Washington University in St. Louis is a vibrant and diverse academic community of individuals and programs.

The following consumer information is provided to benefit current and prospective students and their parents. Knowledgeable individuals are able to make informed decisions about their role, their actions and their responsibilities within the community.

Included are key items disclosed in accordance with the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA).

General Information

For general information about WashU, please visit washu.edu/about-washu or call 314-935-5000.

For information about undergraduate admission to WashU, please visit admissions.washu.edu.

The university is highly regarded for its commitment to excellence in learning. Its programs, administration, facilities, resources and activities combine to further its mission of teaching, research and service to society.

Information about undergraduate and graduate programs, physical facilities and the faculty can be found on the following websites:

Course Catalog Bulletins and Handbooks

Bulletins published by each school include specific information on programs of study, course descriptions, instructional facilities, faculty, accreditation and licensure, degree requirements, and course offerings. Each school’s policies regarding transfer of credit, articulation agreements, refunds, withdrawal and return of federal financial aid, academic integrity and other policies important to students can be found in the bulletins published by and available from each school.

Accreditation

WashU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In addition to the university-wide accreditation, each of WashU’s schools is accredited in regular intervals by their school’s professional organization. For information call University Accreditation Programs at 314-935-5623. Students may submit complaints to the Higher Learning Commission at complaints@hlcommission.org or to the Missouri Department of Higher Education at http://dhe.mo.gov/contactus.php.

Professional Licensure and Certification

The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, specifically 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) and 34 CFR 668.43 (c)and the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA), specifically SARA Manual Section 5.2, require disclosures by institutions regarding educational requirements for programs leading to professional licensure or certification regardless of modality.

Please see the Provost’s Office for more information on the university’s disclosure process.

Disability Resources

The university offers programs and support to students with disabilities through Disability Resources.

Additional Student Information

Student Privacy

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects information about students. The law generally gives students the right to:

  • Inspect and review education records
  • Seek the amendment of education records
  • Consent to certain disclosures of education records
  • Obtain a copy of the university’s FERPA policy
  • File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education

For more information about FERPA and the university’s FERPA policy visit the Office of the University Registrar website.

Health & Safety

The university’s student health services at both the Danforth Campus and the Medical Campus provide comprehensive health and wellness services to students, including drug and alcohol safety and prevention programs:

Other health and safety policies include:

Student Outcomes

  • Retention and Graduation Rates (Student Right-to-Know Act)
    Undergraduates who attend WashU as first-time, full-time students have high retention and graduation rates, as can be seen in the U.S. Department of Education’s College Navigator page.

    Outcomes for a range of undergraduate, degree-seeking students can be found in the U.S. Department of Education’s College Navigator page.
  • Career Outcome Data
    Students who attend WashU are successful. The resources and services of the Career Center are available to students from the day they arrive on campus, throughout their academic career and beyond, for undergraduate and graduate students alike. The Career Center’s annual report provides more information on our graduate’s employment, continuing education, military service, volunteer service, or seeking status. The Vice Provost for Graduate Education and International Affairs provides information regarding the outcomes of our students who earn graduate and professional degrees. 
  • Teacher preparation program report
  • Licensure Exam Pass Rates
    Students interested in how well WashU graduates do in required licensure exams related to Clinical Psychology, Education, Social Work, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Law, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Audiology, Genetic Counseling, and Medicine can view statistics here (PDF).

Common Data Set

The Common Data Set (CDS) initiative is a collaborative effort among data providers in the higher education community and publishers as represented by the College Board, Peterson’s and U.S. News & World Report. The combined goal of this collaboration is to improve the quality and accuracy of information provided to all involved in a student’s transition into higher education.

Current Year: 2023-24 CDS (PDF)

Student Financial Assistance

For information about federal student financial aid and assistance, grants, scholarships, and assistance withdrawal and refunds visit the Student Financial Services website or call Student Financial Assistance Counseling at 888-547-6670.

For information about School of Medicine financial aid and assistance visit the School of Medicine’s Office of Student Financial Planning or call the assistant dean of student affairs at 314-362-6845.

A paper copy of the information contained on this website may be obtained by contacting the Office of the University Registrar or by calling 314-935-5959.