First-Year Students

Welcome to WSU

Whether you’re self-motivated or inspired by a thriving community, Coug spirit fills our first-year students with a thirst to innovate and explore. Immerse yourself in nationally ranked academic programs that prepare you for a successful and fulfilling career. Locate your admission counselor to get started right away on an experience you’ll never forget.

Start Your Application

If you’re ready for the Coug life, start your application now. If you’re applying to WSU for the academic year immediately following graduation from high school and you haven’t taken any college courses since graduation, then you’re a first-year student.

How to Apply

Here’s where it all starts. Fill out the application for admission by May 1 if you’re a first-year student. And if you wish to be considered for Top Scholars designation, apply by January 31.

  1. Apply for admission by the priority date* either through WSU or, as a first-year student, via Common App.
  2. Upload your high school transcripts with your application.
  3. Pay the $70 application fee or apply for a fee waiver. 
  4. Complete the General Scholarship application by May 1.
  5. Submit your FAFSA or WASFA application by May 1.

*The priority date for admission applications is May 1. Applications should be completed by May 1 to be eligible for automatic awarding of University waivers such as DUAA, UAA, and the WUE/Cougar Award. University waivers are awarded based on eligibility at the time of admittance to WSU. If you choose to attend a different semester than the one indicated on your application, you’ll need to re-apply.

Explore degree offerings

With 11 academic colleges, WSU offers more than 200 undergraduate and graduate fields of study. No matter what major you decide to pursue, we can help you build a successful future.

Important Dates

For students applying to start in Fall 2024.

August 1

  • Applications Open

January 1

  • Complete the FAFSA and WASFA

January 31

  • Top Scholars consideration priority date 

May 1

  • Admission application priority date
  • WSU General Scholarship Application deadline
  • FAFSA and WASFA priority date

June 1

  • Enrollment Confirmation priority date

July 31

  • FAFSA/WASFA verification document submission priority date

Application Requirements

WSU does not require students to submit SAT/ACT test scores as part of the application process and will not use them in our admission decisions.

CADR Requirements

The state of Washington maintains a set of academic core requirements called the College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADR) that all students have to meet to qualify for college admission. You can find more information on courses that meet admission requirements through the Washington Student Achievement Council.

First-Year Student Categories

  1. High School Graduate: Whether you’re applying for the semester directly after your high school graduation or have been out of high school for a while, here’s what you need to do:
    Ask your high school for a copy of your transcripts that you can upload with your application. If you have earned a GED, have the testing agency send us your official GED transcript instead. If you have earned college credit, ask the college to send those official transcripts to WSU as well.
  1. Students age 25+: You’re considered a first-year student for admission purposes if you’ll be 25 years or older on your first day of classes at WSU and have completed less than one year’s worth of transferable college work.
    Requirements for 25+ students:
    1. Fill out the admission application.
      1. Additionally, make sure to complete the WSU General Scholarship Application by January 31 and file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by March 31.
      2. If you choose to attend a different semester than the one indicated on your application, you’ll need to re-apply.
    2. Send transcripts.
      1. Have your high school send us an official transcript with graduation date. If you have a GED, order your official GED transcript instead.
      2. If you have completed some college courses, also have the college (or colleges) you attended send us your official transcripts.
    3. Send supporting materials. Because the usual application may not tell your story — it’s been a while since high school, maybe also a while since your last college class — we ask you to provide other information and tell us a bit about your experiences since then. Items can be uploaded by using the document uploader in your FutureCoug Portal.
      1. A resume covering the last five years.
      2. A brief essay (no more than one page) addressing why you want to attend WSU.
  1. Homeschool students: Did you complete some or all of your schooling at home? You’re welcome at WSU!
    1. Have your official transcripts from all high schools and colleges attended sent to our office.
    2. Send one of the following two items:
      1. An academic resume (homeschooled transcript) that provides documentation of all subjects studied and textbooks used, including the signature of the parent or guardian; responsible for the student’s curriculum.
      2. An official transcript from the GED exam, if taken.

Still in high school at the time of application? 

Please do the following in addition to filling out the admission application:

  • Send your high school transcript to WSU by uploading the transcript when filling out the admission application, by using the document uploader in your FutureCoug Portal, by using an accepted documentation service such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, Scribbles, or eScrip-Safe, or by mailing or faxing it to us. We do not accept transcripts via email.
  • If you earned college credit, ask the college(s) to send official transcripts to WSU.

Final official transcripts must be received prior to enrollment and must be sent directly from the school or testing agency to WSU via postal mail, fax, or an accepted documentation service such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, Scribbles, or eScrip-Safe. Please note, we do not accept official transcripts or test scores sent via email. 

Mailing address:

Washington State University
Office of Admissions
370 Lighty Student Services Bldg.
PO Box 641067
Pullman, WA 99164-1067

Fax: 509-335-4902

Note: This is a guide to the admission process, not a statement of policy. See the WSU General Catalog for official requirements and regulations.