- The Inkwell
- Virginia
- Washington and Lee University


Lexington, VATown: distantZIP 24450Founded 1749
- Sector
- Private nonprofit
- Founded
- 1749
- Carnegie class
- Baccalaureate: arts & sciences focus
- Highest degree
- Graduate degree
- Federal aid since
- 1965
- Website
- www.wlu.edu
VirginiaPrivate nonprofit
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private nonprofit university in Lexington, Virginia, with 1,881 undergraduates. It admits 14% of applicants, graduates 96% within six years and costs $25,279 a year after aid.
96%graduate
Admission rate14%
Retention97%
4-year graduation91%
Pell Grant share14%
Federal loans15%
$25,279net price / year
14%admission rate
1498average SAT
96%graduate in 6 years
$102,966median earnings, 10 yrs
$17,500median debt
#49 of 1,704 for earnings#1,244 of 1,739 for lowest net price#20 of 1,738 for graduation rate#54 of 1,552 for selectivity
what it costs
Cost and net price
Net price is the average annual cost after grants and scholarships for full-time students who receive federal aid; it varies with family income.
Published cost
- Cost of attendance
- $91,700tuition, fees, housing, books, per year
- Tuition & fees, in-state
- $71,365
- Tuition & fees, out-of-state
- $71,365
- Average net price
- $25,279national median $19,980
Net price by family income
$0–30,000$28
$30,001–48,000$690
$48,001–75,000$3,023
$75,001–110,000$10,627
$110,001+$39,474
getting in
Admissions and test scores
Admission
- Admission rate
- 14%national median 77%
- Average SAT
- 1498
- SAT reading, middle 50%
- 710–760
- SAT math, middle 50%
- 720–780
- ACT composite, middle 50%
- 33–34
Against the national median
Admission rate · this college14%
Admission rate · U.S. median77%
Retention · this college97%
Retention · U.S. median76%
Graduation · this college96%
Graduation · U.S. median55%
Pell share · this college14%
Pell share · U.S. median39%
after enrolling
Graduation, earnings and debt
Completion
- Graduation rate, 6 years
- 96%within 150% of normal time
- Graduation rate, 4 years
- 91%
- First-year retention
- 97%
- Award within 8 years, all students
- 95%
Earnings and debt
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $86,500
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $102,966middle 50%: $65,077–$167,136
- Median debt at graduation
- $17,500
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Earnings ten years after entry
Upper quarter$167,136
Median, Washington and Lee University$102,966
Lower quarter$65,077
U.S. median, all colleges$58,886
Former students working and not enrolled · College Scorecard
who studies here
Students and faculty
Undergraduates
- Degree-seeking undergraduates
- 1,881
- Part-time
- 0%
- Women / men
- 51% / 49%
- Average age at entry
- 19.4
- First-generation students
- —
- Pell Grant recipients
- 14%
Faculty and resources
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- 7 : 1
- Full-time faculty
- 88%
- Average faculty salary
- $14,155 / month
- Instructional spending per student
- $40,378
- Endowment, end of year
- $2,043,225,000
Race and ethnicity, undergraduates
White68%
Hispanic8.6%
Black4.6%
Asian4.7%
Two or more races4.4%
U.S. nonresident8.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
Unknown1.2%
16 fields of study
Most popular fields
Share of bachelor’s degrees awarded, by broad field (CIP family).
Business & management32%
Social sciences17%
Biological & biomedical sciences12%
Psychology6.5%
Engineering5.6%
Physical sciences5.0%
Computer & information sciences4.5%
Communication & journalism3.2%
keep comparing
Similar colleges
Private nonprofit colleges in Virginia
| College | Net price | Grad. | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marymount University Arlington, VA | $28,521 | 55% | $74,032 |
| Roanoke College Salem, VA | $25,867 | 64% | $64,329 |
| Shenandoah University Winchester, VA | $31,149 | 63% | $66,382 |
| Randolph-Macon College Ashland, VA | $28,145 | 74% | $64,714 |
| University of Lynchburg Lynchburg, VA | $27,198 | 59% | $57,425 |
| Bridgewater College Bridgewater, VA | $21,083 | 52% | $58,669 |
Same Carnegie class, similar price
| College | Net price | Grad. | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carleton College Northfield, MN | $25,295 | 89% | $82,742 |
| Hamilton College Clinton, NY | $25,793 | 90% | $84,956 |
| Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA | $26,039 | 90% | $127,532 |
| Wellesley College Wellesley, MA | $23,995 | 91% | $90,458 |
| Smith College Northampton, MA | $25,519 | 86% | $69,936 |
| Muhlenberg College Allentown, PA | $25,253 | 83% | $76,444 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education — institution file, most recent cohorts. UNITID 234207. Founding year, motto and memberships: Wikidata Q1785291.