UW opens more local slots

SEATTLE – The University of Washington will have more room for in-state students in this fall’s freshman class, thanks in part to a legislative requirement that the university enroll 4,000 in-state freshmen at its Seattle campus this fall.

This year’s applicants are also benefiting from the fact that UW has received fewer applications from freshman hopefuls.

The Legislature is requiring the university to enroll 150 more in-state freshmen than last year, but the university says it will admit at least 300 more Washington students because not everyone will decide to attend.

UW admissions director Philip Ballinger told the Seattle Times the university has received just 9,361 in-state applications, down from 10,447 last year.

“Their chances are definitely better,” Ballinger said of the applicants. Acceptance letters are expected to be mailed out after March 15.

The requirement to admit 4,000 in-state students was a provision in a law giving the state’s four-year schools the flexibility to set their own tuition. The requirement starts this fall and is to continue indefinitely.

Meanwhile, Washington State University has seen in-state applications grow by more than 13 percent for the Pullman campus compared to the same period last year. So far, WSU has received 6,469 in-state applications.