Admission to the ACMS major is competitive. Students apply directly to a specific ACMS option (track) and cannot attempt to switch options after admission without reapplying.

Applicants must be able to complete all degree requirements under the UW’s Academic Satisfactory Progress Policy . Students who cannot complete the degree on time will not be admitted.

Admissions Prerequisites (effective Autumn 2025)

Prerequisite Coursework

Minimum Course Requirements: A minimum 2.0 grade in each of these courses and an overall minimum 3.0 GPA in:

  1. CSE 123 or CSE 143 (use the CSE guided placement tool for course selection)
  2. MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126
  3. MATH 208

(MATH 134, MATH 135, and MATH 136 may replace MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126, and MATH 208)

  1. One Option Core course based on the option you are applying to:
  • Data Science & Statistics: MATH 394/STAT 394
  • Discrete Mathematical Algorithms: MATH 300
  • Mathematical Econ/Quantitative Finance: MATH 394/STAT 394
  • Scientific Computing: AMATH 352

Additional Guidelines

  • AP/IB exam credit may count toward prerequisites
  • Current UW students must confirm transfer course equivalency prior to application submission
  • No prerequisite courses may be in progress at the time of application
  • Required courses must be taken for a numeric grade (not Satisfactory/Non-Satisfactory)
  • Post-baccalaureate students are not eligible for ACMS admission

Transfer Applicants

If you’re applying as a direct-to-major transfer student:

  • You must apply to both UW and ACMS for the same quarter
  • You need at least 30 graded college credits by the application deadline
  • If admitted to UW before completing ACMS prerequisites, plan to finish these courses during your first 1–2 quarters at UW and apply during the next ACMS cycle
  • Submit a UW Transfer application by Feb. 15:
    https://admit.washington.edu/apply/.
  • Apply to ACMS between March 31 and April 5. Applicants are advised to draft and save their personal statement(s) and to collect a PDF copy of their college transcript(s).

Transfer admissions decisions are released in late May or early June. If admitted to UW but not directly to ACMS, you will be placed in pre-major status. Appeals for direct admission are not accepted.

When and How to Apply

Current UW Students

Apply via the ACMS online application using your UW netID.

*ACMS only accepts direct-to-major applications for eligible transfer students.

Quarter of Admission to Major Application Opens Application Deadline Admission Decision Notification
Winter First day of Autumn Quarter, 8 am Pacific Time 2nd Friday of Autumn Quarter, 5 pm Pacific Time Late October
Autumn First day of Spring Quarter, 8 am Pacific Time 2nd Friday of Spring Quarter, 5 pm Pacific Time Mid/Late April


The Autumn Quarter 2025 ACMS Admissions Application will be available here Wednesday, September 24th at 8 am (Pacific Time).

Personal statement

These prompts help the committee understand your motivation and background. You can visit
OWRC or
CLUE Writing Center
for writing support.

Required (500 characters):
Explain how ACMS aligns with your long-term goals and why your selected track suits you.

Optional (1000 characters):
Share unique experiences or challenges, academic context (e.g., a difficult quarter), and explain how a double major would support your goals if applicable.

Double Major / Double Degree

Admitted students pursuing two majors must create an academic plan in MyPlan that shows timely completion under UW’s academic progress policy. This is
not required at the time of application.

Admissions Decision for Current UW Students

  • Sent to your UW email
  • You must register for the admitted quarter or your offer will be forfeited
  • If denied, you are encouraged to meet with an adviser.
  • Admissions appeals are accepted within two weeks of decisions and only after you’ve met with an adviser.
    Appeals are considered only in exceptional circumstances (for example, if key information was unintentionally left out of your application).

To meet with an advisor, please join us for drop-in advising:

https://acms.washington.edu/advising-and-applying

Program Capacity & Competitiveness

ACMS admits 50 to 75 students per admission cycle. The
Data Science & Statistics track is the most competitive, so
consider applying to another option if you’re open to it.

With over 400 applications each year, ACMS is a selective and
high-demand major. Plan early, meet the requirements, and consider multiple pathways.