College Intel
← Back to colleges

Washington and Lee University

Private

Lexington, VA

Visit website ↗

Located in Lexington, VA, Washington and Lee University is a private small school with roughly 1,881 undergraduates. Washington and Lee University is highly selective, with an acceptance rate near 14%. Its highest-earning reported major is Business Administration, Management and Operations (Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services), where graduates report median earnings of $121,699/year four years out. On-campus housing is mandatory here.

Admissions

Admit rate14%
SAT range1430–1540
ACT range33–34
Undergrads1,881
Yield (admits who enroll)39%
Next deadlineNov 1, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$87,000
4-year grad rate94%
Median earnings, 10yr out$94,810

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Washington and Lee University's numbers?

Check your chances here

How Washington and Lee University weighs your application

From Washington and Lee University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankConsidered
Academic GPAConsidered
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayConsidered
RecommendationsVery important
Nonacademic factors
InterviewConsidered
Extracurricular activitiesVery important
Talent/abilityConsidered
Character/personal qualitiesVery important
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyConsidered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered
BUILD YOUR FIT SCORESee how Washington and Lee University actually weighs your profile, free, no account needed
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Washington and Lee University weighs in your application

Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans14%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out88%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Business Administration, Management and Operations$121,699/yr
Accounting and Related Services$118,946/yr
History
History$100,087/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$115,837/yr
Political Science and Government$95,190/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusYes
Dormitory capacity1,478
Typical room charge$8,945
Typical board charge$7,975

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPAConsidered, not required
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Washington and Lee University look for in applicants?

Per Washington and Lee University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates character/personal qualities, rigor of secondary school record, recommendations, extracurricular activities as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Washington and Lee University's acceptance rate?

Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA admits approximately 14% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Washington and Lee University?

Admitted students at Washington and Lee University typically score between 1430–1540 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Washington and Lee University?

Admitted students at Washington and Lee University typically score between 33–34 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Washington and Lee University cost?

Washington and Lee University's total cost of attendance is reported at $87,000 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Washington and Lee University?

Washington and Lee University's earliest deadline is Nov 1, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Washington and Lee University require students to live on campus?

Yes -- Washington and Lee University requires students to live in on-campus housing.

Comparing Washington and Lee University against another school?

Open the comparison view