How can I compare the regular decision competitiveness of Washington University in St. Louis and Columbia?

Columbia is typically more difficult to enter through Regular Decision than Washington University in St. Louis. Both universities are highly selective, and neither should be treated as a likely admission.

Regular Decision is especially constrained at Columbia because a significant portion of the incoming class is admitted through its binding Early Decision round before RD decisions are made. Washington University likewise offers binding Early Decision I and II and becomes more selective in RD as a result.

WashU is not an “easier” safety or target for a strong applicant. It has major strengths in pre-med, business, engineering, research, and student life. Still, an applicant who is realistically competitive at WashU may face a noticeably steeper admissions hurdle at Columbia.

For application planning, place Columbia in the highest-reach category and WashU as a reach as well, potentially a somewhat more attainable one depending on your academic record, course rigor, recommendations, activities, and fit with each institution. Compare your profile to each school’s most recently published Common Data Set and admissions materials, but do not rely on overall acceptance rates alone: Early Decision enrollment means the Regular Decision odds are tougher than those headline figures suggest.