United States
Washington University in St. Louis
Funding
WashU meets 100% of its calculated demonstrated financial need for admitted undergraduate students, including admitted international aid applicants, but is NEED-AWARE for non-US international applicants (need-blind policy is explicitly for US citizens/permanent residents). Need-based aid must be requested during original admissions application, not afterward or during four years. WashU also offers separate competitive Signature Scholar and school-specific merit programs; an invitation to apply or a full-tuition award is not automatically a full ride.
Eligibility
Selectivity context: Highly selective. Bangladesh international first-year candidates apply using Common App or Coalition Scoir. Fall 2027 includes a new nonbinding EARLY ACTION round, ED I, ED II, and RD. SAT/ACT are test-optional; certain national exam results may also be considered for international applicants. International students whose first language is not English generally submit DET/IELTS/TOEFL (DET 130 and IELTS 7.0 are published benchmarks), and SAT/ACT no longer substitutes for English proficiency beginning fall 2027. Aid applicants use CSS Profile code 6929 and any noncustodial information. FAFSA is ONLY for US citizens or permanent residents. No-aid international applicants must submit International Financial Information form on WashU Pathway. All first-year financial-aid applicants can qualify for admission application fee waiver.
Deadlines
Fall 2027 admission: Early Action and ED I November 2, 2026; ED II and RD January 4, 2027. Financial aid CSS Profile and supporting information: EA/ED I November 17, 2026; ED II January 11, 2027; RD February 1, 2027. Signature Scholar and Nemerov priority application deadline December 16, 2026, independently of admissions round. Note ED2/RD applicant must apply by Jan4 even if scholarship application had earlier date.
What Washington University in St. Louis needs for Fall 2027
Draft research from official pages (checked 14 Nov 2026). Not yet verified by a bdesh editor — confirm every date and prompt on the official page. 7 details still being checked.
Rounds and deadlines
| Round | Application | Financial aid | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Action | 2 Nov 2026 | 17 Nov 2026 | December 23, 2026 (decisions and aid offers) |
| Early Decision Ibinding | 2 Nov 2026 | 17 Nov 2026 | December 11, 2026 (decisions and aid offers) |
| Early Decision IIbinding | 4 Jan 2027 | 11 Jan 2027 | February 12, 2027 (decisions and aid offers) |
| Regular Decision | 4 Jan 2027 | 1 Feb 2027 | April 1, 2027 (decisions and aid offers) |
Essays and short answers
Required250 words
Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why.
all first-year applicants (submitted in the WashU Pathway section)
Optional250 words
Signature Scholar Programs short answer (prompt text not captured; completed in the Pathway portal)
Signature Scholar Programs (Danforth, Ervin, Rodriguez); international first-years may apply except for the John B. Ervin Scholars Program
Testing
- SAT/ACT optional
- English tests: TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition), IELTS Academic, Duolingo English Test (IELTS 7.0 (recommended, not a stated minimum) · TOEFL 100 for exams before 2026-01-21; 5.0 for exams on or after 2026-01-21 (recommended, not a stated minimum) · DET 130 (recommended, not a stated minimum))
- Exemption possible with three or more years in an English-medium academic program or US high school with strong performance (online-only schools typically do not qualify); other cases reviewed individually via admissions@wustl.edu. Undocumented/DACA-eligible students exempt. SAT/ACT no longer accepted in place of English test for fall 2027. Last accepted English test: December 2026 (October for EA/ED I).
Recommendations · Interview
- counselor + 1 teacher
- Interview: Not offered
- Application fee: $75 · Apply through Common App, Coalition App, QuestBridge
Financial aid for international students
- Need-blind or need-aware: not stated
- ✓ Meets full demonstrated need
- Forms: CSS Profile, WashU institutional form, Noncustodial Parent Profile (or waiver request), Applicants not requesting aid: International Financial Information form
- Documents: CSS Profile; Supplemental forms listed on the personalized checklist in the WashU Pathway Financial Aid Portal; Noncustodial parent information if applicable; After admission: Affidavit of Financial Support and certified English bank statements covering first-year costs plus a comparable amount for each later year
- CSS Profile code: 6929
Indicate on the Common App/Coalition App that you are applying for need-based aid. Aid is available only if you apply during the admission process; missing the aid deadline means no aid after admission or during later years. WashU states it meets 100% of demonstrated need (without loans per financial aid page) for all admitted undergraduates. Need-blind policy officially covers only first-year US citizens/permanent residents; international applicants are excluded from it. International transfer applicants cannot receive aid.
Official pages used
- admissions.washu.edu/how-to-apply/first-year-international-applicants/
- admissions.washu.edu/how-to-apply/application-dates-deadlines/
- admissions.washu.edu/whats-new-at-washu/
- admissions.washu.edu/how-to-apply/english-testing-requirements/
- admissions.washu.edu/how-to-apply/common-questions/
- financialaid.washu.edu/apply-for-aid/international-applicant-process/
- financialaid.washu.edu/how-washu-helps/need-blind-policy/