Is Washington University in St Louis Worth It?
St. Louis, MO · Large suburb · 7,857 students · Data: College Scorecard, June 2026 release
Washington University in St Louis is a R1 Research University located in large suburb in St. Louis, MO. It enrolls approximately 7,857 students. The acceptance rate is 12%, making it highly selective. 94% of students finish within 6 years (150% of normal time) — a strong result. With $86,182 median earnings and $17,500 median debt, median debt equals about 2 months of gross pay (estimate) — a solid ROI. 88% of borrowers are making progress on their loans 3 years after leaving school (College Scorecard).
Strongly liberal student body
7.78 liberal students for every 1 conservative student (FIRE survey). Free speech rank 56 of 261, grade D.
Full campus politics breakdown →Source: FIRE 2027 College Free Speech Rankings (student survey fielded 2026 by College Pulse)
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