 | |
Former name |
|
|---|---|
| Motto | Per veritatem vis (Latin) |
Motto in English | "Strength through truth" |
| Type | Privateresearch university |
| Established | February 22, 1853; 172 years ago (1853-02-22) |
| Accreditation | HLC |
Academic affiliations | |
| Endowment | $12.0 billion (FY24) |
| Chancellor | Andrew D. Martin |
| Provost | Beverly Wendland |
Academic staff | 4,551 (2024) |
Administrative staff | 17,979 (2024) |
| Students | 16,399 (fall 2024) |
| Undergraduates | 8,243 (fall 2024) |
| Postgraduates | 7,289 (fall 2024) |
| Location | , Missouri ,United States 38°38′53″N90°18′18″W / 38.648°N 90.305°W /38.648; -90.305 |
| Campus | Suburban[1], 355 acres (1.44 km2) |
| Newspaper | Student Life |
| Colors | Red and green |
| Nickname | Bears |
Sporting affiliations | |
| Mascot | Bear |
| Website | washu.edu |
 | |
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is aprivateresearch university inSt. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1853 by a group of civic leaders and named forGeorge Washington, the university spans 355 acres across itsDanforth andMedical campuses. It comprises nine schools and offers more than 150 undergraduate, 80 master's and professional, and 50 doctoral degree programs. As of 2024[update], Washington University enrolled 16,399 students representing all 50 U.S. states and more than 110 countries.
Established due to a concern of a lack of institutions of higher learning in theMidwest, the university held its first classes in 1854 indowntown St. Louis. In 1905, Washington University relocated to a new campus northwest ofForest Park, allowing for expansion and new facilities to support its growing academic programs and student body. Construction of the first building, Busch Hall, began in 1900, followed byBrookings Hall, Ridgley, and Cupples. These buildings were not occupied until 1905 to accommodate the1904 Summer Olympics andSt. Louis World's Fair. By 1964, more than two-thirds of incoming students came from outside the St. Louis area. In 2021, the university adopted aneed-blind undergraduate admissions policy.
Washington University joined theAssociation of American Universities in 1923. The university received over 32,750 applications for the Class of 2028 and admitted 12 percent. It supports more than 400 undergraduate student organizations. The university's athletic teams, theWashington University Bears, compete inNCAA Division III as founding members of theUniversity Athletic Association and as a member of theCollege Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Its mascot is the Bear, and its official colors are red and green. The Bears have won 26 NCAA Division III championships.
Governance of the university is overseen by aBoard of Trustees, which ensures its alignment with educational, financial, and social objectives. As of 2024[update], the university is led byChancellorAndrew D. Martin andProvostBeverly Wendland. The university'sendowment of $12.0 billion is amongthe fifteen largest in the United States. The university’s motto isPer veritatem vis, which translates to "Strength through truth". It is accredited by theHigher Learning Commission. Washington University has been the venue for four presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate.
As of 2024[update],26 Nobel laureates, 11Pulitzer Prize winners, 4United States Poets Laureate, and 6MacArthur Fellows have been affiliated with the university as faculty or alumni. A top producer ofFulbright scholars,Washington University alumni also include 17 university presidents, 21 members of theUnited States Congress, 30Rhodes Scholars, 20Truman Scholars, 7Marshall Scholars and 2Churchill Scholars.
Washington University was founded in 1853 by 17St. Louis business, religious, and political leaders concerned by the lack of institutions of higher learning in theMidwest.[2] State SenatorWayman Crow andUnitarian ministerWilliam Greenleaf Eliot led the effort.[3][4] Crow secured theuniversity charter,[5] and Eliot was named president of the board of trustees, with Crow serving as vice president.[2]Joseph Gibson Hoyt became the university's inaugural chancellor.[6]
Unlike most American institutions, Washington University initially lacked a financial endowment and did not have the backing of a religious organization, wealthy patron, or government support.[7]
Originally calledEliot Seminary, the name faced opposition from Eliot himself, who favored anonsectarian identity for the institution. To address this, Eliot appointed a subcommittee consisting of himself andSamuel Treat to recommend a new name.[2] The subcommittee proposedWashington Institute, in honor ofGeorge Washington, the nation’s firstpresident, as the charter had been granted on his birthday, February 22. The board unanimously approved the proposal.[8] In 1856, the board officially amended the name toWashington University.[9]
Chartered as a university, it initially functioned primarily as anight school and did not have buildings, faculty, or established course offerings. Classes began on October 22, 1854, in the Benton Schoolhouse, a facility loaned by the public school board, which also covered utility costs and installed gas lighting for evening instruction. Tuition was offered free of charge. By the end of the first year, 270 students had enrolled whose ages ranged from eight years old to forty-six years old. The university hired four teachers from the public school system; two of whom later became the university's first full-time faculty members. In 1856, the university's first building on its purchased three-acre site of Seventeenth Street and Washington Avenue was completed.[10] Washington University remained located indowntown St. Louis for its first fifty years.[11]
In 1856, Eliot and other trustees established a preparatory academic department for boys.[12] Admission was granted to boys aged ten and older who passed an exam in reading, writing, geography, and basic arithmetic.[13] In 1859, a preparatory female department was established. In recognition of Eliot’s leadership, the University insisted on naming it the Mary Institute, in honor of his daughter. In 1879, the academic department for boys was named Smith Academy.[12]
Washington University's law school (originally known as The St. Louis Law School) was the first undergraduate division of the University to admit women. In 1869,Lemma Barkeloo andPhoebe Couzins enrolled. Barkeloo passed the Missouribar exam in her first year and did not complete the program, while Couzins earned herLL.B. in 1871. However, it wasn’t until 1886 that women were regularly admitted again to the law school.[14]
In 1871, Eliot was named the third chancellor of Washington University.[15]
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In 1879, the St. Louis Manual Training School of Washington University[16] became the first manual training school established in the United States.[17] Student's time was divided equally betweenmanual training and school work.[17]
Facing declining enrollment in the 1870s, the university sought to strengthen ties with local preparatory schools, and by 1880, graduates from select high schools could enter by certificate rather than examination. The College also introduced theBachelor of Philosophy (Ph.B) degree as a more flexible alternative to the traditionalBachelor of Arts, with the Ph.B. placing greater emphasis on science, history, and English. Lectures and written exams replaced traditional oral recitations, and completing a senior thesis became a requirement for graduation for the Ph.B degree.[18] Admitting women had a greater impact on enrollment than any academic reforms. After a unanimous faculty vote, the first woman enrolled in the undergraduate college in 1870; by the 1890s, women were the main drivers of the college’s enrollment growth.[19]
During Eliot’s chancellorship, student organizations at Washington University rose and fell quickly due to a lack of institutional support.[20] Athletics were especially unstable, with clubs like baseball and rowing repeatedly forming and disbanding, though individual sports gained steadier traction with the building of gyms and hiring of instructors. A major shift occurred in 1890 when the Washington University Athletic Association (established in 1884) embracedintercollegiate football.[20]
In 1890, the amount of prescribed courses for the Bachelor of Arts degree was 40 of 45. By the end of 1892, Washington University had reduced the number of prescribed courses to 8 out of 38. This shift in policy also led to the abolition of alternative degrees like the Ph.B. and contributed to the creation of many new courses.[21]
Washington University’s decision to purchase a tract of land for a new campus was driven by the rapid growth of St. Louis and the decreasing availability of suitable locations. The land was acquired for$185,000 (equivalent to $6,474,000 in 2024) in with financing arranged through a loan and the sale of University stock, backed by private guarantees. The University then enlistedOlmsted, Olmsted & Eliot to design the campus, beginning with two landscape plans in 1895 and marking the beginning of the architects' broader influence.[22] In 1897, the university formally announced plans in its catalog to move the Undergraduate Department to a new site northwest ofForest Park.[23] Olmsted's praise of the site led the board to agree to buy the land without conditions. Olmsted also recommended acquiring additional land along Skinker Boulevard, which was completed in 1899 with help fromRobert Brookings, and advised that future construction emphasize aesthetics. Their proposals included holding an architectural competition and grouping buildings in quadrangles, with the main building facing east from the ridge.[24]
In 1890, the St. Louis Medical College proposed establishing a physiological laboratory in partnership with Washington University. Although the University initially declined, the medical college renewed its efforts to affiliate. A joint committee formed in early 1891, and by April, the college formally became the "Medical Department of Washington University".[25]
In 1892, the Missouri Dental College, with a curriculum closely aligned with the St. Louis Medical College, also affiliated with Washington University.[26]
In 1899, the Missouri Medical College, established in 1840 as the oldest medical school west of the Mississippi in conjunction withKemper College, merged with the St. Louis Medical College. Historian Historian Ralph E. Morrow later wrote that this affiliation completed the foundation of Washington University’s health programs.[27] The merger doubled medical school enrollment. It also provided greater access to hospital beds for clinical work and expanded physical facilities, including the conversion of a Missouri Medical College building into Washington University’s first hospital.[28]
In 1896, Holmes Smith, professor of Drawing and History of Art, designed what became the basis for the university seal. The seal is made up of elements from theWashington family coat of arms, an open book representing a university, and the symbol ofLouis IX, whom the city is named after.[29] In 1915, The university’s adopted its motto isPer veritatem vis, which translates to "Strength through truth".[29]
_seen_from_the_southeast_with_the_Italian_Pavilion_in_the_foreground.jpg)
_on_the_grounds_of_the_1904_World%2527s_Fair.jpg)
The cornerstone of the first building on its newHilltop Campus, Busch Hall was laid on October 20, 1900.[30] Construction of additional buildings, includingBrookings Hall, Ridgley, and Cupples began shortly thereafter. Washington University postponed occupying these buildings until 1905 to accommodate the1904 World's Fair and the1904 Summer Olympics.[31] Robert S. Brookings, president of the board, leased the first five University buildings to the Fair. The$750,000 (equivalent to $26,200,000 in 2024) generated from the lease was then used to fund the construction of four additional buildings, which were also used by the Fair.[32]
By 1905, the number of course offerings in the College had tripled.[21]
In 1909, the College implemented curricular changes that included a distribution requirement and a limit on how much concentration was allowed in a single field of study.[33]
The School of Medicine formalized partnerships with Barnes Hospital in 1911 andSt. Louis Children's Hospital in 1912. These agreements required hospital staffs to consist entirely of University faculty, while granting the University access to patients for clinical instruction and research. In return, Washington University pledged to construct and maintain modern medical facilities and laboratories adjacent to the hospitals.[34] In 1915, the university completed a new medical complex on Kingshighway Boulevard. Three years later, Aphrodite Jannopoulo, Carol Skinner Cole, andFaye Cashatt became the first women to enroll as medical students.[35]
In 1922,Arthur Holly Compton, head of the Department of Physics, conducted a series of experiments in the basement of Eads Hall that demonstrated the particle concept of electromagnetic radiation.[36] Compton's discovery, known as the "Compton Effect," earned him theNobel Prize in Physics in 1927.[37]
In 1923, Washington University became a member of theAssociation of American Universities.[38]
In 1945, four African American students were denied admission to the university's summer school, prompting theNAACP and the city of St. Louis to file a lawsuit challenging the institution'stax-exempt status. The suit argued that the university'ssegregationist policies violated its obligations as a tax-exempt entity. Although the legal action did not succeed, it led the university's board of directors to publicly address the issue of segregation for the first time.[39]
Compton returned to Washington University in 1946 as the ninth chancellor after 22 years at theUniversity of Chicago.[40] He reestablished the Washington University football team and emphasized a "strictlyamateur" athletic policy with noathletic scholarships. Under Compton, the university saw enrollment growth, which was driven by World War II veterans using theG.I. Bill, which covered college costs for military personnel.[41] Enrollment increased by 39 percent in spring 1946 to 9,159 students. By fall 1947, enrollment had reached 13,204 students.[42]
Before the board fully responded, the initiative for desegregation was taken up by individual deans and departments. In June 1947, the medical school sought retroactive approval for admitting an African American student to a postgraduate course inophthalmology, which the board granted.[43] That same year, PresidentHarry S. Truman's Commission on Higher Education recommended repealing segregation laws in higher education.[44] Although the first African American student did not begin undergraduate medical studies until 1951, by then, the medical school had already appointed African Americans to its part-time clinical faculty and named Ernest S. Sims as the first African American to hold a full-time academic appointment in the university.[43]
Similarly,the School of Social Work began admitting African American students in December 1947. The graduate school followed suit a few months later.[43] In 1949, a group of students formed the Student Committee for the Admission of Negroes (SCAN). In May 1949, SCAN conducted a poll in which nearly one-third of the student body participated, with 77 percent expressing support for ending segregation.[44] By the winter of 1949, racial tests for admission were abolished in allpostbaccalaureate programs on the Hilltop Campus. The dentistry school followed in early 1950. On May 9, 1952, racial tests for admissions to undergraduate programs were abolished.[43]
On March 5, 1958, the Board of Directors approvedHOK’s plans for four residence halls and a food service building.[45] Work on the South 40, named for its location south of the Hilltop Campus and its size of 40 acres (16 ha),[46] site commenced before July 4, 1958.[45] The project was completed in four phases. Each wave of construction expanded residential capacity: the first group of dormitories accommodated nearly 600 students, the second added another 600, and subsequent phases continued to increase housing availability on campus.[45] With additional on-campus housing, the university, which had been predominantly attended by commuter students, began attracting a greater number of applicants from across the nation.[47] By 1964, over two-thirds of incoming students came from outside the St. Louis area.[48]
In the late 1960s, Black students established the Association of Black Collegians (ABC). The group (later the Association of Black Students) supported Black students, addressed issues related to campus policing, and advocated for more inclusive representation in the academic curriculum. On December 5, 1968, Elbert Walton, anMBA student, had an incident with campus police. Around 10:30 a.m., officers stopped him, and he reportedly refused to show his ID. The police then took him to the ground, handcuffed him, and placed him in a police car. Walton was later taken to the police station, where he sat in a chair while still handcuffed. When ABC learned about Walton's arrest, the group organized asit-in at the police office, later expanding their occupation to the basement of Brookings Hall.[49] After arrests and negotiations, the university expanded diversity efforts, including the establishment of the department ofAfrican and African-American Studies.[49][44]
In May 1970, Washington University experienced student unrest in response to theU.S. invasion of Cambodia and theKent State shooting. On the evening of May 4, a large meeting in Brookings Quadrangle led to a march of 1,200 to 1,500 students toward theAFROTC building. The building was subsequently damaged by a rock-throwing crowd and set on fire in the early hours of May 5. County firemen extinguished the fire after initial attempts by the Clayton Fire Department were hindered by protestors.[50]
In 1971, the board of trustees appointed ChancellorWilliam Henry Danforth.[51][52] According toThe New York Times, under Chancellor Danforth, Washington University transformed from a commuter school into a world-renowned institution.[53] During his 24-year chancellorship, he established 70 new endowed professorships, constructed dozens of buildings, secured a $1.72 billion endowment, and tripled the amount of student scholarships.[54]
To better distinguish itself in national media, the university'sboard of trustees added the phrase "in St. Louis" in 1976.[55]
In 1995,Mark S. Wrighton, formerprovost atMIT, was elected the university's 14th chancellor.[56] During Chancellor Wrighton's tenure, undergraduate applications to Washington University more than doubled, the university has added more than 190 endowed professorships, and revamped its Arts & Sciences curriculum, and completed more than 30 new buildings.[57] The university has also built more than 50 new buildings and increased its endowment by more than $5,000,000,000.[58]
In 2005, Washington University established the "McDonnell International Scholars Academy", an international network of research universities build a global network to address challenges like disease and poverty, through academic collaboration, with an initial endowment gift of $10,000,000 (equivalent to $16,100,000 in 2024) fromJohn F. McDonnell.[59][60][61] Initially, it began with 15 partner institutions in Asia.[59] As of 2022[update], it has more than 30 partner institutions around the world.[62]
TheHilltop Campus was renamed theDanforth Campus in 2006 to honor former chancellorWilliam H. Danforth.[63][64]
In 2014, a study ranked Washington University first in the country for income inequality[65] with approximately 22 percent of its students coming from the top 1 percent of earners, and about 6 percent from the bottom 60 percent.[66][67][68] In response to criticism, the university committed to increase the percentage ofPell-eligible students on campus from 6 percent to 13 percent by 2020.[67][69][70] The university achieved that goal three years early, and as of 2022[update], 19.9 percent of undergraduate students were eligible for Pell Grants, representing a 300 percent increase since 2012.[71]
In June 2019,Andrew D. Martin, former dean of theCollege of Literature, Science, and the Arts at theUniversity of Michigan, was elected the university's 15th chancellor.[72] At his inauguration, Martin announced the "WashU Pledge", a program that offers free tuition to full-time students from Missouri and southern Illinois whose families either earn $75,000 or less per year or qualify for Pell Grants (federal money that helps low-income students pay for college and doesn’t need to be repaid).[73][74] In 2021, the university launched a $1 billion plan called Gateway to Success.[75][76] $800 million forneed-blind admission (meaning students are accepted without looking at their financial needs) and to cover all their financial need.[77] Another $200 million was set aside to help graduate and professional students pay for school.[78] Under Martin’s leadership, the School of Continuing & Professional Studies was redesigned to make college more accessible for more people. He also expanded the WashU Pledge and started the Heartland Initiative to help talented students from the region succeed and stay after graduation.[79]
In 2024, Washington University purchased the 16-acre campus of neighboringFontbonne University, which is set to close in 2025, for $39 million.[80][81]
As of 2024[update], Washington University has been the venue for four presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate: the inaugural1992 presidential debate on October 11, 1992, the third2000 Presidential debate on October 17, the second2004 Presidential debate on October 8,[82] the sole2008 Vice Presidential debate betweenJoe Biden andSarah Palin on October 2,[83] and the second2016 Presidential debate on October 9.[84] A 1996 debate was scheduled but canceled when the number of debates was reduced to two.[85]
From its inception, Washington University has been governed by an independentboard of trustees which, by charter, appoints its own members.[86] Trustees serve four-year terms and may be eligible for re-election upon the completion of a term. The Board is responsible for the university’s fiduciary oversight, strategic governance, and major institutional decisions, including setting policy and providing overall guidance. These include appointing thechancellor, reviewing and approving the annual budget, authorizing major capital expenditures, making final decisions ontenure and degree conferrals, and approving the creation of new academic programs.[87]
From 1983 to 1987, the "Alliance for Washington University" campaign raised more than$630,500,000 (equivalent to $1,745,000,000 in 2024).[88][89] From 1998 to 2004, the "Campaign for Washington University" raised more than$1,550,000,000 (equivalent to $2,830,000,000 in 2024).[90]
On June 1, 2019,Andrew D. Martin was appointed the15th chancellor of Washington University after ChancellorMark S Wrighton announced his plans to retire.[91] The Chancellor is responsible for overseeing the university’s day-to-day operations, including managing staff, implementing the Board's policies and decisions, ensuring compliance, and leading strategic initiatives. The Chancellor also provides vision and leadership across academics, research, fundraising, and administration.[92]
In 2020,Beverly Wendland, former dean of theKrieger School of Arts and Sciences atJohns Hopkins University, was namedProvost.[93]
Washington University is a member of theAssociation of American Universities,[38]American Association of Colleges and Universities,[94]Universities Research Association,[95]American Council of Learned Societies Research University Consortium,[96] and is accredited by theHigher Learning Commission.[97][98]
As of June 30, 2024, Washington University has anendowment of $12.0 billion,[99][100] ranking it among thetop 15 university endowments in the United States.[100] Its total assets (including its campus) are valued at $20.48 billion.[101] In Fiscal Year 2024, it had an operating budget of $5.23 billion of which 11 percent came from endowment spending. Of its $5.23 billion operating budget, it had expenses of $5.08 billion. Of the $5.08 billion, $3.026 billion went to instruction, $892.7 million to research, $489.8 million to academic support, $296.4 to institutional support, $165.1 million to auxiliary enterprises, $161.3 million to student services, and $51.6 million to other deductions.[102]
For the 2025–2026 academic year, Washington University charged atuition fee of $68,240 per student, with a total estimated on-campus cost of attendance of $92,932.[103] Washington University practicesneed-blind admissions and meets 100 percent of admitted students' demonstrated needs.[78][76] Of the 1,823 first-year students enrolled in 2023–2024[update], 929 applied for need-based financial aid, and 796 were determined to have financial need. Among those 796 students, 100 percent of demonstrated need was met on average (excluding any aid awarded beyond calculated need). It does not offer anyathletic scholarships.[104]
In 1899, the university held a national design competition for a new campus.[105] The Philadelphia firmCope & Stewardson, known for their work at theUniversity of Pennsylvania,Bryn Mawr College, andPrinceton University,[106] won with a design based onCollegiate Gothic quadrangles inspired byOxford andCambridge Universities.[105]
The university's 169-acre Danforth Campus is bordered by theForest Park section of St. Louis andClayton andUniversity City, Missouri.[107] A large portion of the Danforth Campus is recognized as theWashington University Hilltop Campus Historic District, which is aNational Historic Landmark.[108]
Washington University Medical Center comprises 186 acres (75.3 ha) spread over 18 city blocks, located along the eastern edge ofForest Park within theCentral West End neighborhood of St. Louis.[109] The campus is home to theWashington University School of Medicine and its partners,Barnes-Jewish Hospital andSt. Louis Children's Hospital.[109]
In 2019, Washington University was awarded a $7.6 million grant from theNational Cancer Institute to establish the Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control to address disparities in cancer care in parts of Missouri and Illinois.[110] In 2022, Washington University's Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences was awarded a five-year $61 million grant from theNational Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of theNational Institutes of Health, to advance precision medicine, health equity, and diversity initiatives.[111]
In 2023, Washington University was one of 10 universities[112] picked to join the Kessler Scholars Collaborative, which provides support for selectedfirst-generation and Pell-Grant eligibleSTEM students.[113][114] The program aims to recruit 20 fully funded Kessler scholars per year and provide additional opportunities to close thewealth gap.[115]
For the class of 2028 (entering fall 2024), Washington University in St. Louis received over 32,750 applications and admitted 12 percent of applicants.[116] Of those admitted, 86 percent who reported their rank were in the top 10 percent of their high school class.[117] Additionally, 25 percent of enrolled students were Pell Grant-eligible, and 18 percent werefirst-generation college students.[116]
The middle 50 percent of admitted students who submitted standardized test scores scored between 33 and 35 on the ACT (out of a maximum score of 36), and between 1500 and 1570 on the SAT (out of a maximum score of 1600).[117] National averages for these tests are approximately 19.4 for the ACT and 1050 for the SAT.[118][119] For comparison, admitted students scored in the 98th to 99th national percentile, indicating that these students outperformed 98 to 99 percent of recent test takers.[120][121]
Thestudent-faculty ratio is 7:1.[122]
The Washington University library system comprises nine libraries, with Olin Library serving as the main library.[123] According to theAmerican Library Association, it is the 44th largest library in the United States by volume count, holding over 5.3 million volumes.[124] It is a member of theAssociation of Research Libraries.[125] The remaining eight libraries in the system include Al and Ruth Kopolow (Business) Library, Bernard Becker Medical Library, Brown School Library, East Asian Library, Gaylord Music Library, Kenneth and Nancy Kranzberg Art & Architecture Library, Law Library and West Campus Library.[123]
The Department of Special Collections at Washington University Libraries encompasses four units: Rare Books, Manuscripts, University Archives, and the Film & Media Archive. These units collectively house a wide array of materials, ranging from ancient manuscripts to contemporary documentary film archives.[126]
Washington University holds a copy of the Southwick Broadside, one of the few surviving printedbroadsides of theDeclaration of Independence. Donated to the university in 2015, it is now part of the university's Special Collections.[127][128]
| Academic rankings | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Forbes[129] | 30 |
| U.S. News & World Report[130] | 21 (tie) |
| Washington Monthly[131] | 23 |
| WSJ/College Pulse[132] | 26 |
| Global | |
| ARWU[133] | 23 |
| QS[134] | 167 |
| THE[135] | 69 |
| U.S. News & World Report[136] | 31 |
Washington University is ranked 21st in the nation in the 2025U.S. News & World Report National Universities ranking[137] and 26th byThe Wall Street Journal in their rankings.[138] In 2024, the university was ranked 23rd in the world by theAcademic Ranking of World Universities.[139]
| Audiology | 8[140] |
| Biological Sciences | 15[141] |
| Business | 24[142] |
| Chemistry | 42[143] |
| Computer Science | 45[144] |
| Earth Sciences | 33[145] |
| Economics | 29[146] |
| Engineering | 43[147] |
| English | 26[148] |
| History | 36[149] |
| Law | 14[150] |
| Mathematics | 43[151] |
| Medicine | 5[152][a] |
| Occupational Therapy | 3[153] |
| Physical Therapy | 1[154] |
| Political Science | 13[155] |
| Psychology | 8[156] |
| Public Health | 22[157] |
| Social Work | 2[158] |
In its 2025 edition, Princeton Review ranked Washington University as number 1 for "Top Midwest Entrepreneurship: Ugrad" and as number 2 for "Top Entrepreneurship Under Ten Thousand Students: Ugrad".[159]QS World University Rankings ranked Washington University 19th in the world foranatomy and physiology in 2025.[160]
In 2025, Washington University in St. Louis was included inForbes'2025 New Ivies: 20 Great Colleges Employers Love, which highlights universities known for their academic rigor and producing graduates who are highly sought after by employers, with many graduates considered by employers to be outpacing theirIvy League peers.[161]
As of 2022[update], 19.9 percent of undergraduate students were eligible for Pell Grants, representing a 300 percent increase since 2012.[71]
In the 2016 edition ofThe Hidden Ivies: 63 of America's Top Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities, a guidebook byeducational consultants Howard and Matthew Greene, included Washington University in St. Louis among the institutions they described as offering an Ivy League-level education in terms of academic rigor, intellectual atmosphere, and campus experience.[162]
Washington University is among the top institutions producing recipients of various competitive postgraduatefellowships, including theFulbright program,Harry S. Truman Scholarship, andRhodes Scholarship.[163][164][165]
| College/School | Year founded |
| College of Arts & Sciences | 1853 |
| James McKelvey School of Engineering | 1854 |
| School of Law | 1867 |
| College of Art | 1879 |
| School of Medicine | 1891 |
| College of Architecture | 1910 |
| Olin Business School | 1917 |
| Graduate School of Arts & Sciences | 1922 |
| George Warren Brown School of Social Work | 1925 |
| School of Continuing & Professional Studies | 1931 |
| Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts | 2005 |
Washington University isclassified as an R1 university, denoting "Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production" on theCarnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.[166] The Carnegie Classification helps categorize colleges and universities based on data like research activity and degrees awarded.[167]
According to theNational Science Foundation's Higher Education Research and Development Survey for fiscal year As of fiscal year 2023[update], Washington University ranks 27th among U.S. institutions in totalresearch and development (R&D) expenditures. In that year, Washington University reported $1.169 billion in R&D spending, reflecting an 11.7 percent increase from the previous year.[168] In 2022, Washington University developed anasal vaccine aimed at addressing COVID-19; it was licensed for use in India to Indian vaccine makerBharat Biotech and the technology was licensed to bio-tech company Ocugen.[169][170] Bharat named their licensed version of the vaccine iNCOVACC.[171] In 2025, Washington University's' vaccine was approved for clinical trials in the United States.[170]
In 2019,Washington University School of Medicine took overFolding@Home, adistributed computing project, fromStanford University.[172] The project, which taps into the idle power of personal computers owned by volunteers to simulateprotein folding,[173] reached a speed of 1.5exaFLOPS in 2020—seven times faster than the world's top supercomputer,Summit, and more powerful than the top 100 supercomputers in the world, combined.[174][175] This speed fuels research into diseases likeAlzheimer's,cancer,COVID-19, andEbola.[176][177][178][179]
The university hostsNASA'sPlanetary Data System Geosciences Node, supporting unmanned Mars missions, with ProfessorRaymond Arvidson serving as deputy principal investigator for theMars Exploration Rovers and co-investigator for thePhoenix lander's robotic arm.[180]
BeyondSTEM, Washington University students have digitized the works of 16th-century poetEdmund Spenser. Led by English professor Joseph Loewenstein and supported by a $150,000 grant from theNational Endowment for the Humanities, the project marks the first major update to Spenser’s collected works sinceOxford University Press’s edition nearly a century ago. The new edition, produced in collaboration with scholars at four other universities, will include both a comprehensive print publication and a digital archive.[181][182]
Across its schools, it offers more than 150 undergraduate, 80 master's and professional, and 50 doctoral degree programs.[183]
| Race and ethnicity[202] | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 44% | 44 | |
| Asian | 20% | 20 | |
| Hispanic | 12% | 12 | |
| Black | 9% | 9 | |
| Other[b] | 8% | 8 | |
| Foreign national | 7% | 7 | |
| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income[c] | 16% | 16 | |
In 2024, Washington University enrolled 16,399 students who came from all 50 U.S. states and more than 110 countries.[102] This includes 8,243 undergraduate students and 7,289 graduate students.[102]
Of the 1,848 first year students enrolled in fall 2024, 37 percent were Caucasian, 26 percent were Asian, 12 percent were Latino/Hispanic, 8 percent were Black/African-American, 11 percent were International, and 5 percent did not identify; 53 percent were female and 47 percent were male.[203]
Washington University has over 400 undergraduate student organizations on campus.[204] Most receive funding by the Washington University Student Union, which, as of Fiscal Year 2024[update] has an annual budget of $4.2 million.[205] The Student Union sponsors major campus programs includingWILD[206] and distributes free copies ofThe New York Times,USA Today, and theSt. Louis Post-Dispatch through The Collegiate Readership Program.[207]
Washington University has 26 recognized chapters offraternities and sororities.[208] In 2020, nearly half of Washington University's fraternity and sorority members canceled their memberships following student-led criticism that historically white fraternities and sororities contributed to racism and sexism on campus. Two sororities folded completely, and others lost more than 80 percent of their membership. The university has since faced ongoing calls from students to remove fraternities and sororities from campus.[209]
Comprising 10 residential colleges and 23 residence halls, the South 40 serves as the primary housing area for first- and second-year undergraduate students. It is named for its location south of the Danforth Campus and its size of 40 acres (16 ha).[46] It includes Bear's Den (the largest dining hall on campus), Bear Necessities (a gift shop), Paws and Go (a convenience store), the Student Health Center, student businesses, meeting rooms, and sports fields.[210]
The Village is a residential area on the Danforth Campus for undergraduate students in their third year or beyond.[211] It includes two suite-style buildings, Lopata House and Village House, which contain multiple four-person single suites, each with two shared bathrooms.[212]
Washington University is home to sevenstudent-run media organizations:The Hatchet,Law Review,Washington University Political Review,Student Life,Spires,KWUR 90.3FM, and WUTV.[213]Student Life was founded in January 1878[214][215] and is published twice weekly by Washington University Student Media, Inc., an independent nonprofit incorporated in 1999.[216] KWUR (90.3 FM) serves as the students' official radio station.[217] In 2003, KWUR won the critic's choice from theRiverfront Times for the Best Radio Station in St. Louis.[218] WUTV is the university'sclosed-circuit television channel. It was founded in 1976.[219]
Since 2006, the university began offering freeMetroLink (St. Louis’slight rail commuter train system) passes to all full-time students, benefits-eligible faculty and staff, and full-time employees of qualified service providers.[220][221] TheBlue Line and theRed Line are on the Danforth Campus alongForest Park Parkway.[222] The Red Line provides access to theSt. Louis Lambert International Airport,University of Missouri–St. Louis and theDelmar Loop. The Blue Line provides access to the suburbs ofClayton,Brentwood, andRichmond Heights. Both provide access to theGateway Arch (U.S. National Historic Landmark in downtown St. Louis) and access to the village ofFairview, Illinois.[223]
The Washington University shuttle system includes a Campus Circulator (which provides free transportation around Danforth Campus for faculty, staff, students and guests) and seven neighborhood routes that go to locations outside of Danforth Campus.[224][225] In 2025, the Shopper Shuttle was introduced as a pilot program. The Shopper Shuttle provides transportation toSaint Louis Galleria (a shopping mall),Target, andWalmart.[226]
Every semester, Washington University hostsWILD, a concert in the Quad which brings in popular musical acts.[227] Other traditions includeThurtene Carnival (a student-run carnival),[228] Vertigo (a dance party put on by the Engineering School Council),[229] and Residential Community Olympics (an annual competition between residential colleges featuring different sports and activities).[230] Students also use the Underpass panels, a series of displays along the walls of the underpass connecting the South 40 to the main Danforth Campus,[231] to advertise events.[232]
Asuperstition among students warns that stepping on the university seal at Brookings Hall will prevent one from graduating on time.[233]
Washington University was a founding member of theUniversity Athletic Association ofNCAA Division III[234] and previously was a founding member of theMissouri Valley Conference.[235] It is also a member of theCollege Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.[236]
The Bears have won 26 NCAA Division III championships—ten in volleyball (1989, 1991–1996, 2003, 2007, 2009), five in women's basketball (1998–2001, 2010), two in men's basketball (2008, 2009), two in women's cross country (2011, 2018), two in women's outdoor track and field (2017, 2024), two in women's soccer (2016, 2024), one in men's tennis (2008), one in women's indoor track and field (2017), and one in men's indoor track and field (2022) – and 267 conference titles.[237] Its mascot is the Bear, and its official colors are red and green.[102][238]
Washington University hosts more than 40 club sports.[239]
Francis Olympic Field, formerly known as Francis Field,[240][241] is home to Washington University’s football, soccer, and track and field teams. It served as a venue for the1904 Summer Olympics, the first Games held outside of Europe. In 2019, the stadium was renamed Francis Olympic Field to commemorate its Olympic heritage and St. Louis’ role ashost city. TheOlympic flame has passed through the field three times, duringtorch relays for the1984 Los Angeles,1996 Atlanta, and2004 Athens Summer Olympics.[242]
Washington University has more than 166,000 living alumni and 22,530 employees as of Fiscal Year 2024[update].[102] Of these 22,530 employees, 4,551 are faculty and 17,979 are administrative staff.[102]
As of 2024[update],26 Nobel laureates, 11Pulitzer Prize winners, 4United States Poets Laureate, and 6MacArthur Fellows have been affiliated with the university as faculty or alumni.[243] Its alumni and faculty have also received numerous prestigious awards and honors, including theNobel Prize,National Book Award,National Book Critics Circle Award,National Medal of Science,National Medal of Arts,Guggenheim Fellowship,Fulbright Fellowship,Putnam Fellowship,MacArthur Fellowship, along with memberships in theNational Academy of Sciences,National Academy of Engineering,Royal Society of London,American Institute of Architects,American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering,American Academy of Arts and Letters,American Association for the Advancement of Science,American Law Institute,American Philosophical Society,National Academy of Medicine, and theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences.[243]
Washington University alumni also include 17 university presidents, 21 members of theUnited States Congress, 30Rhodes Scholars, 20Truman Scholars, 7Marshall Scholars and 2Churchill Scholars.[165][164][244][245]
In the sciences, alumni include Nobel laureates such asEarl Sutherland,[246]Edwin Krebs[247]andDaniel Nathans, all in physiology or medicine.[248] Other notable scientists includeJ. C. R. Licklider (pioneer in the development of computing and the Internet),[249]Julian W. Hill (discoverer ofnylon),[250]Clyde Cowan (co-discoverer of theneutrino)[251] andBob Behnken (NASA astronaut and formerChief of the Astronaut Office).[252][253]
In politics and public service, alumni includeWilliam H. Webster (the only person to serve as director of both theFBI andCIA),[254]Rochelle Walensky (Director of theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention),[255] andClark Clifford (political advisor to presidentsTruman,Kennedy,Johnson, andCarter).[256] Others includeJim Talent (former U.S.senator from Missouri),[257]Alan J. Dixon (former U.S. senator from Illinois),[258]Alexander M. Dockery (Governor of Missouri),[259]Siniša Mali (finance minister of Serbia),[260]Jonathan Mann (first director of theWorld Health Organization's Global Program on AIDS),[261] andPhoebe Couzins (first femaleU.S. Marshal in the U.S.).[262]
In business and entrepreneurship, alumni includeAvram Glazer (executive co-chairman ofManchester United),[263]Jim McKelvey (co-founder ofSquare Inc),[188]Arnold W. Donald (president and chief executive officer ofCarnival Corporation),[264] andCharles Nagel (founder of theU.S. Chamber of Commerce).[265]
In the arts, media and performing arts, alumni includeHarold Ramis (Ghostbusters,Groundhog Day andAnimal House),[266]Peter Sarsgaard (award-winning actor),[267][268]Robert Guillaume (Emmy-winning actor inBenson, first African American to play the title role inPhantom of the Opera, and voice ofRafiki inDisney’sThe Lion King),[269]Dave Garroway (founding host ofNBC’sToday),[270][271] andSteven Sater (Tony Award,Grammy Award, andLaurence Olivier Award-winning American poet andplaywright).[272] Literary and cultural figures includeFannie Hurst (prolific novelist),[273]Dan Simmons (Hugo Award winner),[274] andA.E. Hotchner (playwright and novelist).[275]
In architecture,George Hellmuth,Gyo Obata, andGeorge Kassabaum foundedHOK, one of the world’s largest architectural firms.[276]
Higher education leaders includeAbram L. Sachar (founding president ofBrandeis University) andThomas Lamb Eliot (founder ofReed College).[277][278] Alumni also include the former presidents ofJohns Hopkins,[279]Clemson,[280]Wake Forest,[281]Morehouse,[282]Florida A&M University,[283]Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,[284]University of Louisville,[285]San Francisco State University,[284] andUniversity of California.[286]
Notable individuals who attended but did not graduate includeTennessee Williams (a renowned playwright who left after a prize dispute),[287][288]Robert Culp (I Spy,Everybody Loves Raymond),[289] andMarilyn vos Savant (IQ-record holder who pursued family business interests).[290]
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Notable faculty at Washington University have includedRoger Nash Baldwin (American Civil Liberties Union cofounder[291] and Washington University's first instructor in sociology),[292]Gerty Cori (the first womanNobel laureate in Physiology/Medicine),[293]Rita Levi-Montalcini (Nobel laureate, co-discover ofnerve growth factor),[294]Peter Mutharika (President ofMalawi),[295]William Inge (Playwright,Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1953),[296][297]Arthur Oncken Lovejoy (founded theAmerican Association of University Professors),[298]Mona Van Duyn (Pulitzer Prize winner,National Book Award winner and first womanU.S. Poet Laureate),[299][300]Howard Nemorov (U.S. Poet Laureate,National Medal of Arts recipient,Bollingen Prize winner),[301][302]Joseph W. Kennedy (co-discoverer of the elementplutonium),[303]Barbara A. Schaal (first woman VP ofNational Academy of Sciences),[304]Henry Smith Pritchett (Head of theCarnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching),[305]Virginia E. Johnson (co-author ofHuman Sexual Response),[306] andThomas Eagleton (United States senator fromMissouri).[307][308]
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