At the University of Washington, your experience matters.
That’s why we’re asking all first-year students and seniors to share their stories and help us make the UW better by taking the NSSE!
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) asks eligible* first-year and senior students about their experiences at the UW to help us understand what’s working for our students and where we can improve, both inside and outside the classroom.
NSSE takes about 15 minutes to complete but has an enormous impact on our university.
NSSE Dates
- Bothell: April 2 – May 11, 2026
- Seattle: April 7 – May 11, 2026
- Tacoma: April 6 – May 11, 2026
To take the survey, check your email on the date for your campus listed above for a direct link. Once the survey is live for your campus, you can also visit the NSSE website, click “Don’t know your Login ID?” and enter your UW email address.
Thank you for helping to make the UW better!
*Eligibility is determined by NSSE. For more information, see the “Am I eligible to take NSSE” FAQ below.
FAQs
How do I take the survey?
Check your email in early April for a link; the sender will be nsse@nssesurvey.org. You can also visit the NSSE website, click “Don’t know your Login ID?” and enter your UW email address to access the survey.
It takes about 15 minutes to complete.
What is NSSE?
NSSE is a national survey that collects information about first-year and senior students’ participation in programs and activities designed for their learning and personal development. The results provide a snapshot of how undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending college.
When the survey closes, UW’s results are sent to the NSSE team, which compiles the data and sends it back to the UW. The UW uses the data to see what we’re doing well and where we can improve the Husky Experience for future students.
Over 6 million students at nearly 1,700 four-year institutions have completed the survey since 2000. The UW participated in NSSE biennially from 2002-2013; you can view those survey results on the assessment website.
Am I eligible to take NSSE?
NSSE eligibility is determined by credit hours. According to the NSSE website, “NSSE is designed to collect the experiences of all bachelor’s degree-seeking students classified as first-year students or graduating seniors according to credit hour, not just full-time students in the traditional 18- to 24-year-old age range.”
At the UW, that means the following:
First-year Students: Enrolled in spring quarter 2026 and officially classified as a first-year based on accumulated credits as of the end of autumn quarter 2025.
Seniors: Enrolled in spring quarter 2026 and officially classified as a senior based on accumulated credits as of the end of autumn quarter 2025.
I’m a first-year student or a senior, but the link doesn’t work for me. Why not?
This is likely because NSSE eligibility is determined by credit hours, not year(s) in school. NSSE is structured for institutions that use the semester system rather than the quarter system, so the timing and classification of first-year students and seniors can be different than what you might expect.
To see if you’re eligible to take the survey, see “Am I eligible to take NSSE” above.
Why should I take the survey?
Because your voice matters, and you can make the UW better for yourself and for future generations of Huskies! By sharing your honest feedback about your experience here – both the good and the not so good – you help us understand what we’re doing well and what we need to improve to make the Husky Experience the best it can be for all students.
This is your chance to share your story and shape the future of the UW!
Is NSSE anonymous?
NSSE is not anonymous, as your participation is tied to your student ID. However, your responses are confidential, and personally identifiable data are not disclosed with the survey results.
What will the UW do with the data?
The data will be used to help the UW understand what we’re doing well and where we can improve. It will also help us compare our students’ experiences with those of students at other institutions.