We are a proud campus partner

WashU believes that all talented students should have access to higher education regardless of their financial background—which is why we’ve partnered with QuestBridge, a leading nonprofit that connects high-achieving, low-income students to the nation’s best colleges.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible to apply to the National College Match in the fall of 2023, applicants must graduate from high school during or before the summer of 2024 and plan to enroll as a first-year student in college in the fall of 2024.

The QuestBridge National College Match is open to all:

  • U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents or
  • DACA and undocumented students (students who live in the U.S. and do not have a current visa) currently attending high school in the United States

Selection criteria

QuestBridge does not have absolute criteria or cut-offs for GPA, standardized test scores, or income. They look at academic achievement and financial qualifications, but also take into account any personal circumstances.

When selecting finalists, they consider the following questions:

  • Does this student have the motivation and academic ability to thrive at one of our college partners?
  • Has this student overcome socio-economic obstacles to achieve academic excellence?

For more information regarding eligibility & selection criteria, please review National College Match: Who Should Apply

Application requirements

  • A free, online National College Match application, including information on your academic and extracurricular accomplishments, financial background*, two essays, short answer questions
  • Two letters of recommendation from teachers in core academic subjects
  • A Secondary School Report from your high school counselor
  • A School Profile (optional, but recommended)
  • A high school transcript and additional transcripts (if applicable)
  • WashU offers students the option to apply without consideration of their SAT or ACT scores.

*Access to previous year tax returns and other financial documents is highly recommended and will help you complete the application.

QuestBridge Scholars Network

The QuestBridge Scholars Network (QSN) actively builds a community for first generation students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds on WashU’s campus.

Taylor Stars

Incoming QuestBridge Scholars are invited to participate in the Taylor Stars community. Taylor Stars (housed within the Taylor Family Center for Student Success) provides students who are the first in their family to attend college or who are from under-resourced socioeconomic backgrounds with resources and community before, during, and beyond their time at WashU.

Dates and deadlines for the National College Match

The National College Match application will open late-summer, and applications are due on September 26, 2023. For more information, please review National College Match: Dates and Deadlines.

Apply

Complete your QuestBridge application by the deadline, and forward it to WashU. You will soon receive instructions via email on activating your WashU Pathway account. 

In the Pathway, you will be asked to submit the College Match required application materials by November 1, 2023. These include:

Washington University QuestBridge Supplement

You will be asked to indicate your preferred academic division and up to two potential majors. In addition, you will submit the required portfolio if applying for the College of Art in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.

Note: A portfolio for the College of Architecture is optional.

Official Transcripts

WashU accepts transcripts submitted as part of the Secondary School Report in the QuestBridge application.

Test Scores

SAT code: 6929
ACT code: 2386

WashU offers students the option to apply without consideration of their SAT or ACT scores.

Students who rank WashU can indicate which, if any, scores they would like considered in the review of their application.

For students who would like to submit test scores, WashU accepts self-reported test scores, scores reported on official transcripts, or scores verified through counselors.

Test results from any of your high school years are acceptable, though senior-year testing is encouraged.

WashU utilizes the highest subscores of each individual test taken, and does superscore for the highest possible composite test score.

The last test date accepted for QuestBridge will be the September testing for ACT and the October testing for SAT.

Official scores will be required for students who enroll at WashU and request that their scores be considered for admission.

FAFSA

U.S. Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens

FAFSA code: 002520

CSS Profile

Please select “Early Decision” as your admission application type on the CSS Profile. 

If your parents are divorced or separated you are not required to submit the Noncustodial Profile

CSS code: 6929

Finalists who did not match

Finalists who ranked WashU and submitted all materials, but did not match

You will automatically have your application moved into the Regular Decision process. If you no longer wish to be considered, you must request that your application be withdrawn by emailing admissions@wustl.edu.

Please submit the following by Feb 1, 2024:

QuestBridge Midyear Report 

Official test scores

Only if you have new scores to report since you submitted your National College Match application

SAT code: 6929
ACT code: 2386

Finalists who did not rank WashU

Please submit the following by Feb 1, 2024:

QuestBridge Midyear Report

Official transcripts

Official test scores

SAT code: 6929
ACT code: 2386

FAFSA

FAFSA code: 002520

CSS Profile

CSS code: 6929

You can still apply Early Decision II by emailing admissions@wustl.edu no later than January 3, 2024. Please include the subject line: QuestBridge Applicant Applying EDII. You will need to submit the Early Decision Agreement and provide signatures for your parent/guardian, counselor, and yourself.

Non-finalists

If you are not selected as a Finalist, this is not an indication of your chances of admission to WashU. We encourage you to still apply! Here’s what we need from you:

Common Application or Coalition Application

with WashU Writing Supplement, and all supporting documents

Application Fee

Request a fee waiver when you submit either the Common Application or Coalition Application

Midyear Report

Official Transcripts

Test scores

Will accept self-reported test scores

SAT code: 6929
ACT code: 2386

FAFSA

FAFSA code: 002520

CSS Profile

CSS code: 6929