Washington and Lee University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Lexington, Virginia · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2024-2025
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Washington and Lee University is a private nonprofit university in Lexington, Virginia that admits about 14% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $23,781 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Economics and Political Science and Government, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 94% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 4.8 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Washington and Lee University is a private institution located in Lexington, Virginia and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Washington and Lee University admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 14%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1480 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $23,781 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Washington and Lee University?
Most admitted students at Washington and Lee University present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What does Washington and Lee University weight in admissions?
Washington and Lee University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Character/personal qualities
SAT and ACT scores Washington and Lee University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 720–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 725. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–34. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1430 |
| 50th percentile | 1480 |
| 75th percentile | 1540 |
| % submitting SAT | 24% |
| 25th percentile | 33 |
| 50th percentile | 34 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
| % submitting ACT | 20% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 77% |
| Top 25% of class | 97% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| % submitting class rank | 32.2% |
How much does Washington and Lee University actually cost?
Published tuition is $68,045 for in-state students and $68,045 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,685 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $23,781 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 11% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $66,800 |
| Room and board | $18,685 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $23,781 |
| Application fee | $60 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Washington and Lee University
| Regular deadline | 1/1 |
| Notification date | 4/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 1 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 34% |
Will my child graduate from Washington and Lee University?
These predict outcomes at Washington and Lee University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Washington and Lee University
The most popular undergraduate programs at Washington and Lee University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Economics and Political Science and Government. Across all programs, Washington and Lee University confers roughly 373 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $109,628 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 94 | $109,628 |
| Economics | 69 | $145,820 |
| Political Science and Government | 69 | $75,915 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 37 | $106,739 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 28 | — |
| English Language and Literature, General | 26 | — |
| Mathematics | 26 | — |
| Biology, General | 24 | — |
Is Washington and Lee University safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Washington and Lee University disclosed 9 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.8 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 7 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Washington and Lee University?
About 74% of undergraduates at Washington and Lee University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 67% of men join a fraternity and 72% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Virginia parents ask about
- University of Richmond22% acceptance
- Liberty University99% acceptance
- Longwood University90% acceptance
- Radford University90% acceptance
- University of Virginia-Main Campus17% acceptance
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University55% acceptance
- College of William and Mary34% acceptance
- James Madison University72% acceptance
Next steps for Washington and Lee University
Common questions parents ask about Washington and Lee University
What GPA do I need for Washington and Lee University?
Most admitted students at Washington and Lee University present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What SAT or ACT score does Washington and Lee University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 720–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 725. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–34.
How much does Washington and Lee University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Washington and Lee University after grants and scholarships is $23,781 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $68,045. Budget against the net figure.
Is Washington and Lee University realistic for my child?
Washington and Lee University admits 14% of applicants, so 720–780 SAT Math is target range and below 720 is a reach. Then check the $23,781 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Washington and Lee University?
Washington and Lee University accepts about 14% of applicants out of roughly 8,213 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is Washington and Lee University test-optional?
Yes. Washington and Lee University is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Washington and Lee University?
About 94% of students at Washington and Lee University graduate within six years, and 89% finish in four years. 97% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Washington and Lee University?
Washington and Lee University's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 34%, compared with its overall rate of 14%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Washington and Lee University look for in applicants?
Washington and Lee University rates course rigor, recommendations, extracurricular activities and character and personal qualities as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Washington and Lee University a public or private school, and where is it located?
Washington and Lee University is a private nonprofit institution located in Lexington, Virginia.
What are the most popular majors at Washington and Lee University?
The largest undergraduate majors at Washington and Lee University by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Economics and Political Science and Government. The school awards about 373 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Washington and Lee University safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Washington and Lee University reported 9 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 4.8 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Washington and Lee University?
At Washington and Lee University, 74% of undergraduates live on campus, 67% of men are in fraternities, 72% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Washington and Lee University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers