Washington University in St Louis
St. Louis, Missouri · Private Nonprofit · 12.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 96/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Washington University in St. Louis scores 96 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale. The headline numbers: $63,400 average 6-year earnings, a 4.4-year payback period, a 94.3% completion rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.276 (with $17,500 median debt), and a 91.2% repayment rate. Computer Science leads at 181 graduates, $110,302 year-one, $177,066 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.141 (ROI grade A). Finance (150 graduates, $102,814 year-one, $185,551 four-year, ROI grade A) is close behind. Marketing (72 graduates, $70,819 year-one, $100,489 four-year, ROI grade A), Economics (118 graduates, $66,325 year-one, $102,439 four-year, ROI grade A), and Mechanical Engineering (103 graduates, $72,057 year-one, ROI grade B+) add depth. WashU's Exceptional Value designation at ROI 96 reflects the combination of strong earnings, very low median debt, high completion, and a financial aid model that makes the institution genuinely accessible to low-income students who gain admission.
The median graduate earns $86,182 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Washington University in St Louis
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $65,790/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $65,790/yr |
| Average net price | $21,786/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $87,144 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $86,182 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $63,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $186 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 94.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,857 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $65,790/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,786/year, or roughly $87,144 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $1,716/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $42,170/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $17,500, which works out to about $186 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($63,400) and comes to 0.28, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $1,716 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $1,928 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,578 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,603 |
| $110,001+ | $42,170 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students in the 0-30000 income bracket pay $1,716 per year at WashU - $6,864 for four years. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $1,928 per year - $7,712 for four years. These are transformational numbers: low-income students admitted to WashU face essentially zero cost for the credential. Against $63,400 average 6-year earnings, the payback period from the institutional average (much shorter for low-income students at near-zero cost) is 4.4 years.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $5,578 per year; the 75001-110000 bracket pays $12,603. Even at upper-middle income, WashU remains very affordable relative to its earnings profile. The 4.4-year payback period from median earnings applies at net costs of $5,578-$12,603 per year - the financial case is compelling across the entire middle-income range.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $42,170 per year - $168,680 all-in at four years. For full-pay families, the financial case is still strong for students targeting CS, finance, or engineering. At $110k year-one earnings (CS), the payback against $168k is under two years. Even at the $63,400 institutional average, the 4.4-year payback holds.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Washington University in St Louis with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $177,066 | A |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $75,261 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $185,551 | A |
| Economics | $102,439 | A |
| Mechanical Engineering | $95,965 | B+ |
| Anthropology | $71,018 | B |
| Biology | $68,359 | C+ |
| International Relations | $90,778 | A |
| Marketing | $100,489 | A |
| Design and Applied Arts | $67,771 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is WashU's leading program by both earnings and graduate volume: 181 graduates, $110,302 year-one, $177,066 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.141 (ROI grade A). A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.141 means the median CS graduate owes less than 15% of their annual salary in student loans from day one of employment. The $177k four-year figure reflects placement into high-paying technology and finance roles in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance produces 150 graduates with $102,814 year-one and $185,551 four-year - the highest four-year figure in the WashU data. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.187 (ROI grade A). WashU finance graduates flow into investment banking, asset management, and corporate finance in St. Louis, Chicago, and New York. The $185k four-year figure reflects the compensation trajectory of finance professionals at bulge-bracket and middle-market banks. Median debt of $19,250 is low against these earnings.
Economics
Economics has 118 graduates with $66,325 year-one and $102,439 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.213 (ROI grade A). The A-grade ROI reflects both strong earnings and very low debt ($14,110 median - the lowest in the program data). WashU economics graduates pursue consulting, finance, law, and policy pathways. The four-year trajectory to $102k confirms that economics opens doors to high-compensation career paths regardless of specific post-graduation role.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (103 graduates) earns $72,057 year-one and $95,965 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.264 (ROI grade B+). This is a strong outcome for ME at any institution. WashU's engineering graduates access the aerospace, defense, biomedical, and manufacturing sectors. The $96k four-year figure reflects the salary progression of engineering careers with a WashU credential in competitive hiring markets.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 89.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 91.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 90.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Washington University in St Louis’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 12.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 770-800 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 730-770 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 33-35 |
| Enrollment | 7,857 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 17.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $16,945 |
WashU's admission rate is 12.1%. SAT mid-ranges of 770-800 Math and 730-770 Reading describe the middle half - a significant share of admits exceeds the 800 Math ceiling. ACT 33-35 composite is similarly restrictive. WashU's financial aid model should not disqualify students from low-income households from applying: $1,716 and $1,928 average net prices for the two lowest income brackets are extraordinary. Students who meet the academic bar should apply regardless of financial circumstance.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
WashU's net price for families under $30,000 is $1,716.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington University in St Louis (this school) | 96 | $21,786 | $86,182 |
| University of Notre Dame | 97 | $26,780 | $99,980 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 97 | $31,944 | $114,862 |
| Georgetown University | 93 | $40,815 | $103,494 |
| Avila University | 51 | $16,053 | $52,773 |
| Mission University | 15 | $21,383 | $38,641 |
Who Thrives Here
Washington University in St. Louis admits 12.1% of applicants and enrolls 7,857 undergraduates in St. Louis, Missouri. SAT mid-ranges are 770-800 Math and 730-770 Reading; ACT composite 33-35. The Pell grant rate of 17.8% is lower than the institutional aid generosity would suggest. Students with exceptional academic preparation, demonstrated achievement, and career interest in finance, technology, business, or engineering will find WashU a compelling option, particularly given the low net prices available to families under $48,000.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Washington University in St Louis is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $87,144 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $86,182 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 4.4 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 94.3% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $17,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $63,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Washington University in St Louis: Common Questions
Is Washington University in St Louis worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Washington University in St Louis pays off. It scores 96/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $21,786 a year after aid ($87,144 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $86,182 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.4 years to earn back.
How much does Washington University in St Louis cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $21,786 a year, or roughly $87,144 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Washington University in St Louis graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $86,182 ten years after enrolling, roughly $44,382 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Washington University in St Louis?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.4 years for Washington University in St Louis. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Washington University in St Louis graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $17,500, against average earnings of $63,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Washington University in St Louis?
The six-year graduation rate is 94.3%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.