WashU ACT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

Washington University in St. Louis is an exceptionally selective school with an acceptance rate hovering around 12%, and the typical admitted student falls right in line with this ultra-competitive landscape. With an average composite score of 34 and a range spanning from 33 to 35, WashU sits among the most academically rigorous universities in the country, and gaining admission without scoring in this ballpark would be an uphill battle. The sheer selectivity of the school means that nearly all admitted students have achieved these remarkably high scores, reflecting intense competition across the entire applicant pool. Simply landing an ACT score at or near the average does not set you apart from the thousands of other qualified applicants fighting for one of roughly 4,300 spots.

A good ACT score for Washington University in St. Louis typically means scoring somewhere in the 33 to 35 range, with 34 being the target that positions you squarely in the middle of admitted students. However, it is crucial to understand that even a 35 ACT score does not guarantee your acceptance to WashU. Many applicants with top-tier ACT scores receive rejection letters each year because WashU evaluates you holistically, looking beyond just your test performance. Your grades, course rigor, essays, letters of recommendation, leadership experience, and what you contribute to the campus community all play vital roles in whether you ultimately get accepted.

While there is no officially stated minimum ACT score required by the university, you should realistically aim for at least a 32 to have a legitimate shot at admission. An ACT score below 32 puts you well below the 25th percentile and makes acceptance highly unlikely unless you have truly exceptional strengths in other areas of your application. That said, WashU conducts genuine holistic review, so if your ACT falls short but your GPA is outstanding, your essays are compelling, and you have demonstrated meaningful leadership or talent, do not automatically dismiss your chances. Just understand that a significantly lower test score means you will need to be exceptional in multiple other dimensions to make up that gap.

Washington University in St. Louis currently maintains a test-optional policy for applicants seeking admission through the fall semester of 2026. You have the freedom to choose whether or not to submit your ACT or SAT scores, and the admissions office will not penalize you if you decide not to submit them. This means that students who feel their scores do not represent their academic abilities can still apply and be evaluated fairly without test results. However, it is worth noting that most applicants do choose to submit scores, so understand that your decision not to test happens in context of a pool where many others have submitted strong scores.

Washington University in St. Louis employs a superscoring method for the ACT that works distinctly in your favor when you take the test multiple times. If you take the ACT more than once, WashU considers only your highest individual section scores across all test dates you submit, then combines them to form your best possible composite score. This approach means that if you score a 35 in English but only a 32 in Math on one test date, and then later score a 34 in Math but a 34 in English on another test date, WashU will take your 35 in English and your 34 in Math to create a 35 composite. The optional science section is also not included in your superscored composite calculation, giving you additional flexibility in how you approach the test.

Understanding how WashU evaluates your ACT score requires recognizing that your test results are just one piece of a much larger evaluation puzzle. WashU admissions officers examine your course load and grades, quality of your essays, teacher recommendations, extracurricular involvement, and personal qualities alongside your test score. Even an applicant with a 35 ACT can be rejected because the admissions committee is looking for well-rounded individuals who will both thrive academically and contribute meaningfully to the WashU community. Your test score essentially signals to the admissions office that you have the intellectual foundation to handle WashU's rigorous coursework, but it does not demonstrate whether you deserve one of their limited spots.

At a school as selective as WashU, reaching the average ACT score actually narrows down the candidate pool but does not separate you from hundreds of other applicants who achieved the same score. Admissions officers then shift their focus to understanding what makes you distinctive as a person and student. They want insight into how you think, what motivates you, what adversity you have overcome, and how you will enrich the WashU community through your perspective and talents. Your ACT score proves that you have the intellectual capacity to succeed academically at WashU, but the remainder of your application demonstrates whether you truly merit one of the roughly 4,300 admission offers the university extends each year out of 33,000 applications. This is precisely why some students with 33 ACT scores gain admission while others with a 35 do not, because the admissions read extends far beyond test numbers.

AdmitStudio users who have found success at top colleges often approach their applications as a single, cohesive story, not a checklist of impressive achievements. Rather than treating essays, activities, and recommendations as separate pieces, they focus on presenting themselves as a clear, memorable individual with defined values, motivations, and strengths. Their essays help admissions officers understand why they pursued certain activities, how their experiences shaped them, and what kind of person they would be on campus. This clarity makes it easier for readers to grasp who the applicant is within just a few minutes of review.

AdmitStudio users who are successful also tend to use their essays to connect and reinforce the rest of their application, not repeat it. The essay highlights a few core traits, such as curiosity, leadership, resilience, or initiative, while the activities list and recommendations quietly support those same traits with evidence. By aligning every part of the application around a consistent narrative, these students stand out not because they try to be extraordinary, but because they are specific, authentic, and intentional. Admissions officers come away with a strong sense of the applicant's identity and how they would uniquely contribute to the university community.