WUSTL vs. MSOE

Deciding between Washington University in St Louis and Milwaukee School of Engineering? 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
Milwaukee School of Engineering

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WUSTL St. Louis, MO
  • MSOE Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • WUSTL Large Suburban
  • MSOE Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • WUSTL 16,357
  • MSOE 2,953
  • Type
  • WUSTL Private 4 Year
  • MSOE Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WUSTL #21
  • MSOE #230
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WUSTL -
  • MSOE -
  • Status
  • WUSTL Non-profit
  • MSOE Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WUSTL
  • MSOE

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Room & Board
  • WUSTL $21,854
  • MSOE $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • WUSTL $22,408
  • MSOE $25,669
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WUSTL $66,080
  • MSOE $36,997
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WUSTL 49%
  • MSOE 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WUSTL 32,754
  • MSOE 6,287
  • Admitted
  • WUSTL 3,951
  • MSOE 3,705
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WUSTL 12.1%
  • MSOE 58.9%
  • Enrolled
  • WUSTL 46.7%
  • MSOE 17.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WUSTL 1540
  • MSOE 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • WUSTL 34
  • MSOE 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • WUSTL 3.92
  • MSOE 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WUSTL A
  • MSOE A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WUSTL Elite
  • MSOE Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • WUSTL Very High
  • MSOE Low
  • ACT Range
  • WUSTL 33/35
  • MSOE 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • WUSTL 1500/1570
  • MSOE 1160/1405
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WUSTL Test optional
  • MSOE Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • WUSTL Jan 4, 2027
  • MSOE Sep 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WUSTL 7:1
  • MSOE 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WUSTL
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • MSOE
    • Engineering (66%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Communication (1%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WUSTL 93%
  • MSOE 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WUSTL $82,800
  • MSOE $68,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WUSTL 88%
  • MSOE 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WUSTL $19,900
  • MSOE $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WUSTL $205
  • MSOE $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WUSTL 47%
  • MSOE 70%
  • % Women
  • WUSTL 53%
  • MSOE 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WUSTL High
  • MSOE Medium
  • HBCU
  • WUSTL No
  • MSOE No
  • % White
  • WUSTL 55%
  • MSOE 66%
  • % Asian
  • WUSTL 19%
  • MSOE 3%
  • % Black
  • WUSTL 6%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • WUSTL 7%
  • MSOE 5%
  • % Native American
  • WUSTL 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WUSTL 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WUSTL 4%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % International
  • WUSTL 8%
  • MSOE 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WUSTL 2%
  • MSOE 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WUSTL 15%
  • MSOE 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WUSTL 73%
  • MSOE 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Washington University in St Louis in St. Louis, MO with Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Washington University in St Louis is larger than MSOE based on total student enrollment (16,357 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Washington University in St Louis is located in St. Louis, MO (Large Suburban setting); Milwaukee School of Engineering is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Washington University in St Louis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Washington University in St Louis 7:1; Milwaukee School of Engineering 12:1.

WUSTL vs. MSOE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WUSTL or MSOE? 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 MSOE ($22,408 vs. $25,669).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee School of Engineering are 36% lower than at Washington University in St Louis ($13,984 vs. $21,854).
  • Washington University in St Louis is 30.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSOE (about $15,310 more per year; $65,790.00 vs. $50,480.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.3% higher at WUSTL than at Milwaukee School of Engineering (about $15,310 more per year; $65,790.00 vs. $50,480.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Milwaukee School of Engineering than at Washington University in St Louis (100% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington University in St Louis students is 78.6% larger than aid received by Milwaukee School of Engineering students ($66,080 vs. $36,997).

WUSTL vs. MSOE Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WUSTL or MSOE? 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 MSOE and WUSTL .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington University in St Louis (1540) is 260 points higher than at MSOE (1280).
  • Incoming WUSTL students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 27 at MSOE).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington University in St Louis 1500/1570; Milwaukee School of Engineering 1160/1405.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington University in St Louis 33/35; Milwaukee School of Engineering 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WUSTL - Test optional; MSOE - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WUSTL Jan 4, 2027; MSOE Sep 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman WUSTL students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at MSOE (3.65).
  • MSOE has a higher acceptance rate (58.9%) than WUSTL (12.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.7% at WUSTL vs. 17.2% at MSOE.

WUSTL vs. MSOE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WUSTL and MSOE? 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 Milwaukee School of Engineering's (57%).
  • Graduates from Washington University in St Louis earn a median of about $13,900 more per year than MSOE graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,800 vs. $68,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Washington University in St Louis graduates have a $7,100 lower median loan debt than MSOE graduates ($19,900 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, WUSTL graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MSOE graduates ($205 vs. $279).
  • More WUSTL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSOE students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 83%)

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.