GPA Needed for College Admission at Washington State

Many of WSU's prospective students are accepted through the Assured Admission program.
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Washington State University rewards hardworking students with the gift of a stress-free application process. The university's admissions page states, "If you have an outstanding academic record, we have a spot already reserved for you." And they mean it! With the Assured Admission program, U.S. students are guaranteed admission to WSU if they are ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class or if they have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).

1 Applying for the Assured Admission Program

Complete your application early to ensure your admission to WSU.
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Even if you meet the academic requirements for assured admission, you still must apply for acceptance; in fact, you are required to apply by the priority date to take advantage of the program. In recent years this deadline has fallen on January 31.

2 Standardized Testing

For all of Washington state's public universities, the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board requires prospective students to submit SAT or ACT scores for freshman admission. However, if you meet WSU's GPA requirements for assured admission, these scores are just a technicality. Keep in mind though that while minimum standardized test scores are not required for assured admission, doing well on the SAT or ACT will affect scholarships and financial aid.

3 Regular Admissions

If you do not meet the top 10 percent or GPA requirements for assured admission, you can still get into Washington State. The university's admissions page indicates that students still have a good chance of admission if they obtain a "solid record that shows you're well prepared to succeed at WSU." According to the College Board, 76 percent of WSU applicants are admitted. In 2013, 64 percent of incoming freshman did not meet the assured admission requirements.

4 Keep Up That GPA!

Don't slack off during your senior year; grades still matter.
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Whether or not you apply to WSU with a GPA qualified for assured admissions, your academic performance after you submit your application still matters. Acceptance via assured admission assumes students will maintain their class rank or GPA through graduation; the university actually declares a continuing solid academic record a contingency of assured admission.

Since earning her B.S. in journalism and M.S. in publishing, Allie Benjamin continues to write and edit educational content for various platforms. She also has spent time as a resume writer/editor. Based in D.C., Benjamin currently educates high-school students in grammar and writing skills.

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