Uw Computer Science Acceptance Rate (2023)

uw computer science acceptance rate

› apply for › freshman › for…

Congratulations on your admission to the University of Washington!

The UW offers many top technology-related courses, including Computer Science and Computer Engineering programs at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering.

There are several admissions paths for Computer Science and Computer Engineering. It is important that you verify information about your current admission status. Freshmen admitted to UW who applied for Computer Science or Computer Engineering as their first major choice received one of the following options:

  • Students applying to a Computer Engineering course, some of whom will have direct admission to the University for Engineering: see theDirect information to the university on the Faculty of Engineering website. (Students who applied to the Computer Engineering course and were admitted as pre-majors but did not have direct admission to the university should also refer to the previous page.)
  • Direct Admission to the Computer Science Course: Please refer to the Direct Admission information you will receive from the Allen School.
  • Pre-Science Admissions: Read the remainder of this page to learn more about your admissions and major options.
  • Information is offered for prospective students of Computer Science Admission Pre-Science

    The remainder of this page contains information for prospective freshmen who are interested in majoring in Computer Science but have not received direct admission to the course. Students wishing to study Computer Engineering should consult theDirect information to the university on the Faculty of Engineering website.

    Interest in computer science is growing rapidly across the country, including at the University of Washington. The Washington State Legislature has funded spectacular enrollment growth at the Paul G. Allen School in recent years, and support from the Legislature, the University of Washington, businesses and individuals has funded the construction of asecond buildingwhich was completed in December 2018. However, despite these significant advances, student demand for the Allen School continues to exceed capacity.

    Admission to the Computer Science major is through three pathways: High School Direct Admission, Transfer Admission, and Current UW Student Admissions.

    Currently, the majority of our rides enter by Direct Admission, with 15-20% of our rides entering by Transfer Admission. While this leaves approximately 30% of our places for current UW students, we have many more applicants than student places, so admission to the Computer Science major is not guaranteed. Current Student Admission is primarily intended for students who discover an interest in computer science after enrolling at the UW.

    Students who are admitted to the University of Washington but are not given direct admission to a Computer Science degree should evaluate their options. As the University of Washington excels across the board, we encourage these students to consider choosing UW and pursue a variety of relevant courses: Computer Science, Computational and Applied Mathematical Sciences, Geographic Information Systems, and others. Students who are 100% sure they want to major in Computer Science and are guaranteed a place in a program elsewhere should consider whether this might be a better option for them.

    Please review this page before contacting us with questions. When contacting us, please note that we have a strong preference for direct communication with students, although parents may receive copies of emails, on the student phone line, etc.

    (Video) UW Admissions - frequently asked questions

    Why wasn't I offered Direct Admission?

    If you were not offered direct admission, it is not an indication of your ability to excel in this discipline. Rather, it is an indication of the small number of students we are currently able to offer Direct Admission to. For 2019, we will be offering admission to approximately 280 WA residents out of approximately 1,000 prospective WA residents who listed Computer Science as their top choice and who received direct admission. These students earned incredibly high grades, followed the most rigorous curricula offered at their schools, exhibited meaningful extracurricular experiences, and made strong personal statements. There are many highly qualified students that we are unable to offer Direct Admission to. (We do a small number of DA offers to out-of-state students, but the vast majority of DA offers go to Washington residents.)

    Getting into an elite computer science (CS) school

    There are multiple paths to admission to Computer Science programs and degrees at top schools.Universities administer different processes for admitting students to their CS programs.There are mainly four types of ways in which students are admitted:

    We will cover each of these paths in detail in this post.

    Apply to CS before being admitted

    At some universities,you enroll directly in the Computer Science course when you enroll at the school itself. The application will ask for supplemental materials such as additional SAT subject test scores, additional essays or a resume in addition to your college application.

    This is the case, for example, at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) and the University of California at Berkeley (UCB), for the Electrical and Computer Engineering career. When you are admitted to these schools, your major is already declared when you start your freshman year.

    Carnegie Mellon University is a little different in that when you apply for admission, you apply to the School of Computer Science (SCS), which hosts three different races. You are accepted into SCS and declare your major at the end of the first year.

    Colleges that follow this application method ask students to show astrong math and science background, interest in computing, and extracurricular activities on and off the field. They also often ask students to discuss their interests, experiences, and intentions with a Computer Science degree in an additional essay. Extracurriculars associated with Computer Science, such as being part of a robotics team or having worked on projects such asJune summary, or achieve good results in theUS Computer OlympiadThey are handy to have. They convey not only a strong interest in the field of software engineering, but also important qualities such as leadership skills and the ability to take the initiative in pursuing your interests. Extracurricular activities outside of computing also help demonstrate interpersonal skills, work ethic, and varied passions as colleges seek to admit well-rounded students. You can view a sample of some of our admitted student profiles below.

    UW Computer Engineering Acceptance Rate

    We have worked hard over the past few years to increase the number of college students we can accommodate, an effort that has been successful, in large part thanks to investments from the Washington State Legislature and strong university support to expand our program. However, even as we grow, we will have to deal with capacity constraints for the foreseeable future. Our current student admission path is currently at a 20-25% acceptance rate and is likely to decline again in the future.

    Uw Computer Science Acceptance Rate (1)

    (Video) How Difficult is it to Get Into Every Major at UW?

    How many college students do you admit into the program?

    About 450 students per year are accepted into the CSE Department for our Computer Science and Computer Engineering courses. We review all candidates together, so both specializations are equally competitive. The vast majority of our students now enter as freshmen, either directly into Computer Science or into Undeclared Engineering and then into Computer Engineering. We reserve a spot in our program for UW transfer students and current students who have recently decided to apply for CS or CE after enrolling at UW.

    Because we have multiple application cycles, many people apply more than once, and the number of applicants varies every quarter, it's very difficult to say what percentage of people get in. While we tend to have more applicants in the fall, the percentage of accepted students is roughly the same for the fall and spring quarters.

    University of Washington Acceptance Rate - Class of 2024

    There were 43,778 applications for admission to the Husky Class of 2024. Of that group, 24,386 people or 55.7% were accepted. Last year, 52% were admitted to the Class of 2023. Out-of-state residents were 51% accepted, while the admission rate for residents was 59% friendlier.

    University of Washington Admissions: SAT/ACT, GPA, and Class Rank

    For those admitted to the Class of 2024, the mid-50% SAT range was 1220-1440. Students admitted from Washington had an average SAT score of 1220-1440, while students from out of state scored 1370-1500. The overall ACT range was 27-33, although non-residents had a higher score of 30-34. Admitted huskies had a median range 50 GPA of 3.72-3.95.

    Among students who actually enrolled in the class of 2023, the average SAT score was 1340 and the average ACT score was 30. 59% ranked in the top 10% of their high school class, 89%% were in the top quartile and 99% were in the top half. The average GPA earned in high school was 3.8.

    Admissions Trends and Notes

  • Students admitted directly to the College of Engineering had a 50% SAT range of 1400-1530 and an ACT range of 32-25.
  • Students admitted directly to the Paul G. Allen College of Computer Science had a 50% SAT range of 1420-1560 and an ACT range of 34-36.
  • The 75th percentile SAT/ACT scores from a decade ago are the same as today's median scores; in other words, test scores are going up at this school.
  • Of the 3,040 students placed on the Class of 2023 waiting list, 2,394 were accepted. If you are offered a place on the waitlist, say yes!
  • More than 30% of students entering UW-Seattle will be the first in their families to earn a bachelor's degree.
  • How the University of Washington Evaluates Applicants

    The University of Washington rates three factors as "very important" to the admissions process: rigorous high school coursework, GPA, and application essays. Items that are "big" as part of the admissions process are: standardized test scores, first generation status, volunteer work, paid work, extracurricular activities, and talent/skill. Factors considered are: character/personal qualities and state of residence.

    The admissions office wants applicants to know that "despite receiving over 43,000 applications per year, your application will receive a holistic and in-depth review." In addition to the important elements mentioned above, the following will also be considered:

  • Making the most of the last year
  • Demonstrating a positive rating trend
  • Demonstrate commitment to community service and leadership.
  • Exercising significant responsibility in a family, community, work situation, or through activities
  • Obtain a college-prep education despite economic disadvantage (Washington State residents only)
  • Demonstrate cultural awareness or unique perspectives or experiences
  • It is also worth noting that recruited athletes enjoy a huge advantage. This is because the University of Washington is proud of its 22 NCAA Division I sports teams. In all, more than 800 student-athletes currently attend the university. Of course, other efforts outside of the classroom can also enhance your enrollment profile. For tips on how to stand out on the extracurricular front, check out our previous blog titledHow many extracurricular activities do I need for college?

    (Video) College decision reactions 2021 of a CS student without a Nobel prize (Ivies, Stanford, UCs, T20s)

    Who actually gets into the University of Washington?

    Let's look at the demographics of the current undergraduate student body. Geographically, the Class of 2024 is broken down as follows (all percentages are university estimates):

  • Not state: 63.6%
  • Out of state: 20.7%
  • International: 15.7
  • Among non-residents, competition is fiercest among those from states with endless streams of qualified applicants (all from the Northeast and West Coast). If you come from the deep south or from a less populated state like Idaho or South Dakota, your location will likely increase your chances of admission to the University of Washington.

    International students currently attending UW-Seattle come from the following countries:

  • Chinese: 60%
  • India: 6%
  • South Korea: 6%
  • Taiwan: 5%
  • Indonesia: 3%
  • As for the ethnicity of the most recent freshman class, the breakdown was as follows:

  • Afro-americano 2,6%
  • Asian-American 27.3%
  • Caucasians 34.4%
  • Hispano/Latino 9,3%
  • International 16.0%
  • Two or more races 7.8%
  • Looking at the breakdown by gender, the Class of 2023 entered far more women than men:

  • Men: 46%
  • Women: 54%
  • University of Washington Rate of Return

    University of Washington Performance Rate: The percentage of accepted students who choose to enroll divided by the total number of students admitted is 29.6%. This number is significantly lower than other large state universities such as the University of Michigan (46%), UNC-Chapel Hill (43%) and UCLA (41%).

    Tips for Applying to the University of Washington

    If you plan to join the nearly 44,000 Husky hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

  • The University of Washington does not use interviews as part of its assessment process.
  • This school really prides itself on admitting a high percentage of students who will be the first in their families to graduate from college.
  • The University of Washington does not consider "demonstrated interest", so you will not be judged on whether or not you have made a campus visit, contacted an admissions officer, etc.
  • Make sure you spend enough time and effort oncommon application main testand two supplemental essays required by the University of Washington. In the 2020-21 cycle, they were the following:
  • 1) Test message [mandatory]

    Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that demonstrated your character or helped shape it.

    (Video) UNIV OF WASHINGTON, SEATTLE | COMPLETE GUIDE ON HOW TO GET INTO UW| College Admissions| College vlog

    Maximum length: 650 words

    2) Short answer [required]

    Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community can refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, can contribute to diversity. from the U.W.

    Maximum length: 300 words

    The UW-Seattle Admissions Team offers some tips for writing a winning essay. These recommendations are as follows:

  • Content is important, but spelling, grammar and punctuation also matter.
  • We recommend composing it in advance and then copying and pasting it into the app. Double spacing, italics, and other formatting will be lost, but this will not affect your app rating.
  • We have observed that most students write a formal, polite essay but present a more informal short answer. Do your best on each part of the written responses, presenting yourself in formal, standard English.
  • Correct, correct, correct!
  • Should I apply to the University of Washington?

    Those with SAT/ACT scores within the mid-50% range for UW-Seattle, who are also at the top of their respective high school classes, are certainly viable candidates for the University of Washington. If you reside in Washington, your path to acceptance will be a little easier than if you are an international or out-of-state applicant. You'll need to bring higher test scores and possibly a special skill or "hook" if you don't come from your college's home state or want to get into an engineering/computer science program. Of course, it goes without saying that every teen applying to a University of Washington-type school should also have an appropriate mix or "target" and "safe" schools on their college list. More information can be obtained on how to create a balanced list of universities.found here.

    Uw Computer Science Acceptance Rate (2)

    Dave has over a decade of professional experience, including work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is the co-author of The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

    (Video) My HONEST College Advice For Computer Science Majors // as a senior computer science student

    Related

    FAQs

    How hard is it to get into UW Computer Science? ›

    The CSE Admissions Committee reviews all applications together, so both majors are equally competitive. Approximately 20-25 percent of all applicants who apply through the Current UW student pathway are accepted but this will begin to change as we move to a direct to major pathway.

    What is the average GPA for UW Computer Science? ›

    Competitive applicants generally have a high school GPA of 3.8 or above.

    Is UW a good school for CS? ›

    University of Washington

    Ranked joint 18th in the world and eighth among the top universities in the US for computer science, the University of Washington achieves a very impressive score for citations per paper, and is known as one of the country's premier research-intensive universities.

    How do I get into the UW Computer Science program? ›

    Admission to the Computer Science major takes place through three pathways: Direct Admission from high school, Transfer Admission, and Current UW Student Admissions. Currently, the majority of our majors enter via Direct Admission, and 15-20% of our majors enter via Transfer Admission.

    What major is UW known for? ›

    The most popular majors at University of Washington include: Social Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Engineering; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Health Professions and Related Programs; Psychology; Communication, ...

    How many CS students are at UW? ›

    Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) serves over 1,500 undergraduates in our two majors, and many more through our introductory and non-major courses.

    What GPA do you need for a computer science major? ›

    A 3.0 GPA (overall and within the pre-major classes) is the minimum requirement to apply to the computer science major and may not result in placement as a full major. The average GPA accepted may be much higher than the minimum accepted to apply.

    What is a 95 GPA in UW? ›

    A 4.0 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to an A letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale. This means it is equivalent to 93-95%.

    Is a 3.8 UW GPA good? ›

    A 3.8 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to an A- letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale. This means is equivalent to a 90-92%. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 3.8 is far above average. Because a 3.8 is already so high it can be hard to raise, but with hard work and dedication it is possible!

    What University is number 1 in Computer Science? ›

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Is UW a Tier 1 school? ›

    Tier 1 schools include: Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT, UChicago, Caltech, Columbia, Brown, Northwestern, The University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Duke, Vanderbilt, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, and Rice.

    Why is UW ranked so high? ›

    Out of 2,500 universities in the world, they ranked the University of Washington at number 17. The reasons given by U.S. News for ranking University of Washington so highly included its highly-ranked graduate-level programs, its community-based medical education program, and its contribution to global research.

    What GPA do you need for Computer Science internship? ›

    Computer science internships often expect you to have a minimum college GPA. While some companies expect 2.75, others require a 3.0.

    What is the lowest GPA UW will accept? ›

    GPA is an essential factor for admission to the University of Washington. Students require a 3.75 and above University Of Washington GPA to take admitted to the university. Top-rated schools like the University of Washington receive numerous applications every year.

    How can I increase my chances of getting into UW? ›

    Scoring a 1460 SAT or a 32 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. Because the school admits 48.7% of all applicants, being far above average raises the admission rate for you to nearly 100%. If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter.

    What is a good GPA for UW? ›

    1. Achieve at least a 3.79 GPA while taking the most challenging classes available. GPA is “very important” to admissions at the University of Washington—its Class of 2025 had an average high school GPA of 3.79.

    What is the average GPA at UW? ›

    Average GPA: 3.8

    The average GPA at University of Washington is 3.8. This makes University of Washington Extremely Competitive for GPAs. (Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

    Is UW a top 20 school? ›

    University of Washington's ranking in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #55.

    What percent of CS majors are unemployed? ›

    As per a study, the unemployment rate of recent CS graduates has spiked to 7.8%. It has put Computer Science graduates in a contradictory situation of why they are not getting employment opportunities even when a large number of companies claim to have a dire shortage of tech skills.

    Which University has the best CS? ›

    Here are the best global universities for computer science
    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
    • Carnegie Mellon University.
    • University of California Berkeley.
    • Nanyang Technological University.
    • National University of Singapore.
    • ETH Zurich.
    • Peking University.
    • Chinese University of Hong Kong.

    What percent of CS majors get an internship? ›

    Computer Science Interns By Education
    Computer Science Internship DegreePercentages
    Bachelors57%
    Associate25%
    Masters8%
    High School Diploma6%
    1 more row
    Sep 9, 2022

    What GPA do you need for Computer Science? ›

    If a high school applicant puts CS as their intended major, it goes through the direct admission program. All they need to do is apply normally and indicate CS as major. AVG high school GPA for these majors is 3.8.

    Is Western Washington University good for Computer Science? ›

    The bachelor's program at WWU was ranked #20 on College Factual's Best Schools for math and compsci list. It is also ranked #1 in Washington.

    What is the average GPA to get into UW? ›

    Average GPA: 3.8

    With a GPA of 3.8, University of Washington requires you to be near the top of your class, and well above average. You'll need mostly A's, ideally with several AP or IB classes to help show your preparation at a college level.

    What Major has the lowest average GPA? ›

    Science majors tend to have lower GPAs on average, with chemistry being the major with the lowest average GPA. Meanwhile, education majors earn the highest GPAs on average.

    Can you get into UW with a 3.0 GPA? ›

    Also acceptable: have earned at least a cumulative 3.0 grade-point-average (on a 4 point scale) from an accredited institution for a Master's, graduate doctoral degree, or professional doctoral degree. Graduate programs may consider an applicant with a GPA below a 3.0.

    Do grades matter as a CS major? ›

    GPA matters, however, when applying for a job in competitive fields such as law, engineering, finance, and computer science. A stellar GPA can help you get to round one of the interviews because hiring managers often use them to screen potential candidates.

    Is it hard to get a's in computer science? ›

    The short answer is “yes.” Search any list of majors to study, and you'll likely find that computer science tops the list as one of the most challenging disciplines to learn. Compared to other fields of study, pursuing a career in computer science requires both technical and analytical skill sets.

    Can an average student pass computer science? ›

    Learning the discipline of Computer Science is a hard and difficult endeavor for most students. However, if you are willing to invest the time and learn serious time management skills, most students can successfully learn the discipline and pursue successful careers in Computer Science fields.

    Is WSU a good school for Computer Science? ›

    Overview. Master of Computer Science is one of the best courses to choose from that offers in-depth learning in a Computer Science. An MS Degree in Computer Science from the Washington State University, Pullman has consistently made its place among the top global universities.

    Is Western Computer Science competitive? ›

    As admission to our graduate program is highly competitive, only very strong students interested in pursuing interdisciplinary research will be considered.

    What is the number 1 college in Washington state? ›

    University of Washington - Tacoma.

    How likely am I to get into UW? ›

    University of Washington admissions is selective with an acceptance rate of 56%. Students that get into University of Washington have an average SAT score between 1200-1470 or an average ACT score of 27-33.

    What grades give you a 3.7 GPA? ›

    For each unit of credit the following grade points are earned: A+ = 4. A = 4. A- = 3.7.

    Videos

    1. Hitler gets rejected by UW CSE
    (Random Husky)
    2. HOW I GOT INTO UW CS WITH $80,000 AT 16 YEARS OLD (STATS, ECS, EARLY ADMISSION)
    (Sarah Wilson)
    3. COLLEGE DECISION REACTION 2020 *average student* (Stats, Extracurriculars, Reveal)
    (itsYoung)
    4. How To Get Into Waterloo Computer Science | Part 1: Top 6 Average + My Stats + Advice + Memes
    (William W.)
    5. College Admissions: Inside the Decision Room
    (Bloomberg Originals)
    6. Watch Me Get Rejected from my dream schools! // Indian Realistic College Decision Reaction // 2021
    (Aditya Kamasani)

    References

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Terence Hammes MD

    Last Updated: 11/04/2023

    Views: 6518

    Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

    Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Terence Hammes MD

    Birthday: 1992-04-11

    Address: Suite 408 9446 Mercy Mews, West Roxie, CT 04904

    Phone: +50312511349175

    Job: Product Consulting Liaison

    Hobby: Jogging, Motor sports, Nordic skating, Jigsaw puzzles, Bird watching, Nordic skating, Sculpting

    Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.