Admissions Overview
The University of Washington is a great place to study Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and many related technology fields! There is a wealth of relevant majors on campus.
As you launch into your time at UW, it’s important to recognize that many students discover a new academic passion during their first year — they indicate preference for one major on their UW application, but an exciting introductory course in another field causes them to reconsider. This is healthy! Students who come to UW intending to major in a field other than Computer Science or Computer Engineering sometimes take our introductory course, discover that they love the field and have a flair for it, and become our majors. Students who come to UW intending to major in Computer Science or Computer Engineering sometimes discover that another major — for example, Informatics or Human Centered Design & Engineering — is better suited to their interests. Don’t feel constrained; explore the breadth and depth of the University of Washington!
Some relevant majors are:
- Computer Science & Computer Engineering, offered by the Paul G. Allen School (we’re glad you’re here!)
- Informatics
- Human Centered Design & Engineering
- Applied & Computational Mathematical Sciences
- Electrical Engineering
- and more!
As with many other programs at UW, the Paul G. Allen School is capacity-constrained: the number of interested students significantly exceeds the number of student places that are available. (We can’t expand arbitrarily. Providing a world-class Computer Science or Computer Engineering education requires appropriate class sizes, laboratory facilities, faculty, etc.). Below you will learn about the different admissions pathways to get into the Allen School.
Admission Pathways
Most students enter through our Direct to Major Admission pathway from high school or Transfer Admission from another university or college; about 25-30% of our students apply after coming to UW and discovering a passion for Computer Science or Computer Engineering. This section contains detailed information for each of the following:
- Direct to Major for Freshman Applicants: This process grants Allen School admission to incoming freshman applicants who list either Computer Science or Computer Engineering as their first choice major, based on the standard UW Freshman Application. Unfortunately, capacity constraints mean that many students admitted to UW cannot be accommodated in the Allen School.
- Washington State Academic Redshirt (STARS) Program: The Washington State Academic RedShirt (STARS) program supports engineering and computer science students from low-income, first-generation, and underserved backgrounds in navigating the transition to college-level courses.
- Transfer Admission: Transfer applicants are selected for admission based on the standard UW Transfer Application and a supplemental department application. Priority is given to students who are coming directly from a Washington State community or technical college.
- Current UW Student Admission: This pathway is intended for students who are currently enrolled at UW, discover a passion for CS or CE and then apply.
How Many New Majors Each Year?
The Allen School currently is able to enroll roughly 630 new students each year. This includes all admission pathways, and both Computer Science and Computer Engineering.