10-yr median earnings
$86,182
Federal aid recipients only
Private Nonprofit · St. Louis, Missouri
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University in St Louis is a private nonprofit institution in St. Louis, Missouri. as a private nonprofit, published Scorecard outcomes cover federal-aid recipients at this campus — endowment and sticker price sit outside those cohort fields.
- $86,182
- 10-yr median earnings
- 12.1%
- Acceptance rate
- $21,786
- Avg net price / yr
- 94.3%
- 150%-time completion
The verdict
Washington University in St Louis pairs top-5% former-student earnings with a very selective admit.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
- Top 3%
- former-student earnings, US
- 12.1%
- acceptance rate
- 94.3%
- 150%-time completion
- +10%
- earnings, 6→10 yrs
Suburb: Large
Carnegie: R1
Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.
How to read this Washington University in St Louis profile
Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.
Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.
Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.
College Value Score
B+
College Value Score
76/100
Washington University in St Louis
A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.
Earnings A+
$86,182
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price F
$21,786
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate A+
94.3%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$17,500
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment A+
91.2%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention A+
95.0%
First-year students returning for year two
Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.
Avg net price
$21,786
After grants and scholarships
150%-time completion
94.3%
Full-time, first-time cohort
150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 94.3%
Four-year-institution cohort
College ROI Quadrant - Washington University in St Louis vs peers
Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.
How Washington University in St Louis ranks nationally
Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.
Washington University in St Louis: former-student earnings vs. every US college
10-year median earnings, College Scorecard
$86,182 Top 3% higher than 97% of 5,103 US colleges
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
| Metric | Washington University in St Louis | National rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $86,182 | #133 of 5103 | 97th |
| Average net price | $21,786 | #3415 of 5020 | 32nd (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 94.3% | #88 of 4858 | 98th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,857 | #460 of 5462 | 92nd |
National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.
Quick Facts
7,857
Undergraduate enrollment
12.1%
Acceptance rate
1,530
SAT average
94.3%
150%-time completion
$86,182
10-yr median earnings
95.0%
First-year retention
How Washington University in St Louis ranks in Missouri
State rank among 120 reporting Missouri colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.
| Metric | Washington University in St Louis | State rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $86,182 | #3 of 120 | 98th |
| Average net price | $21,786 | #86 of 119 | 28th (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 94.3% | #2 of 107 | 98th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,857 | #6 of 125 | 95th |
Highest former-student earnings in Missouri
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis | $137,047 | $31,817 |
| 2 | Chamberlain University-Missouri | $92,405 | $30,716 |
| 3 | Washington University in St LouisThis school | $86,182 | $21,786 |
| 4 | Research College of Nursing | $85,910 | - |
| 5 | Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing | $84,393 | - |
| 6 | Missouri University of Science and Technology | $82,957 | $16,298 |
| 7 | Saint Louis University | $70,783 | $24,398 |
| 8 | Rockhurst University | $67,102 | $25,884 |
| 9 | University of Missouri-Columbia | $63,403 | $20,268 |
| 10 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | $62,105 | $22,066 |
| 11 | Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences | $60,918 | $19,390 |
| 12 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | $59,637 | $13,310 |
Admissions
| Admission Rate | 12.1% |
| SAT Average | 1,530 |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 770 – 800 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 730 – 770 |
| ACT Average | 34 |
| ACT (25th-75th) | 33 – 35 |
Costs & Financial Aid
Net price by family income at Washington University in St Louis
Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket
- $0 – $30k $1,716
$0 – $30k
$1,716 net price / yr
- $30k – $48k $1,928
$30k – $48k
$1,928 net price / yr
- $48k – $75k $5,578
$48k – $75k
$5,578 net price / yr
- $110k+
$110k+
$42,170 net price / yr
What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Washington University in St Louis - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.
Tuition & Net Price
| In-State Tuition | $65,790 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $65,790 |
| Average Net Price | $21,786 |
17.8%
Pell Grant Rate
11.8%
Federal Loan Rate
$17,500
Median Debt
$186/mo
Monthly Payment
Washington University in St Louis costs less today than it did in 2013
Average net price fell from $33,484 to $22,117 (-33.9%) between 2013 and 2023, before any inflation adjustment, which makes the real-terms fall larger still. Most colleges moved the other way: the median change across the 4,315 schools measured over the same span was +14.6%.
11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
2013 · $33,4842023 · $22,117
Over the same years, enrollment went +15.3% (6,851 → 7,897 students).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.
Student Demographics
Race & ethnicity
Student body at a glance
53.4%
Female
11.4%
First Generation
Outcomes
95.0%
Retention Rate
$78,073
Median Earnings (6yr)
83.5%
Earning Over $25K
91.2%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)
Outcomes & debt snapshot
| Measure | Cohort / horizon | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of normal time | First-time, full-time | 94.3% |
| First-year retention | First-time, full-time freshmen | 95.0% |
| Median earnings | 6 years after entry | $78,073 |
| Median earnings | 10 years after entry | $86,182 |
| Share earning over $25,000 | Working, not enrolled | 83.5% |
| Loan repayment rate | Completers, 3 years after leaving | 91.2% |
| Median federal student debt | At completion | $17,500 |
| Estimated monthly payment | Standard 10-year plan | $186/mo |
Programs & Earnings
Field-of-study summary by credential
| Credential | Programs | Award count | Avg earnings | Top earnings | Avg debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 24 | 1,725 | $102,834 | $185,551 | $17,125 |
| Master's | 18 | 1,704 | $116,075 | $229,459 | $71,061 |
| First Professional | 5 | 475 | $100,851 | $141,243 | $114,042 |
Top programs at Washington University in St Louis by completer earnings
Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file
- Medical Clinical Sciences/…
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies
$229,459 median earnings
- Finance and Financial Mana…
Finance and Financial Management Services
$185,551 median earnings
- Computer Science
Computer Science
$177,066 median earnings
- Computer Science
Computer Science
$167,975 median earnings
- Finance and Financial Mana…
Finance and Financial Management Services
$165,087 median earnings
- Business/Managerial Econom…
Business/Managerial Economics
$162,355 median earnings
- Computer/Information Techn…
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
$160,419 median earnings
- Business Administration, M…
Business Administration, Management and Operations
$153,933 median earnings
What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.
| Program | Credential | Completers | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies | Master's | 31 | $229,459 | - |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's | 181 | $185,551 | $19,500 |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's | 205 | $177,066 | $15,250 |
| Computer Science | Master's | 74 | $167,975 | - |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Master's | 168 | $165,087 | - |
| Business/Managerial Economics | Bachelor's | 65 | $162,355 | - |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Master's | 38 | $160,419 | - |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's | 287 | $153,933 | $81,700 |
| Law | First Professional | 226 | $141,243 | $92,540 |
| Systems Engineering | Bachelor's | 24 | $119,297 | $23,139 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | Master's | 26 | $118,193 | - |
| Mechanical Engineering | Master's | 57 | $115,029 | - |
| Chemical Engineering | Bachelor's | 30 | $107,843 | - |
| Economics | Bachelor's | 105 | $102,439 | $14,805 |
| Marketing | Bachelor's | 79 | $100,489 | $17,500 |
Nearby Schools
Concordia Seminary
Saint Louis, MO
Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis
St. Louis, MO
214 students
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
Saint Louis, MO
337 students
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing
Saint Louis, MO
446 students
University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis, MO
5,024 students
Explore Data-Matched Colleges
Independent Scorecard matches among reporting colleges — not recommendations from the institution or a counselor.
Similar Enrollment and Sector
Other Private Nonprofit institutions closest in reported enrollment, preferring the same Carnegie classification.
Similar Reported Net Price
Other Private Nonprofit institutions with the nearest reported average net price.
Similar 2013–2023 Net-Price Trend
Same-sector institutions with the same direction and nearest fitted annual change; only series with R² of at least 0.40 qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Washington University in St Louis? ▼
Washington University in St Louis is a private nonprofit institution in St. Louis, Missouri. The acceptance rate is 12.1%. The average SAT score is 1,530. Undergraduate enrollment is 7,857 students.
How much do Washington University in St Louis former students earn? ▼
Federally aided former students at Washington University in St Louis who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $86,182 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $78,073.
How much does Washington University in St Louis cost? ▼
The average net price at Washington University in St Louis is $21,786. In-state tuition is $65,790 and out-of-state tuition is $65,790. Median student debt at graduation is $17,500.
What is the graduation rate at Washington University in St Louis? ▼
Washington University in St Louis has a 94.3% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 95.0%.
Is Washington University in St Louis worth the student debt? ▼
The median student debt at Washington University in St Louis is $17,500, while former students earn a median of $86,182 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 20% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 91.2% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $186.
Sources & methodology
Private-nonprofit profiles emphasize Scorecard cost-after-aid and completion alongside IPEDS Carnegie class. Endowment, gifts, and sticker price are not Scorecard fields on this page.
Figures are the Mar–Jul 2026 federal retrievals. Nonprofit campuses vary widely in aid practice — net price here is the Title-IV-recipient cohort average, not an individual award letter. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.
- College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education - former-student earnings, cost & completion (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics - enrollment, admissions, Carnegie class & demographics (nces.ed.gov/ipeds).
- U.S. Treasury / IRS earnings linkage - median earnings 6 & 10 years after enrollment for federal-aid recipients (irs.gov).
- College Scorecard, Field of Study - program-level (credential) earnings & debt (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- Federal Student Aid (Title IV / NSLDS) - U.S. Department of Education - net price, student debt & aid-recipient repayment outcomes (studentaid.gov).
Where to go next from Washington University in St Louis
- Compare Washington University in St Louis against schools with similar outcomes at a lower average net price.Find similar schools that cost less
- Browse every reporting college in Missouri side by side.Browse Missouri
- See how fields of study differ on former-student earnings and debt.Explore programs
Nonprofit Scorecard medians describe federal-aid recipients who were working and not enrolled — they are not sticker-price ROI and not advice.
Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Private-nonprofit profiles compile Scorecard net-price and earnings cohorts with IPEDS structure fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.