Washington State University
Pullman, Washington · Public · 21,099 undergraduates · wsu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test blind
Scores aren't considered
Acceptance rate
87%
of applicants
Annual cost (2027-28)
$35,180Est.Estimate
$53,520 out of state
Washington State University is test blind for students starting in fall 2027: it doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you send them. Its acceptance rate is 87%. A year in 2027-28 is expected to cost about $35,180 for in-state students and $53,520 for out-of-state students before financial aid.
Updated
Your chances and merit aid at Washington State University
See your chances of admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
87% of applicants admitted
No estimate
Washington State University doesn't consider test scores and doesn't publish its freshmen's GPAs, so your chances rest on your courses, grades and the rest of your application.
Estimated merit aid
$12,000
a year, from the WUE Cougar Scholars
That's for out-of-state students. In-state students get $3,000 a year. .
Your cost after merit aid
$41,520
a year in 2027-28, from a $53,520 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1200
Scores aren't considered here
This college doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you send them.
Named scholarships you may qualify for (3)
$500 to $2,000 for one year
You meet 3.60+ GPA. Also needs an application, essay or interview, other requirements. · Application required
National Merit Scholarship (WSU)
Full tuition
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs National Merit Semifinalist standing.
2 more awards need a higher GPA or score. See every tier
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your GPA, test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test blind
SAT and ACT scores aren't considered for admission, even if you send them.
Source: First-Year Students | Admissions | Washington State University · Checked November 3, 2026
Acceptance rate
87%
of applicants are admitted.
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$35,180
a year, in state
$53,520
a year, out of state (tuition $33,120)
- Tuition (in state)$14,780
What families pay after aid
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$6,750
- $30,001 to $48,000$7,495
- $48,001 to $75,000$8,683
- $75,001 to $110,000$15,212
- Over $110,000$24,537
Financial aidEstimate
65%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
83%
of freshmen receive grants
$10,886
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
WUE Cougar Distinguished Scholars
$15,000 a year
Automatic · Out-of-state students · No separate application
- 3.75 to 4.00 GPA
To keep it: stay in good academic standing (not on academic probation), stay enrolled every fall and spring semester on the Pullman campus, and keep being charged out-of-state tuition; it renews for up to 8 semesters.
DetailsWUE Cougar Scholars
$12,000 a year
Automatic · Out-of-state students · No separate application
- 3.30 to 3.74 GPA
To keep it: stay in good academic standing (not on academic probation), stay enrolled every fall and spring semester on the Pullman campus, and keep being charged out-of-state tuition; it renews for up to 8 semesters.
DetailsCougar Advantage Award
$5,000 a year
Automatic · Out-of-state students · No separate application
- 2.00 to 3.29 GPA
To keep it: stay in good academic standing (not on academic probation), stay enrolled every fall and spring semester on the Pullman campus, and keep being charged out-of-state tuition; it renews for up to 8 semesters.
DetailsCrimson Distinguished
$4,000 a year
Automatic · In-state students · No separate application
- 3.75 to 4.00 GPA
To keep it: it renews once, for 2 years total, while you attend the Pullman campus.
Details
Show 8 more scholarships
Crimson Scholars
$3,000 a year
Automatic · In-state students · No separate application
- 3.30 to 3.74 GPA
To keep it: it renews once, for 2 years total, while you attend the Pullman campus.
DetailsCrimson Advantage
$2,000 a year
Automatic · In-state students · No separate application
- 3.00 to 3.29 GPA
To keep it: it renews once, for 2 years total, while you attend the Pullman campus.
DetailsCrimson Promise
$500 a year
Automatic · In-state students · No separate application
- 0.00 to 2.99 GPA
To keep it: it renews once, for 2 years total, while you attend the Pullman campus.
DetailsGlenn Terrell Presidential Award
$4,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
Deadline: May 1 (admission materials and General Scholarship Application). To keep it: stay in good academic standing (not on academic probation), take 12 credit hours each semester, and stay enrolled every fall and spring semester.
DetailsRegents Scholar
$4,000 a year
Competitive · In-state students · Application required
- 3.80+ GPA, high school nomination (two per WA high school) required, from Washington, an application, essay or interview
Deadline: Counselor nomination Oct 31; student application Dec 1. To keep it: stay enrolled every fall and spring semester on the Pullman campus, and pass at least 24 graded credit hours each year.
DetailsTop Scholars Waiver
$500 to $2,000 for one year
Competitive · Application required
- 3.60+ GPA, top 10% of admission applicants selected by each college; Pullman campus
Deadline: January 31 (admission and General Scholarship Application). To keep it: it's a one-time award and doesn't renew.
DetailsDistinguished Regents Scholar
Full tuition
Competitive · In-state students · Application required
- 3.80+ GPA, high school nomination required; essays and academic reference
Deadline: Counselor nomination Oct 31; student application Dec 1. To keep it: stay enrolled every fall and spring semester on the Pullman campus, and pass at least 24 graded credit hours each year.
DetailsNational Merit Scholarship (WSU)
Full tuition
National Merit · No separate application
- National Merit semifinalist; admitted to Pullman/Spokane directly from high school
To keep it: stay in good academic standing (not on academic probation), and take 12 credit hours each semester at the Pullman or Spokane campus.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
41 of 41
Earn credit with a score of 3
41 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,480Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | CES 131 |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | |
| Art History | 5 | 6 | |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | Biology 106, 107 |
| Calculus AB | 2 | Mathematics 140, 171, or 202 | |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | Mathematics 171 |
| Calculus BC | 2 | 4 | Mathematics 171 with CALC AB subgrade score of 3, 4 or 5 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | Mathematics 171, 172 |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 3 | 4 | Mathematics 171 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | Chemistry 105 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | Chemistry 105, 106 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Chinese 101, 102 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | Chinese 101, 102, 203 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 16 | Chinese 101, 102, 203, 204 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | Political Science 102 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | Computer Science 111 |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | English 101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | English 108 |
| English Literature and Composition | 5 | 6 | English 101, 108 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | School of the Environment 110 |
| European History | 3 | 3 | |
| European History | 4 | 3 | History 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | French 101, 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | French 101, 102, 203 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 16 | French 101, 102, 203, 204 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | German 101, 102 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | German 101, 102, 203 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 16 | German 101, 102, 203, 204 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Italian 101, 102 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | Italian 101, 102, Italian Elective |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 16 | Italian 101, 102, Italian Elective |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Japanese 101, 102 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | Japanese 101, 102, 203 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 16 | Japanese 101, 102, 203, 204 |
| Latin | 3 | 8 | Latin 101, 102 |
| Latin | 4 | 12 | Latin 101, 102, Latin Elective |
| Latin | 5 | 16 | Latin 101, 102, Latin Elective |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | Economics 102 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | Economics 101 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 2 | |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 3 | |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 3 | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 3 | |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 5 | Math 106, 108 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | Psychology 105 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Spanish 101, 102 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | Spanish 101, 102, 203 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 16 | Spanish 101, 102, 203, 204 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 4 | Spanish 101 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 8 | Spanish 101, Spanish 102 |
| Statistics | 3 | 4 | Statistics 212 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | Political Science 101 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | History 110 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 | History 121 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
63%
Come back for a second year
78%
Typical earnings
$72,280
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Washington State University$93,537
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 50 majors here have earnings data.
Common questions about Washington State University
Is Washington State University test optional for fall 2027?
Washington State University is test blind for students starting in fall 2027: it doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you send them.
What is the acceptance rate at Washington State University?
The acceptance rate at Washington State University is 87%.
How much does Washington State University cost?
A year at Washington State University in 2027-28 is expected to cost about $35,180 for in-state students and $53,520 for out-of-state students before financial aid. After grants and scholarships, freshmen who got federal aid paid $13,462 a year on average.
Does Washington State University offer merit scholarships?
Yes. Washington State University offers 12 merit scholarships, including the WUE Cougar Distinguished Scholars, the WUE Cougar Scholars and the Cougar Advantage Award. Some are awarded automatically from your GPA and test scores.
Does Washington State University give credit for AP exams?
Yes. Washington State University gives credit for all 41 AP exams it lists. A score of 3 earns credit on each of them.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Washington State University.