Transferring to UW Seattle: your chances, deadlines and credits
Transfer acceptance rate: 42.3%
Transfer acceptance rate
Source: Official school data report, section D, 2025-2026
For fall 2025, UW Seattle admitted 2,469 of 5,830 transfer applicants (42.3%).
Checked November 9, 2026. Competitive, many seats
- Autumn 2027 deadline
- Feb 15, 2027Source, 2026-2027
- SAT or ACT
- Not requiredSource, 2026-2027
- Credits that can transfer
- Up to 135 creditsSource, 2026-2027
- Interview
- Not offeredSource, undated page
UW Seattle transfer acceptance rate
UW Seattle's transfer acceptance rate for fall 2025 was 42.3%. 1,685 transfer students enrolled. The first-year rate the same year was 41.7%.
Source: Official school data report, section D, 2025-2026
The Common Data Set is the official data report colleges publish each year.
Transfer and first-year applicants are different groups. Use the first-year rate as context only.
One rate covers every college and major here. Your program may be more or less competitive than this.
UW's own transfer numbers page gives a three-year average for 2023-25. The admit rate for Washington community college applicants is much higher than for everyone else. The page says the middle half of admitted students had college GPAs of 3.26 to 3.86.
Source: UW transfers by the numbers, 2023-25
Our read: If you are not coming from a Washington community college, the overall count understates how hard it is for you. UW says Washington community and technical college transfers with an academic associate degree or 90 transferable credits get the highest priority.
Getting into UW does not get you into a major. Computer Science and Engineering are capacity constrained, and UW says the main pathway is direct first-year admission. Current students may apply after enrolling, but space is extremely limited.
Source: UW admission to majors, undated page
What GPA do you need?
UW reviews holistically. The list includes your transfer GPA from all transferable college courses, rigor, consistency in course completion, whether your academic goals are well defined, and whether you have prepared for your intended major.
Source: UW transfer holistic review, undated page
Our read: Because UW takes no letters, holds no interview and requires no test, the transfer GPA and the personal statement carry the file. Make both do work.
UW computes its own transfer GPA from all transferable academic courses at regionally accredited colleges. It uses your home school's grade values and its repeat policy, and it leaves out remedial courses, ESL, vocational courses and pass or satisfactory grades.
Source: UW transfer GPA, undated page
What UW Seattle looks for
It also asks whether your degree plan finishes on time, whether your program is offered at other Washington public schools, and whether you finished a foreign language through the 103 level if you are in Arts and Sciences, Education or Social Work.
Source: UW transfer holistic review, undated page
UW also names academic recovery after an extended absence, perseverance through adversity, and awards, service, work or research.
Source: UW transfer holistic review, undated page
Applicants with fewer than 40 quarter credits are considered, but UW says admission for them is competitive and limited. If you have fewer than 40 transferable quarter credits you also send a high school transcript.
Source: UW transfer holistic review, undated page; UW transfer: how to apply, undated page
UW does not hold interviews or consider demonstrated interest, and it tells applicants not to send letters of recommendation or supplemental items such as portfolios. SAT and ACT scores bring no advantage or disadvantage.
Source: UW transfer: how to apply, undated page
Will your credits transfer?
Up to 135 credits can count.
Most credits that can transfer
Up to 135 credits
The UW accepts at most 135 transfer credits toward the 180-credit degree total.
Source, 2026-2027
UW counts credits in quarters. To convert semester credits to quarter credits, multiply by 1.5.
Source: UW transfer credit policies, undated page
At most 135 transfer credits count toward the 180-credit degree, and only 90 lower-division credits count. You must complete 45 of your final 60 credits in residence at UW.
Source: UW transfer credit policies, undated page
The Direct Transfer Agreement gives junior standing on admission, but UW says it is not an admission agreement and credits are still evaluated course by course. UW reserves the right to accept or reject credits.
Source: UW transfer credit policies, undated page
Your transfer grades are not included in your UW GPA.
Source: UW transfer credit policies, undated page
Our read: Taking a lot of credits at a four-year school can hit the 135 cap or the 90 lower-division cap. Count before you take more of them.
Transfer requirements
UW Seattle requires an essay. It does not require SAT or ACT scores. There is no interview.
SAT or ACT scoresNot required
The UW no longer requires SAT or ACT scores for transfer applicants.
Source, 2026-2027
Official college transcripts are always required. A high school transcript is required if you have fewer than 40 quarter credits of transferable work.
Source: UW transfer: how to apply, undated page
The fee is $85 for US applicants, with waivers for confirmed financial hardship. It is $95 for international applicants, and no waivers are given.
Source: UW transfer: how to apply, undated page
Transfer deadlines for autumn 2027
For autumn 2027 entry, the application deadline is February 15, 2027.
Source: University of Washington, Seattle transfer information, 2026-2027
UW's dates page says the application opens December 15 and the deadline is February 15 for summer and autumn quarters. Decisions arrive between May 1 and June 30. The page prints no year, so confirm that these dates hold for autumn 2027.
Source: UW dates and deadlines, undated page
Spring quarter is open only to applicants to certain engineering and computer science departments. At the time we read it, the application was closed.
Source: UW transfer: how to apply, undated page
Some majors need a separate department application with its own due date. Others require that you enroll first and apply to the major later.
Source: UW dates and deadlines, undated page; UW transfer: how to apply, undated page
- Application deadlineFebruary 15, 2027Source, 2026-2027
Transfer essays and supplements
Required: academic history, suggested 750 to 1,000 words for the whole statement
Tell us about your college career to date, describing your performance, educational path and choices. Explain any situations that may have had a significant positive or negative impact on your academic progress or curricular choices. What are the specific reasons you wish to leave your most recent college/university or program of study?
Source: UW transfer personal statement, undated page
Required: major and career goals
Tell us about your intended major and career aspirations. Explain your plans to prepare for the major. How will the UW help you attain your academic, career and personal goals? If you selected a competitive major, address your second-choice major in the same statement.
Source: UW transfer personal statement, undated page
Optional: additional comments
Do you have a compelling academic or personal need to attend the Seattle campus of the UW at this time? Is there anything else you would like us to know?
Source: UW transfer personal statement, undated page
UW also lists optional prompts on educational challenges, community service and leadership, and research, artistic work or jobs. It says you do not have to answer every question.
Source: UW transfer personal statement, undated page
UW says to be specific and to avoid generic statements about loving the UW or having family who attended. It says the statement must be your own work, and that AI tools may be used for review only responsibly and ethically.
Source: UW transfer personal statement, undated page
Our read: This is a long, structured statement, not a single story. Cover each required question, including why you are leaving your current school. State the reason without blaming anyone, and name your prerequisite plan.
Our read: If you list a capacity-constrained major, the second-choice major is part of the required answer. Pick it for real reasons and say what you would do there.
Grades carry most of the weight here. A vague essay can still hurt. Get a free review before you send it.
Review my essay freeAI models process your essay. See how we handle it.
If it does not work out
UW tells you to plan a second-choice major because you can apply to more than one, and says your statement should explain what you would do if you are not admitted to your first choice.
Source: UW admission to majors, undated page
Our read: If your goal is Computer Science or Engineering at UW, apply to a major you would actually finish. A transfer admit to UW does not mean entry to the Allen School.
- University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignSimilar odds
- University of FloridaSimilar odds
- University of California, IrvineSimilar odds
- University of California, San DiegoTakes more transfers
Questions students ask
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
No. UW says sending scores brings no advantage or disadvantage.
Source: UW transfer: how to apply, undated page
Do I need letters of recommendation?
UW tells applicants not to send letters of recommendation. It also holds no interviews and does not consider demonstrated interest.
Source: UW transfer: how to apply, undated page
Does a Washington community college degree get me in?
No. The Direct Transfer Agreement is not an admission agreement. UW gives these students the highest priority among transfer applicants.
Source: UW transfer credit policies, undated page; UW transfer holistic review, undated page
Do my old grades count in my UW GPA?
No. Transfer grades are not included in your UW GPA. UW calculates a separate transfer GPA used to decide admission.
Source: UW transfer credit policies, undated page; UW transfer GPA, undated page
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Sources
- Official school data report, 2025-2026
- UW transfer: how to apply, undated page
- UW dates and deadlines, undated page
- UW transfer holistic review, undated page
- UW transfer GPA, undated page
- UW transfers by the numbers, 2023-25
- UW transfer credit policies, undated page
- UW admission to majors, undated page
- UW transfer personal statement, undated page
Numbers come from official reports, read by our tools and checked. Notes were drafted with AI tools from the official pages linked beside them. A person has not reviewed this guide yet. Admission decisions belong to each college, and no one can promise one.