I’m often asked about my vision for the UW, and my answer has always been simple: to be the top public university in the world in terms of positive impact.
The University of Washington, a place where people learn, come up with new ideas, solve problems, and have social bonding, started way back in 1861. Students and teachers work together to solve big problems with courage and creativity and everyone has a common mission to make the world better.
Sounds interesting. The University of Washington campuses in Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma, alongside a distinguished medical center, motivate over 60,000 students to learn from esteemed experts in various disciplines. Recognized as a “best buy” public university, its mission is to ensure the accessibility of higher education for all.
Location
The University of Washington’s main campus in Seattle, known as the University District, is surrounded by Union Bay and Portage Bay to the south, the Cascade Range to the east, and the Olympic Mountains to the west. The campus is divided into four parts:
- North Campus, with the historic University Quadrangle and Red Square
- South Campus, adjacent to Lake Washington Ship Canal
- West Campus, featuring modern buildings
- East Campus, housing sports facilities
Accessible by personal vehicles, Seattle buses, or light rail from Husky Stadium, with a 24/7 shuttle from Sea-Tac International Airport, 20 miles south.
The University of Washington tries to make higher education affordable for everyone.
Campus at Seattle: Sitting pretty right in the middle of a lively diverse city, the Seattle campus serves over 33,000 undergrads, where you’ll definitely find your community there. With over 180 majors and highly qualified teaching staff, it has plenty of options for everyone interested in higher studies.
Campus at Seattle:
Located centrally in Seattle, the campus hosts 33,000 undergraduates amid a vibrant cityscape. Offering 180+ majors and expert faculty, it caters to diverse academic interests, ensuring ample opportunities for higher education seekers.
Campus at Bothell:
UW Bothell campus is home to 6,000 students, over 350 teaching staff, 5 schools, and 50 programs for undergraduate and master’s students. Even though it’s a small campus, students can still access all the cool stuff that is found at a big university.
Campus at Tacoma:
This campus is closely linked with the South Puget Sound area; basically, it’s an urban serving university community situated in the heart of downtown Tacoma. It has 40 undergraduate degree programs and a vast number of certificate programs.
Fees
At the University of Washington, the student budget reflects the estimated funds necessary for tuition, books, and living expenses during the 9-month academic year, running from October to June. This budget exclusively covers student educational expenses. However, expenses for other family members are not factored in.
The figures provided are subject to annual adjustments. Moreover, budgets for previous academic years are also available for reference.
Seattle Undergraduate Students
| Budget Items | Living with Parents / Relative | Living on / off campus | Students with dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Textbooks & course supplies | $900 | $900 | $900 |
| Rent, utilities & food | $5,961 | $18,405 | $22,674 |
| Personal & miscellaneous | $2,508 | $2,508 | $2,508 |
| Transportation | $789 | $519 | $1,581 |
| Resident Tuition* | $12,645 | $12,645 | $12,645 |
| Resident Total Costs | $22,803 | $34,977 | $40,308 |
| Non-Resident Tuition* | $41,997 | $41,997 | $41,997 |
| Non-Resident Total Costs | $52,155 | $64,329 | $69,660 |
*Tuition is based on 2023-24 rates.
Seattle graduate & professional students Tuition fee and other expenses
| Budget Items | Lives with Parents / Relative | Graduate / Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Textbooks & course supplies | $825 | $825 |
| Rent, utilities & food | $5,961 | $22,674 |
| Personal & miscellaneous | $2,508 | $2,508 |
| Transportation | $1,581 | $1,581 |
| Resident Tuition* | $18,633 | $18,633 |
| Resident Total Costs | $29,508 | $46,221 |
| Non-Resident Tuition* | $32,511 | $32,511 |
| Non-Resident Total Costs | $43,386 | $60,099 |
*Tuition is based on 2023-24 rates.
Seattle students have their annual U-Pass expense of $276 conveniently bundled within the Tuition and Fees category. However, in Bothell and Tacoma, rates fluctuate due to additional fees.
To apply for financial aid at the University of Washington Bothell, utilize either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA). It’s important to complete either the FAFSA or WASFA annually by January 15th to ensure consideration for priority funding.
Recommended reading: University of Southern California (USC): Majors, Acceptance Rate & Rankings
Student Budgets 2023-2024
| Budget Item | Lives away from home | Lives with Parents | Non-Traditional Undergraduate | Graduate Students (Commuter) | Graduate Students (Traditional) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Tuition | $12,559 | $12,559 | $12,559 | $18,993^^ | $18,993^^ |
| Books and Supplies | $900 | $900 | $900 | $825 | $825 |
| Room and Board | $17,115 | $5,061 | $21,438 | $5,061 | $21,438 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,574** | $2,574** | $2,574** | $3,129** | $3,129** |
| Transportation | $1,602 | $1,602 | $1,602 | $1,602 | $1,602 |
| New Student Fee* | $370* | $370* | $370* | - | - |
| Resident Total | $35,120 | $23,066 | $39,443 | $29,310 | $45,987 |
*First quarter only for newly admitted undergraduate students.
**Figure includes annual loan fees of $66.
^^Figure shown is Graduate Tier II programs. Tuition and rates table.
Tacoma Undergraduate Students Course fee and other Aid
| Budget Items | Living with Parents / Relative | Living on / off campus | Students with Dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Textbooks & Course Supplies | $900 | $900 | $900 |
| Housing/Food | $5,844 | $16,371 | $20,859 |
| Personal & Miscellaneous | $2,508 | $2,508 | $2,508 |
| Transportation | $1,074 | $1,074 | $1,335 |
| Resident Tuition* | $12,817 | $12,817 | $12,817 |
| Resident Total Costs | $23,143 | $33,670 | $38,419 |
| Non-Resident Tuition* | $42,171 | $42,171 | $42,171 |
| Non-Resident Total Costs | $52,497 | $63,024 | $67,773 |
*The tuition amount incorporates the annual U-Pass expense and is based on the 2023-2024 rates. Updates to reflect the 2024-2025 amounts will be made once finalized by the Office of Planning & Budgeting of the University of Washington.
Tacoma graduate & professional students course fee
| Budget Items | Lives with Parents / Relative | Lives on or off campus |
|---|---|---|
| Textbooks & Course Supplies | $825 | $825 |
| Housing/Food | $5,844 | $20,859 |
| Personal & Miscellaneous | $2,508 | $2,508 |
| Transportation | $1,074 | $1,335 |
| Resident Tuition* | $19,251 | $19,251 |
| Resident Total Costs | $29,502 | $44,778 |
| Non-Resident Tuition* | $33,354 | $33,354 |
| Non-Resident Total Costs | $43,605 | $58,881 |
Resident / Non-Resident Definitions: The University of Washington, as a state-assisted institution, offers lower tuition rates for Washington-resident students compared to nonresidents, which includes both out-of-state and international students. Details regarding residency classification can be found on the Office of the Registrar’s website.
Recommended reading: University of Michigan- Ann Arbor: Majors, Acceptance Rate & Rankings
UW Academic Ranking
The University of Washington holds the #40 out of 439 National Universities. Rankings are based on their performance across a range of widely accepted indicators of excellence.
The University of Washington Rankings according to Us.News
University Rankings
| National Universities (tie) | #40 |
|---|---|
| Top Public Schools (tie) | #15 |
| Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (tie) | #25 |
| Artificial Intelligence | #7 |
| Computer Systems | #7 |
| Data Analytics/Science (tie) | #4 |
| Programming Languages | #6 |
Apparently University of Washington is ranked #3 among U.S. Public Universities according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2023. Additionally, it ranked #1 Undergraduate School in the West for Entrepreneurship.Entrepreneur Magazine, 2023. Moreover, it was ranked #1 diverse college in Washington by Niche, 2023.
Recommended reading: Northwestern University: Fees, Rankings & Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
University Admission Data
| WA freshman 3-year average admit rate | 54% |
|---|---|
| WA community college transfer 3-year average admit rate | 76% |
| SAT | 1400 |
| ACT | 31 |
Post-pandemic, the University of Washington eliminated the SAT/ACT requirement for prospective students. The focus is on a holistic assessment of students and their accomplishments rather overlaying on standardized tests. Thanks to test-optional policy, submitting low scores or none at all will not hinder any applicants. In fact, reviewers will not even have access to students’ test scores, should you choose to provide them.
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Conclusion
The University of Washington stands as a beacon of academic achievement, offering a world-class education in a vibrant, innovative environment. From its high rankings and competitive admissions to its diverse student body and robust research opportunities, UW continues to shape future leaders and contribute to global knowledge and innovation.
For students aspiring to join a dynamic academic community and pursue their educational and career goals in an intellectually stimulating environment, UW represents an excellent choice.
Whether studying engineering, sciences, humanities, or any of its other renowned programs, UW provides a transformative educational experience that prepares students for success in an ever-changing world.
Moonpreneur is on a mission to disrupt traditional education and future-proof the next generation with holistic learning solutions. Its Innovator Program is building tomorrow’s workforce by training students in AI/ML, Robotics, Coding, IoT, and Apps, enabling entrepreneurship through experiential learning.
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