Scholarships are life-changing investments in outstanding students. Updates to Washington University’s scholarship giving program reflect our continued commitment to student access and support.
The need for student support has significantly increased since we last updated our scholarship giving program in 2009.
| Key financial aid factors | 2008-2009 | 2020-2021 |
| Number of undergraduate students | 7,055 | 7,666 |
| Average undergraduate scholarship award | $24,365 | $51,701 |
| Undergraduate tuition (excluding fees and room and board) | $36,200 | $59,420 |
| Total undergraduate financial aid | $65,787,145 | $148,510,000 |
| Number of graduate students | 6,452 | 7,873 |
| Total graduate financial aid | $76,403,000 | $154, 500,000 |
Effective July 1, 2022
New Annual Scholarships
- All undergraduate annual scholarships will support the WashU Scholarship Fund and provide financial aid for students throughout the university.
- Graduate scholarship support may be directed to a school’s graduate program.
- A donor may name an annual scholarship with a gift of $10,000 or more.
- Alumni ages 35 and younger who have graduated in the past five years may name an annual scholarship with a gift of $5,000 or more.
New Endowed Scholarships
- Undergraduate endowed scholarships will now support students throughout the university.
- Graduate scholarship support may be directed to a school’s graduate program.
- A donor may name an endowed scholarship fund with a commitment of $100,000 or more, which will be pooled with other resources to benefit WashU students.
- Donors can endow and name an individual student scholarship with a gift of $250,000 or more.
The changes listed above apply to new scholarships established after July 1, 2022, and annual scholarships renewed after July 1, 2022.
Undergraduate university scholarships
Beginning July 1, 2022, undergraduate scholarships will provide financial aid to students throughout the university rather than within a specific school. Undergraduate university scholarships allow Washington University to recruit and admit the most talented students and support them as they explore their interests across schools and programs on the Danforth Campus.
Annual and endowed graduate scholarships and fellowships will remain school-based. In addition, we will continue to honor school designations and preferences for existing endowed undergraduate scholarship funds, to which donors can make additional gifts going forward.
“We are committed to ensuring that the most promising students have the opportunity to study here at WashU regardless of their financial situations. They advance the university and have the potential to change the world through their gifts, their talents, and their extraordinary determination.”
Chancellor Andrew D. Martin