Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
Washington State University reports a middle 50% SAT of 1010 to 1280 (enrolled who submitted scores, fall 2024). We use 1140 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1010 to 1280 (enrolled who submitted scores, fall 2024) |
| Middle 50% ACT | 18 to 27 |
| Acceptance rate | 86.6% (fall 2024, 22,060 admitted of 25,462 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Test-free (WSU's Board of Regents stopped requiring and using SAT/ACT in admissions in 2021) |
| Type | Public university |
Source: WSU official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
WSU admission runs on GPA and course rigor; only about 5% of fall-2024 enrolled first-years submitted an SAT score.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| University of Washington (Seattle) | 1333 to 1500 | 39.1% |
| Whitman College | 1190 to 1415 | 40.2% |
| University of Puget Sound | 1160 to 1388 | 72.3% |
| Gonzaga University | 1230 to 1383 | 79.6% |
| Seattle University | 1160 to 1360 | Not reported |
| Western Washington University | 1130 to 1320 | 93.3% |
| Washington State University | 1010 to 1280 | 86.6% |
| Eastern Washington University | 920 to 1100 | 85.3% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for Washington Colleges.
Washington has no statewide SAT-cutoff scholarship. Its flagship aid program, the College Bound Scholarship, is based on income eligibility, a 7th/8th-grade sign-up, and a 2.0 GPA, not a test score, and every major Washington public university has gone test-free or test-optional, so automatic merit aid statewide runs on GPA alone.
College Bound Scholarship (Washington Student Achievement Council): Tuition and most required fees at a WA public institution (average-rate equivalent toward private tuition) for income-eligible students who sign up in 7th or 8th grade, graduate from a WA high school with a 2.0 GPA, and complete the FAFSA/WASFA.
Central Washington University Non-Resident Merit Scholarship: $15,000-$18,600 per year for up to 4 years for out-of-state admits with at least a 3.0 GPA; renews with a 2.75 CWU GPA.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our Washington SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Arizona University | Arizona | 1010 to 1280 |
| East Carolina University | North Carolina | 1060 to 1220 |
| Howard University | District of Columbia | 1050 to 1250 |
| Stockton University | New Jersey | 1050 to 1250 |
A score that is competitive at WSU lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Washington colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1010 to 1280. A score at or above 1280 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1010 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
Yes. WSU lists its policy as: Test-free (WSU's Board of Regents stopped requiring and using SAT/ACT in admissions in 2021). A score inside or above the range can still strengthen an application, and some scholarships and programs use scores separately.
86.6% (fall 2024, 22,060 admitted of 25,462 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for WSU? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
Book the free Strategy Session. You leave with your teen's target score, their gap, and a 6 to 12 week plan. Yours to keep either way.
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