School Overview
Washington and Lee University (locally referred to as W&L or more commonly Washington and Lee) is a four-year, privately owned and operated, liberal arts school located in the city of Lexington, in the state of Virginia. Although the university offers graduate degree programs in law, it is considered primarily an undergraduate education institution. The university’s 320-acre campus is situated between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, in the Shenandoah Valley.
Established in 1749 by the Presbyterians, Washington and Lee is the second oldest higher education institutions in state of Virginia and the ninth oldest in continental United States. The school in named after George Washington, one its initial contributors, and Robert E. Lee, one of the college’s first presidents.
Washington and Lee is made up of three academic schools and colleges: the Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics; the School of Law; and The College. Undergraduates begin their education in The College, which offers an array of liberal arts, humanities and science courses. The Williams School of Commerce offers degrees in business, politics, accounting/finance, and economics. Students interested in earning a Master of Law or Juris Doctor will attend the School of Law. Through its three academic schools, the university offers over 1,100 courses and 42 undergraduate majors. Fields of study include science, area studies, cultural studies, gender studies, history, math, public policy, social sciences, and psychology, among others.
Total annual enrollment at Washington and Lee University is roughly 2,500, which includes 2,000 undergraduate and 500 graduate (law) students. All classes are taught by instructors/professors, as opposed to graduate students and assistants. The admission rate for entering freshman is about 18 percent and the average SAT and ACT scores are 1,415 and 31, respectively.
U.S. News and World Report has ranked Washington and Lee among the top national liberal arts colleges in America. It ranked the School of Law 26th in the nation.
General Information
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Admission Office 204 West Washington Street Lexington, VA 24450-2116 (540) 458-8710 Fax: (540) 458-8062 [email protected] Contact: William Hartog Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid |
Main Address 204 West Washington Street Lexington, VA 24450-2116 (540) 458-8400 www.wlu.edu |
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Size Total undergrads: 1,752 First-time degree-seeking freshmen: 454 Degree-seeking undergrads: 1,749 Graduate enrollment: 403 Setting |
Degrees offered: |
Admissions Information
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Application Fee College has an application fee: Yes Regular application fee: $50 Online application fee: $50 |
Enrollment Rates Percent applicants admitted: 17% Percent of students who return for sophomore year: 94% |
College Majors
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Area, Ethnic, Cultural, & Gender Studies East Asian Studies B Arts, Visual & Performing Art History/Criticism/Conservation B Biological & Biomedical Sciences Biochemistry B Business, Management, & Marketing Accounting B Communications & Journalism Journalism B Computer & Information Sciences Computer/Information Sciences – General B Engineering Chemical Engineering B English Language & Literature English Language & Literature – General B Foreign Language & Literature Classics B History History – General B Mathematics Mathematics – General B Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies Medieval/Renaissance Studies B Natural Resources & Conservation Environmental Science B Philosophy & Religion Philosophy B Physical Sciences Chemistry B Psychology Psychology – General B Public Administration & Services Public Policy Analysis B Social Sciences Anthropology B |
Degree levels for each major are designated by the following letters:
B = Bachelor’s degree C = Certificate or diploma |
*We do not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. All information is subject to change. You should confirm all information with a college admissions officer.
Washington and Lee University Highlights
School Information
| Phone Number: | (540) 458-8400 |
| Website: | www.wlu.edu/ |
| Type of School: | 4-year, Private non-profit |
| Apply Online: | wlu.edu/admissions/apply |
| Address: | 204 West Washington Street, Lexington, VA 24450-2116 |
| Setting: | Town: Distant |
| Campus Housing: | Yes |
Students & Programs
| Student Population: | 2,264 |
| 6-yr Graduation Rate (Bachelor's): | 92% |
| Student-to-faculty Ratio: | 8 to 1 |
| Distance Learning Programs: | |
| Distance Learning Students*: | 2,264 (100% of total students) |
| Degree Levels Offered: | Bachelor's, Doctorate |
* Students taking at least 1 distance learning course
Tuition & Financial Aid*
| In-state Tuition: | $54,830 |
| Out-of-state Tuition: | $54,830 |
| % of Students Receiving Financial Aid: | 66% |
| Avg. Amount of Grant or Scholarship Aid Awarded: | $47,199 |
* Full-time beginning undergraduate students. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
Washington and Lee University Programs
See the degree programs that are offered at Washington and Lee University.
| Degree Name | Cert | Assoc | Bach | Mast | Doct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies | 1 | ||||
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences | 3 | ||||
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services | 3 | ||||
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs | 2 | ||||
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services | 1 | ||||
| Engineering | 2 | ||||
| English Language and Literature/Letters | 1 | ||||
| Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 6 | ||||
| History | 1 | ||||
| Mathematics and Statistics | 1 | ||||
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 2 | ||||
| Natural Resources and Conservation | 1 | ||||
| Philosophy and Religious Studies | 2 | ||||
| Physical Sciences | 3 | ||||
| Psychology | 1 | ||||
| Social Sciences | 3 | ||||
| Visual and Performing Arts | 4 | ||||
| Grand total | 37 |
* Based on programs that produced 2019-2020 graduates
Tuition & Financial Aid
See what it costs to enroll at Washington and Lee University and how many students are receiving scholarships, grants, or loans as financial aid to help cover the costs of tuition.
Undergraduate Student Tuition
Average tuition and fees for academic year:
| Tuition and Fees | 2019-2020 |
|---|---|
| In-state | $54,830 |
| Out-of-state | $54,830 |
| Books and supplies | $2,010 |
Graduate Student Tuition
Average tuition and fees for academic year:
| Tuition and Fees | 2019-2020 |
|---|---|
| In-state | $0 |
| Out-of-state | $0 |
Undergraduate Student Financial Aid, 2018-2019
Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students
| Type of Aid | Number Receiving Aid | % Receiving Aid | Avg. Amt. of Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any student financial aid | 311 | 66% | – |
| Grant or scholarship aid | 292 | 62% | $47,199 |
| Student loan aid | 101 | 21% | $6,588 |
All Undergraduate Students
| Type of Aid | Number Receiving Aid | % Receiving Aid | Avg. Amt. of Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant or scholarship aid | 1,113 | 61% | $42,893 |
| Federal student loans | 408 | 22% | $5,835 |
Admissions & Enrollment
See the admission requirements for Washington and Lee University. Find out how many students apply and how many are accepted. View a graphical breakdown of the gender, age, and ethnicity of currently enrolled Washington and Lee University students.
Undergraduate Admissions, Fall 2020
| Total | Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of applicants | 6,178 | 3,050 | 3,128 | Percent admitted | 100% | 18% | 19% |
| Percent admitted who enrolled | 7% | 8% | 7% |
Admissions Considerations
| Required | Recommended | Optional | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary school GPA | |||
| Secondary school rank | |||
| Secondary school record | |||
| Completion of college-preparatory program | |||
| Recommendations | |||
| Formal demonstration of competencies | |||
| Admission test scores | |||
| Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.) | |||
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language |
Washington and Lee University Enrollment, Fall 2020
| Total Enrollment | 2,264 |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,860 |
| Graduate enrollment | 404 |
Undergraduate Attendance
Undergraduate Gender
Undergraduate Age
Undergraduate Race/Ethnicity
Undergraduate Distance Education
Undergraduates taking 100%, Some, or No Distance Education
Graduate Distance Education
Graduate students taking 100%, Some, or No Distance Education
Washington and Lee University Accreditation
This institution is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Specialized institution accreditations:
- American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
- Law (LAW) - Professional schools
- Teacher Education Accreditation Council, Accreditation Committee
- Baccalaureate Teacher Education Accreditation Council (BTEAC) - Baccalaureate programs
*General information for this school has been gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) database, a service provided by the U.S. Department of Education. CollegeAtlas.org does not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. All information is subject to change. You should confirm all information with a college admissions officer.
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