🏅 QS World Rank #162
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
24 Nobel laureates, one private research powerhouse — QS World Rankings 2027 (joint #162)
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is a private research university in Missouri, founded in 1853. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is joint 162nd. This guide covers its schools, admission, the 2026-27 costs, scholarships, advice for applicants from Pakistan and the questions applicants ask most.
WashU Overview
WashU was founded in 1853 in St. Louis, Missouri. Its main Danforth Campus sits beside Forest Park, a large urban park that hosted the 1904 World’s Fair. WashU hosted the 1904 Summer Olympics, held in St. Louis alongside the fair.
The university is known for its School of Medicine and its research hospitals, for Olin Business School, McKelvey School of Engineering, the Brown School of social work and the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. Carl and Gerty Cori, who won the 1947 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, worked at the WashU School of Medicine.
WashU Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
WashU holds joint 162nd place in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026.
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods and can order universities differently.
QS and other rankings weigh reputation, research and teaching differently, so a university can rank higher in one list than another. The tagline’s “24 Nobel laureates” could not be confirmed on the pages we read, so treat the exact count as unverified and check WashU’s own Nobel page.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
WashU is known for:
- Medicine and biomedical research, through the School of Medicine and affiliated hospitals
- Business, through Olin Business School
- Engineering, including biomedical engineering, in the McKelvey School
- Social work, through the Brown School
- Arts and sciences, the core undergraduate college
- Design and visual arts, through the Sam Fox School
This page does not quote subject ranks. Check the current QS subject tables for exact positions.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
First-year applicants use a common application system. Confirm every step on the official WashU admissions pages.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Application | First-year applicants apply through WashU’s admissions site, using a common application platform. Check the current platform and deadlines |
| Selection | Holistic review of grades, course rigour, essays, recommendations and activities |
| Tests | WashU has been test-optional. Check the current policy for your entry year |
| English | International applicants whose first language is not English need proof of English proficiency |
| Graduate and professional | Medicine, business, law and engineering programmes have their own applications and tests. Check each school |
| Visa | An F-1 student visa is required after admission |
WashU Acceptance Rate
WashU does not state one acceptance rate for international applicants on the pages we could read, so this page does not quote one. The old “about 11%” figure was not tied to a source. Admission is highly selective, and the School of Medicine is especially competitive.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme and read its entry and language requirements
- Check the application deadline for your intake
- Book an English (or other required) language test
- Prepare transcripts, identification and any required documents
- Apply and accept your offer
- Meet the visa or residence-permit conditions for your destination
- Plan funding for tuition and living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on WashU’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
According to WashU’s announcement of 2026-27 costs, reported by the student newspaper Student Life:
- Undergraduate tuition 2026-27: US$71,310, up 4.5% from US$68,240
- Estimated cost of attendance, before aid: US$96,994, including tuition, a meal plan, fees and a double room
The old figure of about US$65,000 in tuition did not match these amounts. Books, travel and personal costs are extra, and professional schools charge their own rates.
Source: Student Life report on 2026-27 tuition. Fees, dates and rules change each year.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Merit scholarships: WashU lists named merit awards, including the Danforth Scholars Program. We could not confirm whether international applicants are eligible for each one, so check the official pages.
- Need-based aid: WashU offers need-based financial aid. We could not confirm whether it meets full demonstrated need for international students, so check the financial aid pages for international applicants.
- More funding ideas: see our guide to fully funded scholarships for 2027.
WashU for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants apply as international first-year students:
- Funding: check how much aid is open to international applicants before applying
- English: prepare an accepted English test. Our IELTS preparation guides can help
- Budget: plan for tuition of about US$71,310 plus housing and living costs
- Visa: an F-1 student visa is required after admission
Campus & Student Life
- The Danforth Campus is on the edge of Forest Park, a large urban park in St. Louis
- Buildings include Collegiate Gothic architecture across the campus
- The medical campus is a short distance away
- St. Louis is a mid-sized US city with museums, sports and a strong healthcare sector
Research & Career Opportunities
- WashU is research-intensive, with strong medicine and biomedical research
- St. Louis has large healthcare, biotechnology, finance and manufacturing employers
- Graduates work in medicine, business, engineering, social work and research
- The university does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Arthur Holly Compton, Nobel Prize in Physics 1927, served as WashU chancellor from 1945 to 1953
- Carl and Gerty Cori won the 1947 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for work at the School of Medicine
- Douglass North, Nobel Prize in Economics 1993, taught at WashU
Contact & Location
Washington University in St. Louis
One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
Official website: wustl.edu
Use the contact details on the official site for admissions questions, as email addresses and phone numbers change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Washington University in St. Louis holds joint 162nd place in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026.
QS, ARWU, Times Higher Education and U.S. News weigh reputation, research and teaching differently, so the same university can be placed differently.
WashU’s undergraduate tuition for 2026-27 is US$71,310, and its estimated cost of attendance before aid is US$96,994.
WashU is best known for medicine, business, engineering and social work.
WashU is in St. Louis, Missouri, beside Forest Park.
They include Carl and Gerty Cori, Arthur Holly Compton and Douglass North. Check WashU’s Nobel page for the full list.
Yes. WashU hosted the 1904 Summer Olympics, held in St. Louis alongside the 1904 World’s Fair.
WashU lists merit and need-based aid. Check eligibility for international applicants on its official aid pages.
Yes. Pakistani applicants apply as international students with transcripts, English evidence and an F-1 visa after admission.
Check WashU’s official pages at wustl.edu. Fees, deadlines and rules can change.
Compare WashU With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, WashU’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the university before applying.