WUSTL vs. Barnard

Deciding between Washington University in St Louis and Barnard College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Washington University in St Louis
Barnard College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WUSTL St. Louis, MO
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Setting
  • WUSTL Large Suburban
  • Barnard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • WUSTL 16,357
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Type
  • WUSTL Private 4 Year
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WUSTL #21
  • Barnard #35
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WUSTL -
  • Barnard -
  • Status
  • WUSTL Non-profit
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WUSTL
  • Barnard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Room & Board
  • WUSTL $21,854
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Average Net Price
  • WUSTL $22,408
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WUSTL $66,080
  • Barnard $63,131
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WUSTL 49%
  • Barnard 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WUSTL 32,754
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Admitted
  • WUSTL 3,951
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WUSTL 12.1%
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • WUSTL 46.7%
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WUSTL 1540
  • Barnard 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • WUSTL 34
  • Barnard 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • WUSTL 3.92
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WUSTL A
  • Barnard A
  • Admissions Standards
  • WUSTL Elite
  • Barnard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • WUSTL Very High
  • Barnard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • WUSTL 33/35
  • Barnard 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • WUSTL 1500/1570
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WUSTL Test optional
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WUSTL Jan 4, 2027
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WUSTL 7:1
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WUSTL
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WUSTL 93%
  • Barnard 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WUSTL $82,800
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WUSTL 88%
  • Barnard 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WUSTL $19,900
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WUSTL $205
  • Barnard $184

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WUSTL 47%
  • Barnard 2%
  • % Women
  • WUSTL 53%
  • Barnard 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WUSTL High
  • Barnard High
  • HBCU
  • WUSTL No
  • Barnard No
  • % White
  • WUSTL 55%
  • Barnard 53%
  • % Asian
  • WUSTL 19%
  • Barnard 14%
  • % Black
  • WUSTL 6%
  • Barnard 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • WUSTL 7%
  • Barnard 12%
  • % Native American
  • WUSTL 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WUSTL 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WUSTL 4%
  • Barnard 6%
  • % International
  • WUSTL 8%
  • Barnard 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WUSTL 2%
  • Barnard 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WUSTL 15%
  • Barnard 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WUSTL 73%
  • Barnard 62%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • WUSTL Yes
  • Barnard Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • WUSTL No
  • Barnard No
  • Meal Plan
  • WUSTL Yes
  • Barnard Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • WUSTL Yes
  • Barnard No
  • Daycare Facility
  • WUSTL No
  • Barnard No

Comparable Facts

Compare Washington University in St Louis in St. Louis, MO with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Washington University in St Louis is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (16,357 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Washington University in St Louis is located in St. Louis, MO (Large Suburban setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Washington University in St Louis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Washington University in St Louis 7:1; Barnard College 10:1.

WUSTL vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WUSTL or Barnard? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington University in St Louis than Barnard ($22,408 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Barnard College are 0.6% lower than at Washington University in St Louis ($21,714 vs. $21,854).
  • Barnard College is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than WUSTL (about $4,098 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $65,790.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.2% higher at Barnard than at Washington University in St Louis (about $4,098 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $65,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Washington University in St Louis than at Barnard College (49% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington University in St Louis students is 4.7% larger than aid received by Barnard College students ($66,080 vs. $63,131).

WUSTL vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WUSTL or Barnard? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Barnard and WUSTL .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington University in St Louis (1540) is 20 points higher than at Barnard (1520).
  • Incoming WUSTL students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington University in St Louis 1500/1570; Barnard College 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington University in St Louis 33/35; Barnard College 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WUSTL - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WUSTL Jan 4, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WUSTL students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • WUSTL has a higher acceptance rate (12.1%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.7% at WUSTL vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

WUSTL vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WUSTL and Barnard? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Washington University in St Louis's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Barnard College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Washington University in St Louis earn a median of about $15,900 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,800 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $2,053 lower median loan debt than WUSTL graduates ($17,847 vs. $19,900).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WUSTL graduates ($184 vs. $205).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WUSTL students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 88%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.