Saint Louis, MOprivate nonprofitwww.webster.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 53%–82% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Webster University is a private institution in St. Louis with a near-open admissions policy (96% acceptance rate) and a global footprint, offering over 160 programs. Known for its strong communications and computer science departments, it attracts a diverse student body but has a quieter campus life. Graduates earn a median of $36,427 a year post-graduation, with financial aid packages averaging $30,899.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Outcomes & value
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Webster University is not selective, with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. of 95.93% (nearly open admissions). Of 4,530 applicants, 96% were admitted in recent cycles. Test scores for admitted students typically fall between 1120–1245 SAT or 19–26 ACT, though submissions of Advanced Placement credits are also accepted. The university uses the Common Application and does not offer early decision options.
Webster offers over 160 programs, including four-year degrees, accelerated master’s, and doctoral programs. Its School of Communications is notably large, covering filmmaking and animation, while computer science draws mixed reviews (some praise the curriculum, while Reddit critiques call faculty "abysmal"). Popular 2024 majors included:
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
The university emphasizes global education, with campuses in Switzerland and elsewhere, though its liberal arts core draws uneven faculty evaluations.
Campus life is subdued: 40% of students live on campus, but Niche reviews describe it as "quieter" with a lack of party culture. The university promotes clubs and international student support (notably for its Geneva campus), yet social vibrancy lags behind larger schools. Off-campus housing dominates (60% of students), and the YouTube campus tour highlights a "collegial" but low-key atmosphere.
The four-year graduation rate is 55%, with Asian male students graduating at the highest rate (77.8%). Median earnings one year post-graduation are $36,427, rising to $39,656 after six years. However, the university’s "knowledge rate" (tracking graduate outcomes) was just 28.51% in 2024–2025, suggesting limited data on alumni trajectories.
After aid, the average net price is $27,695, with 59.25% of students receiving financial aid. First-year packages average $30,899, including need-based scholarships averaging $26,881 (42% of freshmen qualify). Merit scholarships range from $12,000 to $20,000/year, renewable for up to eight semesters.
Webster’s global reach (12,000+ students across multiple countries) and niche strengths in communications set it apart, but its minimal admissions filter and modest post-grad earnings make it a pragmatic choice rather than a prestige pick. Ideal for students seeking flexibility and international opportunities, though those craving a classic college experience may find it lacking.