay the non-refundable application form fee of 80 USD (INR 6,631).
For international students, the application form fee is 90 USD (INR 7,460).
Students have to fill the online application form and choose ‘Postbaccalaureate Study (Undeclared)’.
Next, students have to submit necessary documents.
After that, students have to fill the application form fee.
The application form fee for Indian students is 80 USD (INR 6,631) and for international students is 90 USD (INR 7,460).
University of Washington graduate programmes admissions depends upon the course selected. After that, students have to check the subject-specific requirements. Students have to fill the application form with the necessary documents.
Students have to choose the programme and select ‘Apply Now’.
After that, students have to submit the necessary documents.
Submit the application form and check the status by logging in to the portal.
The following documents are required to be submitted for the freshman applicants, transfer applicants, postbaccalaureate applicants and graduate applicants. The documents have to be uploaded online.
A high school transcript and academic transcripts
English proficiency test scores
Essay
SAT/ACT scores (if required)
Statement of purpose (if applicable)
Below are application dates for admission to the University of Washington for freshmen, transfer and postbaccalaureate students.
Quarter of Application | Quarter Begins | Notification Period |
Winter | Early January | November + December |
Autumn | Late September | March 1-15 |
Spring | Late March | N/A for freshmen |
Summer | Mid-June | March 1-15 |
Quarter of Application | Application opens | Application deadline |
Winter | August 1 | September 1 |
Autumn | September 1 | November 15 |
Spring | N/A for freshmen | N/A for freshmen |
Summer | September 1 | November 15 |
Quarter of Application | Quarter Begins | Notification Period |
Winter | Early January | November 1–December 15 |
Autumn | Late September | May 1–June 30 |
Spring | Late March | N/A |
Summer | Mid-June | May 1 -31 |
Quarter of Application | Application opens | Application deadline |
Winter | August 1 | September 1 |
Autumn | December 15 | February 15 |
Spring | November 1 | December 15 |
Summer | December 15 | February 15 |
Quarter of Application | Quarter Begins | Notification Period |
Winter | Early January | November + December |
Autumn | Late September | May + June |
Spring | Late March | N/A |
Summer | Mid-June | May + June |
Quarter of Application | Application opens | Application deadline |
Winter | August 1 | September 1 |
Autumn | December 15 | February 15 |
Spring | N/A | N/A |
Summer | December 15 | February 15 |
Students can avail of many scholarships in the USA. Washington University Seattle offers two types of scholarships- Freshman Scholarships and Transfer Scholarships. The universities at the University of Washington are offered on the basis of academic merit and the financial needs of the students. Presidential Scholarship, Purple & Gold Scholarship, UW Diversity Scholarship, and Army ROTC Tuition Scholarship are a few of the scholarships awarded to students at the University of Washington.
How to apply for Scholarships at the University of Washington?
The Office of Student Financial Aid awards scholarships each year to undergraduate students. To be eligible for the scholarships, students must take University of Washington admission during the autumn quarter of the academic year and complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) by January 15.
Candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for admission to the University of Washington.
A minimum of a B in all high-school-level English writing or literature courses when English is the principal medium of instruction for all grade 10–12 classes taught at the school, and
A minimum of 580 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or a 22 on the ACT English. To fulfil this criterion, official ACT or College Board results must be given directly to the UW. (SAT and ACT results will only be used to satisfy the English proficiency criterion and will not be considered in the holistic assessment process.)
A four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or its equivalent from an accredited international school, is required.
A master's degree, a doctorate (Ph.D., D.Phil.), or a professional degree (M.D., J.D., D.V.M., etc.) from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or its equivalent from an approved international school, are also eligible.
Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4 point scale at the regionally accredited institution offering the bachelor's degree.
International students are required to submit an official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) score that meets the UW’s minimum English proficiency requirement. Strong applicants will demonstrate a higher level of English proficiency and will have attained the recommended score to be exempt from the UW’s Academic English Program (AEP). English proficiency is considered in the holistic review of applications.
University of Washington English Proficiency Scores
English test | Minimum Score | Requires Scores |
IELTS | 6.0 | 7.0 or higher |
TOEFL | 76 | 92 or higher |
Duolingo test | 110 | 125 or higher |
University of Washington has 16 libraries in three campuses and has over 5 million users. Washington University Seattle library has partnerships with academic libraries around the world and provides 24X7 online reference services. The University of Washington library resources include 9 million books, journals, thousands of maps, rare books, millions of microforms, film, audio and video recordings. Ebooks, ejournals, databases, streamed audio and video, and datasets are also available. The university has collections in STEM disciplines, international studies, book arts and Pacific Northwest history and culture and Health Sciences as well as online and physical collections.
The library is a member of Association of Research Libraries, Orbis Cascade Alliance, Association of College and Research Libraries and HathiTrust. University of Washington 70 subject librarians support student and faculty research. The 16 libraries of University of Washington Seattle are-
Art Library
Built Environments Library
Drama Library
Engineering Library
Foster Business Library
Friday Harbor Library
Government Publications, Maps, Microforms and Newspapers
Health Sciences Library
Li Lu Library
Mathematics Research Library
Music Library
Odegaard Undergraduate Library
Research Commons
Special Collections
Suzzallo and Allen Libraries
Tateuchi East Asia Library
UW Bothell/Cascadia Library
UW Tacoma Library
University of Washington has a hall health center located at the center of UW Seattle campus. The medical care is provided to the student community and alumni. Medical care at University of Washington medical center is provided through appointment. Same-day care is available for UW seattle students. For after hour care needs, students can get medical advice from nurse or visit urgent care clinic. The other services provided by the medical care includes-
Dental care
Immunisations
Lab and Radiology
Nurse advice for students
OB/Gyn Care
Pharmacy
Physical therapy and sports medicine
Primary care
Travel health
North campus and West campus offers a wide variety of food, beverage and grocery options. There are two types of dining plan at University of Washington- Residence Hall Dining Plan and Apartment Dining Plan. Further, restaurants and cafes at West and North campus are-
West Campus
Local Point
Pagliacci Pizza West
District Market Alder
Cultivate
North Campus
Center Table
Pagliacci Pizza North
District Market Oak
Denny Cafe
Other restaurants and cafes on the campus are-
Husky Den Food Court
The Rotunda
Husky Grind Cafe, District Market
Husky Grind Cafe, Mercer Court
Microsoft Cafe
Starbucks Coffee, Population Health
Starbucks Coffee, Suzzallo
Tower Cafe
The resident dining program is designed by campus executive chef, who constantly updates and expands the menu and employ strategies to keep the taste bud and body happy. The resident dining program offers food to the students who have food allergies, medically-related dietary restrictions, choose a vegan or vegetarian diet or follow religious dietary restrictions or food traditions.
The IT infrastructure of University of Washington provides technical support to the three campuses, medical centres and global research operations. University of Washington IT manages seven divisions:
Academic services
Customer service and support
Information management
IT infrastructure
Research computing and strategy
Office of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
UW-IT operations
Common tasks provided by University of Washington Seattle information technology include-
Workday support
UW NetIDs, access and 2FA authentication
Software and downloads
Phone and video conferencing
Email and calendars
Connecting to the UW network
Teaching, learning and classroom technology
Other common tasks
The University of Washington is a highly-ranked university in the US with a strong reputation for academic excellence. It is a good choice for students who are looking for a world-class education and are interested in studying in the US. The University of Washington accepts more than 42,000 candidates each year, among which there are 6,300+ international students. All overseas students can contact the University of Washington on the following details:
Website: washington.edu
Address: University of Washington, 1410 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle, WA 98195
Contact: 206-543-2100
Email: uwbinfo@uw.edu
The University of Washington has an acceptance rate of 48-50%, which means that out of every 100 applications sent to the university 50 of them will be accepted. Applicants must have a strong application with good SAT scores, letters of recommendation, and outstanding academic excellence.
For University of Washington graduate programme admission, a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4 point scale is required from the institution awarding bachelor's degree. Also, a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4 point scale is required from the institution awarding master’s, graduate doctoral degree, or professional doctoral degree.