Founded 1853
We are among the world’s leaders in teaching, research, patient care, and service to society. We are committed to learning and exploration, to discovery and impact. Together, we explore our intellectual passions and challenge the unknown.
- 14,500+ full-time students
- 3,645 instructional faculty
- 300+ academic programs
- Students and faculty from more than 100 countries
Our Campuses
Washington University in St. Louis’ campuses are located near the cultural center of St. Louis, surrounded by and adjacent to museums, performance venues, vibrant entertainment and dining districts, one of the nation’s largest civic parks, and beautiful, tree-lined neighborhoods rich in history and diversity.Washington University is easy to visit and, once you arrive, you’ll find a welcoming, open community that is an integral part of the St. Louis region.
Washington University in St. Louis is a place where people matter and serious work is done.
At WashU, we generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge. We foster freedom of inquiry and expression of ideas in our research, teaching and learning.
WashUMission
to act in service of truth through the formation of leaders, the discovery of knowledge and the treatment of patients for the betterment of our region, our nation and our world.We aim to create an environment that encourages and supports wide-ranging exploration at the frontier of discovery by embracing diverse perspectives from individuals of all identities and backgrounds. We promote higher education and rigorous research as a fundamental component of an open, vibrant society. We strive to enhance the lives and livelihoods not only of our students, patients, and employees but also of the people of the greater St. Louis community and beyond. We do so by addressing scientific, social, economic, medical, and other challenges in the local, national, and international realms.
Our goals are:
To this end we intend:
- to foster excellence and creativity in our teaching, research, scholarship, patient care and service
- to welcome students, faculty and staff from all backgrounds to create an inclusive, equitable community that is nurturing and intellectually rigorous
- to cultivate in students habits of lifelong learning and critical and ethical thinking, thereby enabling them to be productive members and leaders of a global society
- to contribute positively to our home community of St. Louis, and to effect meaningful, constructive change in our world
- to hold ourselves to the highest standards of excellence
- to educate aspiring leaders of great ability from diverse backgrounds
- to encourage faculty and students to be innovative, bold, independent, critical thinkers
- to build an inclusive, equitable, respectful, ethically-principled environment for living, teaching, learning and working for the present and future generations
- to focus on meaningful and measurable outcomes for all of our endeavors
We Are a Community
We will challenge you to realize your potential. We inspire and support each other with a view toward both individual and collective success. We are a community of individuals with inner fire and quiet confidence, inspired to work together to develop big ideas and tackle challenging problems.We Are Driven
Our mission drives who we are as a university. As we accept the challenge of our mission’s goals of inclusion and excellence, we are always evolving to meet the needs of our current and prospective students as well as our alumni, faculty and staff. We focus on strategic priorities that produce the most impact toward our goal of enhancing the lives of our students, our community and our world.We Are Personal
Our campuses demonstrate our commitment to an inclusive community that is welcoming, nurturing and intellectually rigorous. Throughout Washington University’s history we have set our sights high and judged ourselves by the most exacting standards. With a view toward individual and collective success, our mission moves us to inspire and support one another.Together, We Lead
Watch our mission in action through the stories in our publications and in the ways our leadership builds partnerships and strengthens our community.
