AU vs. Washington and Lee

Should I go to American University or Washington and Lee University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Washington and Lee is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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American University vs. Washington and Lee University comparison
American University Washington and Lee University College 3 College 4
American University Washington and Lee University
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Overview

AU Washington and Lee
Location Washington, DC Lexington, VA
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 13,885 2,243
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #30
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu wlu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Washington and Lee
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $60,590
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $60,590
Room & Board $15,706 $16,920
Avg Net Price $41,369 $24,733
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $55,567
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 61%

Admission

AU Washington and Lee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 7,224
Admitted 7,926 1,225
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 17%
Enrolled % 22.2% 38.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.87
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 29/32 32/34
SAT Range 1290/1430 1410/1533
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

AU Washington and Lee
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

AU Washington and Lee
Graduation Rate 77% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $89,000
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $250 $222

Diversity

AU Washington and Lee
% Men 37% 49%
% Women 63% 51%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 82%
% Black 7% 2%
% Hispanic 12% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

AU Washington and Lee
% In-State 2% 18%
% Out-of-State 94% 73%

Campus

AU Washington and Lee
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Washington and Lee based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 2,243 students)

AU vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Washington and Lee?

  • Washington and Lee University is 14.2% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($60,590.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.2% higher at Washington and Lee than American University ($60,590.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington and Lee University than AU ($24,733 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 7.7% lower than costs at Washington and Lee University ($15,706 vs. $16,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Washington and Lee University (66% vs. 61%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 104.8% larger than aid received American University ($55,567 vs. $27,138)

AU vs. Washington and Lee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Washington and Lee? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Washington and Lee or AU .

  • The average SAT score at Washington and Lee University (1395) is 143 points higher than at AU (1252)
  • Incoming Washington and Lee students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at AU (28)
  • Accepted freshman Washington and Lee students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at AU (3.7)
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (40.6%) than Washington and Lee (17%)

AU vs. Washington and Lee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Washington and Lee? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Washington and Lee and AU.

  • The graduation rate at Washington and Lee is higher than American University (91% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Washington and Lee University earn on average $24,200 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($89,000 vs. $64,800)
  • Washington and Lee University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,250)
  • Washington and Lee graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($222 vs. $250)
  • More Washington and Lee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/