Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is the state’s flagship university. It counts among its alumni Bruce Lee, who double majored in  drama and philosophy at the institution. With around 36,000 undergraduates, the University of Washington is a large school lined with Yoshino cherry trees that glow purple in the spring. It’s perched between Lake Washington and Puget Sound, with views of snowcapped Mount Rainier. The University of Washington’s acceptance rate hovers around 40% from year to year, meaning it’s a competitive school. U.S. News & World Report US News & World Report ranks it #16  in public schools in the country and #42 overall. 

That being said, what kind of GPA do you need to get into the University of Washington? Well, you’ve come to the right place. We at Ivy Coach have combed through the past three years of data that the University of Washington has self-reported to The Common Data Set Initiative, a voluntary effort among colleges to help all of those involved with a student’s transition into higher education. We’re going to get into the numbers now!

GPA Percentage of University of Washington Class of 2029

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of the University of Washington Class of 2029:

GPA	Percentage of University of Washington’s Class of 2029
4.0	18.26%
3.75-3.99	56.6%
3.5-3.74	17.61%
3.25-3.49	5.65%
3.0-3.24	1.56%
2.5-2.99	0.31%
2.0-2.49	0.01%
1.0-1.99	0%%

GPA Percentage of University of Washington Class of 2028

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of the University of Washington Class of 2028:

GPA	Percentage of University of Washington Class of 2028
4.0	19.2%
3.75-3.99	58.8%
3.5-3.74	16.7%
3.25-3.49	4.0%
3.0-3.24	1.0%
2.5-2.99	0.2%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0-1.99	0%

GPA Percentage of University of Washington Class of 2027

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of the University of Washington Class of 2027:

GPA	Percentage of University of Washington Class of 2027
4.0	15.81%
3.75-3.99	59.42%
3.5-3.74	18.43%
3.25-3.49	5.13%
3.0-3.24	0.90%
2.5-2.99	0.24%
2.0-2.49	0.07%
1.0-1.99	0%

Further Context on the GPAs of University of Washington Students

Alright, now you’ve seen the numbers, what exactly do they mean? Last year, only 18.26% of the Class of 2029 at the University of Washington had perfect high school GPAs. Over half of the class (56.6%) had high GPAs between 3.75 and 3.99. 17.61% had GPAs between 3.5 and 3.74, very close to the amount who came in with 4.0s. Only a margin of students (5.65%) came in with a GPA between 3.25 and 3.49. And only about 2% of the class came in below the 3.25 mark. 

If we hop over to the year before that, we’ll see a similar dynamic play out. For the University of Washington’s Class of 2028, 19.2% of incoming first-year students had spotless academic records in high school. Over half (58.8%) had a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99. 16.7% had a GPA between 3.5 and 3.74. And only 5.2% had GPAs below the 3.5 mark. 

Finally, taking a gander at the University of Washington Class of 2027, we glean a consistent pattern. 15.81% of incoming first-year students came to campus with a perfect high school GPA. Around 60% of the class came in with high GPAs in that 3.75 to 3.99 bracket. 18.43% had a GPA between 3.5 and 3.74 in high school. And 5% had a GPA between 3.25 and 3.49. This means only 1.21% of the class had a GPA lower than 3.25. 

It’s important to bear in mind that the University of Washington is a state school. This means that admissions rates will vary for in-state applicants and those applying from beyond Washington’s borders. Last year, the University of Washington received applications from 14,930 Washington residents. 7,144 of them gained admission. Crunch those numbers and you’ll see that the in-state admissions rate at the University of Washington is 48%. Comparatively, 42,942 students applied from out of state and only 15,547 of them gained admission. That’s a 36% out-of-state admission rate. 

Can Students Get into the University of Washington with a Low GPA?

We’re going to cut to the chase: it’s possible, but it’s not probable. You saw those numbers. Well over half of the past three admitted classes came in with stellar high school GPAs above the 3.75 mark. 

But college admissions is not just a numbers game. The University of Washington has a holistic admissions process, meaning that GPA is one factor among many that admissions officers weigh. 

How Ivy Coach Can Gauge Your Child’s Chances at the University of Washington

If you’re looking to enhance your child’s chances of getting into the University of Washington, we strongly recommend Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. This session provides insights into your child’s potential for admission to UW and devises a comprehensive plan for optimizing their admission to the best school possible. To learn more about Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.