Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is a private research university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. A group of civic leaders founded the university in 1853 and named it in honor of George Washington. The institution covers 355 acres across its Danforth and Medical campuses. It operates through nine academic schools.
The university offers a broad range of academic programs. It provides more than 150 undergraduate programs, over 80 master’s and professional programs, and around 50 doctoral programs. As of 2024, the university enrolled 16,399 students. These students represent all 50 U.S. states and come from more than 110 countries worldwide. The QS World University Rankings 2026 have placed the university at #167.