washington state university admissions essay

Washington State University | WSU

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Washington State University | WSU’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Common app personal essay.

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

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The Office of Admissions will be closed Friday, May 31, 2024, for in-person walk-in appointments. However, we will be available by phone and email . Campus tours will operate normally.

Transfer personal statement

All applicants must write a personal statement and submit it with the transfer application for admission. The personal statement should be a comprehensive narrative essay outlining significant aspects of your academic and personal history, particularly those that provide context for your academic achievements and educational choices. Quality of writing and depth of content contribute toward a meaningful and relevant personal statement.

You should address the following topics in your personal statement. Within each subtopic, such as Academic History, write only about what is meaningful to your life and experience. Do not feel compelled to address each and every question.

Required elements

Academic history.

• Tell us about your college career to date, describing your performance, educational path and choices.
• Explain any situations that may have had a significant positive or negative impact on your academic progress or curricular choices. If you transferred multiple times, had a significant break in your education or changed career paths, explain.
• What are the specific reasons you wish to leave your most recent college/university or program of study?

Your major & career goals

• Tell us about your intended major and career aspirations.
• Explain your plans to prepare for the major. What prerequisite courses do you expect to complete before transferring? What led you to choose this major? If you are still undecided, why? What type of career are you most likely to pursue after finishing your education?
• How will the UW help you attain your academic, career and personal goals?
• If you selected a competitive major, you have the option of selecting a second-choice major in the event you are not admitted to your first-choice major. Please address major or career goals for your second-choice major, if applicable.

Cultural Understanding

Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might 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, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington.

Optional elements (include if applicable)

Educational challenges/personal hardships.

Describe any personal or imposed challenges or hardships you have overcome in pursuing your education. For example: serious illness; disability; first generation in your family to attend college; significant financial hardship or responsibilities associated with balancing work, family and school.

Community or volunteer service

Describe your community or volunteer service, including leadership, awards or increased levels of responsibility.

Experiential learning

Describe your involvement in research, artistic endeavors and work (paid or volunteer) as it has contributed to your academic, career or personal goals.

Additional comments

Do you have a compelling academic or personal need to attend the Seattle campus of the UW at this time? Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Content, as well as form, spelling, grammar and punctuation, will be considered. Suggested length is 750-1000 words.

• Online application: You should write your statement first in a word processing program (such as Word) or a text editor, and then copy/paste it into the text box provided on the application. All line breaks remain. However, some formatting may be be lost, such as bold, italics and underlines. This will not affect the evaluation of your application.
• PDF application (spring applicants only): Type or write your statement on 8.5’’ x 11’’ white paper. Double-space your lines, and use only one side of each sheet. Print your name, the words “Personal Statement” and the date at the top of each page, and attach the pages to your application.

Tell us who you are

Share those aspects of your life that are not apparent from your transcripts. In providing the context for your academic achievements and choices, describe your passions and commitments, your goals, a personal challenge faced, a hardship overcome or the cultural awareness you’ve gained. Tell us your story. Be concise, but tell the whole story.

Be specific

Personal statements too often include sentences such as “I’ve always wanted to be a Husky” or “My whole family attended the UW.” Although this may be important to you personally, such reasons are not particularly valuable to the Admissions staff because they do not tell us anything distinctive about your experiences and ultimate goals.

Write like a college student

Your personal statement should reflect the experience and maturity of someone who has already attended college. It should reflect your understanding of the components of an undergraduate education, such as general education and the major. We want to read how, specifically, your academic and personal experiences fit into your academic, career and personal goals.

Keep in mind

• We want to know about your intended major and career aspirations, and we want to know your plan to get there.
• You have the option of selecting a second-choice major. If you do, be sure to address it in your personal statement.
• The UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints.

All writing in the application, including your essay/personal statement and short responses, must be your own work.  Do not use another writer’s work and do not use artificial intelligence software (ChatGPT, Bard, etc.) to assist or write your statement.

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Washington State University Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are Washington State University's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Washington State University and build a strong application.

School location: Pullman, WA

This school is also known as: Wazzu, WSU

Admissions Rate: 83.7%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Washington State University is 83.7% . For every 100 applicants, 84 are admitted.

This means the school is lightly selective . The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you're almost certain to get an offer of admission. But if you don't meet Washington State University's requirements, you'll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.

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Washington State University GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.5

The average GPA at Washington State University is 3.5 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.5, Washington State University requires you to be around average in your high school class. You'll need a mix of A's and B's, and very few C's. If you have a lower GPA, you can compensate with harder courses like AP or IB classes. This will help boost your weighted GPA and show your ability to take college classes.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

Washington State University hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Washington State University will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

Washington State University SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1125

The average SAT score composite at Washington State University is a 1125 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Washington State University Competitive for SAT test scores.

Washington State University SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1030, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1220. In other words, a 1030 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1220 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Washington State University has the Score Choice policy of "All Scores."

This means that Washington State University requires you to send all SAT scores you've ever taken to their office.

This sounds daunting, but most schools don't actually consider all your scores equally. For example, if you scored an 1300 on one test and a 1500 on another, they won't actually average the two tests.

More commonly, the school will take your highest score on a single test date. Even better, some schools form a Superscore - that is, they take your highest section score across all your test dates and combine them.

Some students are still worried about submitting too many test scores. They're afraid that Washington State University will look down on too many attempts to raise your score. But how many is too many?

From our research and talking to admissions officers, we've learned that 4-6 tests is a safe number to submit . The college understands that you want to have the best chance of admission, and retaking the test is a good way to do this. Within a reasonable number of tests, they honestly don't care how many times you've taken it. They'll just focus on your score.

If you take it more than 6 times, colleges start wondering why you're not improving with each test. They'll question your study skills and ability to improve.

But below 6 tests, we strongly encourage retaking the test to maximize your chances. If your SAT score is currently below a 1030, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You don't have much to lose, and you can potentially raise your score and significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

Washington State University ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Washington State University likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 23

The average ACT score at Washington State University is 23. This score makes Washington State University Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 20, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 26.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 20 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Washington State University, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 20.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

Washington State University considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average . Aim for a 1030 SAT or a 20 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you'll be a shoo-in.

But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Washington State University here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Recommended for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $50
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Not used if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office None

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies 3
• Electives 1

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes January 31 November 1

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 370 Pullman, WA 99164
• Phone: (509) 335-3564 x3564
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Washington State University, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Washington State University.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Washington State University. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Washington State University, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Washington State University, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Washington State University is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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Washington State University Admissions Information

Washington State University is a land-grant public research university in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU offers over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 200 fields of study. The University is consistently ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top 60 public universities in the nation, and the its faculty is ranked in the top 10 in eight academic fields for scholarly productivity and research activity. WSU offers top-rated programs in broadcasting, interior design, criminology, entrepreneurial studies, and international business. It has been named the safest university campus in Washington State and the safest major research campus nationwide.

WSU has 300 registered student organizations and a attractive variety of sports programs, including sailing, ice hockey, gymnastics, basketball, and football. The University has additional campuses in Spokane, Vancouver, and Richland, as well as an online learning program.

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Academic life, campus life, admissions information.

WSU admissions officials note that an applicant's GPA and standardized test scores are the most important factors in the admissions process. Other factors include a student's class rank, application essay, and secondary school record. Admissions officials will also consider a candidate's character, extracurricular activities, recommendations, work experience, talent/abilities, and volunteer history.

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Writing Your Statement of Purpose

The following is an excerpt from the American Historical Association’s Perspectives newsletter and should be helpful when submitting your statement of purpose. The essay, entitled “Graduate Applications: The Important Elements,” was written at the request of the AHA’s Committee on Women Historians, chaired by Professor Judith R. Walkowitz.

Together with the academic transcript and (in some cases) GRE scores, the most important components of an application for graduate study in history are, for many history departments, the student’s own statement of purpose and the supporting letters of recommendation. This essay offers some suggestions for avoiding common pitfalls in the preparation of these components, and for making them as strong and persuasive as possible.

In brief, the most effective statements of purpose are those that are specific, well written, professional in tone, scrupulously accurate in spelling and grammar, and tailored to the particular institution to which the application is addressed. The statement should avoid sweeping philosophical generalizations, avowals of political or other ideology, or ruminations about the nature of historical knowledge and its essential role in bettering the human condition. No matter how earnestly intended or passionately felt, such lofty rhetoric all too easily descends to the level of cliché, especially when offered in a necessarily compressed form, suggesting an immature and jejune outlook rather than the intended profundity. Summaries of extra-curricular activities and achievements, no matter how outstanding, are usually best confined to those having a direct bearing on the professional field to which you are seeking entry.

While it is certainly appropriate to discuss how you became interested in history, and to include something about your long-range career goals, such matters should be kept brief and to the point. Remember that your application is one of many being read by busy faculty members who have numerous other time-consuming obligations as well. Keep your tendencies toward loquaciousness well in check, and observe word limits strictly.

The strongest essay is one that sums up your scholarly interests and immediate academic objectives in a clear and straightforward fashion. Your statement should be quite precise about the time period, geographic regions, or kind of history you want to study, and perhaps even the specific topic you wish ultimately to investigate. You should briefly indicate how your undergraduate reading, research, and course work have shaped your particular interests and have prepared you to pursue them further. At the same time, bear in mind that the earlier phases of graduate education involve primarily general training rather than research on a specific topic. Therefore, your statement should convey an openness to the acquisition of a wide range of historical knowledge and research skills rather than an obsessive fixation on a single narrow topic. (An application from a college senior whose sole purpose in life is to study the Battle of Antietam or the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese in 1511 would probably raise warning signals for most graduate admissions committees.)

It is entirely appropriate, indeed desirable, to tailor your statement of purpose to the institution to which you are applying. Feel free, for example, to mention professors with whom you would like to work or specific strengths—such as particular manuscript holdings or degree programs—that make the institution attractive to you. Such specificity should avoid elaborate praise or flattery and a fawning, excessively deferential tone is likely to be counterproductive.

The statement of purpose is also the place for you to address briefly any anomalies or ambiguities in your record that might given an admissions committee pause, such as a non-standard grading system or courses whose content is not clear from the transcript (e.g., “Independent Study”). If your undergraduate background in history is weak, it might be advisable for you to describe in more detail than would otherwise be necessary the evolution of your academic interests, and to make plain that your commitment to the discipline is now firm.

The quality of the essay is probably more important than its substantive content. The members of the admissions committee who pass upon your application will evaluate your statement for the evidence it offers about the quality, clarity, and originality of your mind; your maturity and sense of direction; your skills as a writer; and your capacity for careful attention to detail. A thoughtful, well-crafted, coherently organized essay can go a long way toward favorably disposing a committee on your behalf. Conversely, a shallow, formulaic, hastily written statement marred by poor organization, awkwardness of expression, or (even worse) outright grammatical errors or misspellings, can seriously undermine an otherwise strong application. I have seen application essays where misspelled words or grammatical errors had been heavily circled or underlined by previous readers, with an exclamation point in the margin. Such lapses of detail are not necessarily fatal in themselves, particularly if the admissions committee convinces itself that the applicant is a “diamond in the rough.” But they are sufficiently damaging, especially in borderline cases, that every effort to avoid them is strongly recommended.

Clearly, no single “formula” can guarantee admission to graduate school in history or any other discipline. Each admissions decision reflects a variety of factors and subjective judgments by fallible human beings. But the tips offered above should help maximize your chances. Good luck!

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Application Process

Undergraduate application.

WSU admission is test free, so standardized test scores such as SAT or ACT are not required. If you are in the top 10 percent of your graduating class or have at least a 3.6 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, you are assured admission. A high school diploma is required, and a GED is accepted.

Required high school core curriculum units:

• English- 4 years
• Math- 3 years (Must include algebra II, integrated math III, or above)
• Senior year math-based quantitative course
• Science- 3 years, 2 years of lab
• Social sciences- 3 years
• World language- 2 years of the same language (ASL included)
• Fine arts- 1 year

Transfer Student Application

WSU is an excellent choice for transfer students—in part because we have processes in place to make transferring your existing credit seamless. You’re considered a transfer student for admission purposes if you have attended college after the summer following high school graduation.

More than 80% of WSU students enter with college credits. We’ll help you use the credits you’ve earned to get the degree you want.

International Student Application

We welcome students from around the world. The university’s current student body represents about 100 countries. Earning a WSU degree brings lifetime membership in a closely bonded group of people who support each other personally and professionally wherever they are located.

Graduate Application

Admission to WSU Graduate School is a joint decision between the dean of the Graduate School and your prospective department or college. Be sure to check with your prospective department to see if they are accepting applications at the time you plan to apply.

Professional Programs and Certificates Application

A professional degree—such as veterinary medicine, nursing, medicine, or pharmacy—is designed to prepare you to work in a particular profession, often meeting the academic requirements for licensure or accreditation. Prerequisites and admissions requirements may differ from other graduate-level degrees. Professional degrees and certificates at WSU are managed by their respective departments.

Paying for College

We’re committed to making your education affordable for you and your family. Our friendly experts will answer your questions about scholarships and other financial aid. We think you’ll be surprised to find out how affordable a WSU degree can be.

Get financial planning advice , build a plan of how you’ll pay for WSU, and more.

APPLY TO WSU Pullman

Undergraduate

• Freshman, transfer, and returning student
• International student

Graduate and professional

• Master’s and doctoral student (U.S. and international)

APPLY FOR ADMISSION HERE!

First-time users:, returning users:.

Application fees are non-refundable. Qualified students may apply for a fee waiver during the application process.

To apply for scholarships, please visit  scholarships.wsu.edu

Washington State University

Academic Programs

• Agricultural Sciences
• Architecture
• Art & Design
• Communication
• Engineering
• Finance/Accounting
• Government/Political Science
• Health Science
• Liberal Arts
• Performing Arts
• Social Science
• Veterinary Medicine
• Visual Arts

Student experience

• Co-op/Internship Opportunities
• Disability Services
• Distance/online learning
• Intramural/Club Sports
• LGBTQIA Services
• Military/Veteran Services
• Night Class Offerings
• On-Campus Housing
• ROTC Program
• Student Media and Broadcasting
• Study Abroad
• Undergraduate Research

Application information

Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

You’re considered a first-year student for application purposes if you’re applying to WSU for the academic year immediately after graduating from high school or you have not attended any college courses since graduation. Submit your application by the priority date of March 31 to be eligible for automatic awarding of university waivers. To make sure you receive the highest possible amount of financial help, file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid for undocumented and other select applicants only).  

Washington State University (WSU) does not accept Common App for Transfer students. Transfer Students inside and outside the United States may apply here . Student are considered transfer students for admissions if they are currently enrolled or have completed coursework after the summer of their high school graduation. Additional information can be found here . Our Transfer Center has many tools, including a  Transfer Credit Equivalency database  to help you determine which of your classes will transfer to WSU. You can also use it to find out which courses you should be taking to meet your future WSU requirements.

Additional Information

I knew I needed to be somewhere that had a good community and felt secure to me, being so far away from home, and I found that with WSU. Jakiyah Johnson, Biology and Criminology, 2026

Admissions office

370 Lighty Student Services Bldg , P.O. Box 641067 Pullman , WA 99164-1067 , United States of America

Phone number

1-888-468-6978

For first-year students

Admissions website.

admission.wsu.edu

Financial aid website

financialaid.wsu.edu

Undocumented or DACA students

undocumented.wsu.edu

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Writing Center Resources

These resources are meant to be guides and tools to aid in the writing process. For more one-with-one assistance and support, please visit the Writing Center.

Writing Academic Papers

• Introductory Paragraphs
• Building an Argumentative Research Paper
• “CRAAP” Source Evaluation
• Transitions
• Using Quotes Successfully
• Paraphrasing and Summarizing
• Strategies for an Effective Conclusion
• Thesis Statements
• Writing a Literature Review
• Scientific Writing & Lab Reports
• Annotated Bibliography
• AFOSP: A Resource for Revising Writing
• MLA Citation Guide
• Chicago Citation Guide
• APA Citation Guide
• Common Commas
• Colons and Semicolons
• Subject Verb Agreement
• Run Ons and Comma Splices
• Prepositions
• Independent and Subordinate Clauses
• Active and Passive Voice

Professional Writing

• Writing Scholarship Essays
• Action Verbs for Resumes
• Cover Letters
• Emailing Professors

Excellent Online Resources for Writers

The Purdue Online Writing Lab ( the OWL )

The North Carolina at Chapel Hill Writing Center’s “ tips & tools ” page

Grammarly for proofreading support

WSU is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, accessible, and safe environment. Prospective students are encouraged to review information about WSU’s campus safety, non-discrimination policies, and process to request reasonable accommodations at the following link: Notices for prospective students . Information on reporting options and resources is also available. For specific inquiries or to report concerns, please feel free to reach out to Compliance and Civil Rights at [email protected] , 509-335-8288.

Applications Managed by the Graduate School

General graduate applications.

Including Undeclared Graduate Student Applications and Graduate Certificates

$90 Non-refundable Application Fee*

*McNair Scholars are eligible for an application fee waiver from the Graduate School. Please contact  Dr. Raymond Herrera  before applying. All other application fee waiver requests should be directed to the program(s) to which you are applying.

Engineering Applications

Health sciences graduate programs applications.

The costs for health science graduate program applications using the Common Application System (CAS) are divided between direct payments to CAS and charges billed to the student’s account at Washington State University (WSU). This cost distribution reflects each program’s individual administrative and processing needs.

Students applying to Nursing, Pharmaceutical Science and Molecular Medicine, and Nutrition and Exercise Physiology will receive an email notice asking them to create an account at WSU so they may complete their application. 

Other Applications

Applications managed by programs, health sciences professional programs applications.

See programs linked above for requirements, deadlines, application fees, and tuition costs.

Master’s in Business Administration

Application process.

The applicant’s graduate program recommends the student for admission. Following this recommendation, the Graduate School reviews the applicant’s credentials, and the decision is finalized by the Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education. Only complete applications will be evaluated for admission. Please review specific graduate program additional application requirements.

Fall Semester

Priority application deadline: january 10 classes begin august 19, 2024, spring semester, priority application deadline: july 1 classes begin january 8, 2024.

Meeting the priority application deadline may improve admission chances, especially in programs with limited enrollment or funding opportunities.

Letters of Recommendation

Please contact your references in advance of submitting your application to verify they are willing to respond to your request for a recommendation. Ask your references to discuss your leadership, academic accomplishments, and skills as they pertain to your primary interest area. Your references will be contacted automatically through the online application system when you enter their information on the application.

Application Quick Start Guides

• EngineeringCAS

Mailing Addresses

• When sending material to the Graduate School via FedEx, UPS, or DHL, use the following address:

Graduate School Staff Graduate School 410 Dairy Road French Administration 324 MS-1030 Pullman, WA 99164-1030

• When sending material to the Graduate School via the U.S. Postal Service, use the following address:

Graduate School Staff Graduate School PO Box 641030 Pullman, WA 99164-1030

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• Go to wsu linkedin

Microsoft Office suite application changes, July 2024

Effective this July, WSU is restricting the use of downloadable Microsoft Office 365 applications for certain user groups following recent contract and licensing term changes.

WSU administrative professional, civil service, paid faculty, and students are not affected by this change, and will continue to be able to download, install, and use the Microsoft Office suite.

However, the downloadable Microsoft Office desktop applications will no longer be offered to WSU emeritus faculty, affiliates (external WSU partners), courtesy (unpaid) employees, or hourly employees. These individuals will be provided licensing for the online versions of the Office suite via the Microsoft 365 website .

This change will occur between July 8 and July 12.

This change will impact Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Visio, and any other desktop Office suite application that is licensed or activated via logging in with a WSU network ID.

OneDrive will not be impacted by this change, and users can still use OneDrive via a web browser or the OneDrive desktop application.

Affected users will retain access to the online versions of Microsoft software via the Microsoft 365 website.

Additional change information and frequently asked questions are available on the ITS website.

Please contact Crimson Service Desk at [email protected] or 509-335-4357 with any questions or concerns.

The Notices and Announcements section is provided as a service to the WSU community for sharing events such as lectures, trainings, and other highly transactional types of information related to the university experience. Information provided and opinions expressed may not reflect the understanding or opinion of WSU. Accuracy of the information presented is the responsibility of those who submitted it. The self-uploaded posts are reviewed for compliance with state statutes and ethics guidelines but are not edited for spelling, grammar, or clarity.

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