Duke vs. Washington and Lee

Should I go to Duke University or Washington and Lee University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Duke 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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Duke University vs. Washington and Lee University comparison
Duke University Washington and Lee University College 3 College 4
Duke University Washington and Lee University
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Overview

Duke Washington and Lee
Location Durham, NC Lexington, VA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 18,023 2,243
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #3 #30
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website duke.edu wlu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Duke Washington and Lee
Tuition (In State) $60,435 $60,590
Tuition (Out of State) $60,435 $60,590
Room & Board $16,651 $16,920
Avg Net Price $23,694 $24,733
Avg Grant Aid $57,444 $55,567
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 61%

Admission

Duke Washington and Lee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 50,016 7,224
Admitted 3,174 1,225
Acceptance Rate 6.3% 17%
Enrolled % 55% 38.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.94 3.87
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 34/35 32/34
SAT Range 1490/1570 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 3, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Duke Washington and Lee
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Human Services (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Duke Washington and Lee
Graduation Rate 94% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $108,900 $89,000
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $7,500 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $77 $222

Diversity

Duke Washington and Lee
% Men 45% 49%
% Women 55% 51%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 46% 82%
% Black 10% 2%
% Hispanic 7% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 10% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Duke Washington and Lee
% In-State 12% 18%
% Out-of-State 74% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Duke University is larger than than Washington and Lee based on total student enrollment (18,023 students vs. 2,243 students)

Duke vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison

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

  • Washington and Lee University is 0.3% more expensive to attend than Duke for in-state tuition ($60,590.00 vs. $60,435.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.3% higher at Washington and Lee than Duke University ($60,590.00 vs. $60,435.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Duke University than Washington and Lee ($23,694 vs. $24,733)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Duke University are 1.6% lower than costs at Washington and Lee University ($16,651 vs. $16,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Washington and Lee University than Duke University (61% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 3.4% larger than aid received Washington and Lee University ($57,444 vs. $55,567)

Duke vs. Washington and Lee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duke 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 Duke .

  • The average SAT score at Duke University (1450) is 55 points higher than at Washington and Lee (1395)
  • Incoming Duke students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Washington and Lee (32)
  • Accepted freshman Duke students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Washington and Lee (3.87)
  • Washington and Lee has a higher acceptance rate (17%) than Duke (6.3%)

Duke vs. Washington and Lee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Duke 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 Duke.

  • The graduation rate at Duke is higher than Washington and Lee University (94% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from Duke University earn on average $19,900 more per year than Washington and Lee graduates after ten years. ($108,900 vs. $89,000)
  • Duke University students graduate with a $14,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Washington and Lee graduates. ($7,500 vs. $21,500)
  • Duke graduates are paying $145 less per month on federal student loans than Washington and Lee graduates. ($77 vs. $222)
  • More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Washington and Lee students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 88%)

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