George Washington vs. Washington and Lee

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

George Washington Washington and Lee
Location Washington, DC Lexington, VA
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 25,939 2,243
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #73 #30
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gwu.edu wlu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

George Washington Washington and Lee
Tuition (In State) $62,110 $60,590
Tuition (Out of State) $62,110 $60,590
Room & Board $15,720 $16,920
Avg Net Price $42,723 $24,733
Avg Grant Aid $35,257 $55,567
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 61%

Admission

George Washington Washington and Lee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 27,266 7,224
Admitted 13,354 1,225
Acceptance Rate 49% 17%
Enrolled % 22% 38.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.87
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 31/34 32/34
SAT Range 1330/1490 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 5, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

George Washington Washington and Lee
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (34%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

George Washington Washington and Lee
Graduation Rate 81% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $80,500 $89,000
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,962 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $222

Diversity

George Washington Washington and Lee
% Men 38% 49%
% Women 62% 51%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 56% 82%
% Black 6% 2%
% Hispanic 8% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 10% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

George Washington Washington and Lee
% In-State 1% 18%
% Out-of-State 89% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Washington University is larger than than Washington and Lee based on total student enrollment (25,939 students vs. 2,243 students)

George Washington vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison

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

  • George Washington University is 2.5% more expensive to attend than Washington and Lee for in-state tuition ($62,110.00 vs. $60,590.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.5% higher at George Washington than Washington and Lee University ($62,110.00 vs. $60,590.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington and Lee University than George Washington ($24,733 vs. $42,723)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Washington University are 7.6% lower than costs at Washington and Lee University ($15,720 vs. $16,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Washington University than Washington and Lee University (78% vs. 61%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 57.6% larger than aid received George Washington University ($55,567 vs. $35,257)

George Washington vs. Washington and Lee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, George Washington 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 George Washington .

  • The average SAT score at Washington and Lee University (1395) is 101 points higher than at George Washington (1294)
  • Incoming Washington and Lee students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at George Washington (29)
  • Accepted freshman Washington and Lee students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at George Washington (3.81)
  • George Washington has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than Washington and Lee (17%)

George Washington vs. Washington and Lee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, George Washington 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 George Washington.

  • The graduation rate at Washington and Lee is higher than George Washington University (91% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Washington and Lee University earn on average $8,500 more per year than George Washington graduates after ten years. ($89,000 vs. $80,500)
  • Washington and Lee University students graduate with a $3,462 lower median federal student loan debt than George Washington graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,962)
  • Washington and Lee graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than George Washington graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
  • More Washington and Lee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former George Washington students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 82%)

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