ONU vs. Washington and Lee

Deciding between Ohio Northern University and Washington and Lee University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Ohio Northern University
Washington and Lee University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ONU Ada, OH
  • Washington and Lee Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • ONU Distant Town
  • Washington and Lee Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ONU 3,140
  • Washington and Lee 2,241
  • Type
  • ONU Private 4 Year
  • Washington and Lee Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ONU #228
  • Washington and Lee #31
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ONU United Methodist
  • Washington and Lee -
  • Status
  • ONU Non-profit
  • Washington and Lee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ONU
  • Washington and Lee
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ONU $39,800
  • Washington and Lee $68,045
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ONU $39,800
  • Washington and Lee $68,045
  • Room & Board
  • ONU $14,604
  • Washington and Lee $18,685
  • Average Net Price
  • ONU $25,941
  • Washington and Lee $23,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ONU $27,696
  • Washington and Lee $63,945
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ONU 97%
  • Washington and Lee 64%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ONU 4,640
  • Washington and Lee 8,213
  • Admitted
  • ONU 3,452
  • Washington and Lee 1,147
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ONU 74.4%
  • Washington and Lee 14%
  • Enrolled
  • ONU 19.9%
  • Washington and Lee 41.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ONU 1290
  • Washington and Lee 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • ONU 26
  • Washington and Lee 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • ONU 3.78
  • Washington and Lee 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ONU A-
  • Washington and Lee A
  • Admissions Standards
  • ONU Difficult
  • Washington and Lee Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • ONU Low
  • Washington and Lee Very High
  • ACT Range
  • ONU 24/29
  • Washington and Lee 33/34
  • SAT Range
  • ONU 1175/1400
  • Washington and Lee 1430/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ONU Test optional
  • Washington and Lee Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ONU Aug 15, 2027
  • Washington and Lee Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ONU 13:1
  • Washington and Lee 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ONU
    • Business (19%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Washington and Lee
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • History (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ONU 65%
  • Washington and Lee 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ONU $71,200
  • Washington and Lee $89,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ONU 82%
  • Washington and Lee 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ONU $27,000
  • Washington and Lee $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ONU $279
  • Washington and Lee $222
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ONU 53%
  • Washington and Lee 50%
  • % Women
  • ONU 47%
  • Washington and Lee 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ONU Very Low
  • Washington and Lee Very Low
  • HBCU
  • ONU No
  • Washington and Lee No
  • % White
  • ONU 84%
  • Washington and Lee 82%
  • % Asian
  • ONU 1%
  • Washington and Lee 3%
  • % Black
  • ONU 3%
  • Washington and Lee 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • ONU 1%
  • Washington and Lee 3%
  • % Native American
  • ONU 0%
  • Washington and Lee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ONU 0%
  • Washington and Lee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ONU 4%
  • Washington and Lee 3%
  • % International
  • ONU 4%
  • Washington and Lee 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ONU 3%
  • Washington and Lee 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ONU 85%
  • Washington and Lee 17%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ONU 13%
  • Washington and Lee 74%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ONU Yes
  • Washington and Lee Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ONU No
  • Washington and Lee Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • ONU Yes
  • Washington and Lee Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ONU No
  • Washington and Lee No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ONU Yes
  • Washington and Lee No

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio Northern University in Ada, OH with Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio Northern University is larger than Washington and Lee based on total student enrollment (3,140 students vs. 2,241 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio Northern University is located in Ada, OH (Distant Town setting); Washington and Lee University is in Lexington, VA (Distant Town setting).
  • Ohio Northern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Washington and Lee University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio Northern University 13:1; Washington and Lee University 7:1.

ONU vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ONU or Washington and Lee? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington and Lee University than ONU ($23,055 vs. $25,941).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio Northern University are 21.8% lower than at Washington and Lee University ($14,604 vs. $18,685).
  • Washington and Lee University is 71% more expensive for in-state tuition than ONU (about $28,245 more per year; $68,045.00 vs. $39,800.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 71% higher at Washington and Lee than at Ohio Northern University (about $28,245 more per year; $68,045.00 vs. $39,800.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Northern University than at Washington and Lee University (97% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 130.9% larger than aid received by Ohio Northern University students ($63,945 vs. $27,696).

ONU vs. Washington and Lee Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ONU or Washington and Lee? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Washington and Lee and ONU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington and Lee University (1490) is 200 points higher than at ONU (1290).
  • Incoming Washington and Lee students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 26 at ONU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Northern University 1175/1400; Washington and Lee University 1430/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Northern University 24/29; Washington and Lee University 33/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ONU - Test optional; Washington and Lee - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ONU Aug 15, 2027; Washington and Lee Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Washington and Lee students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at ONU (3.78).
  • ONU has a higher acceptance rate (74.4%) than Washington and Lee (14%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at ONU vs. 41.2% at Washington and Lee.

ONU vs. Washington and Lee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ONU and Washington and Lee? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Washington and Lee University's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Ohio Northern University's (65%).
  • Graduates from Washington and Lee University earn a median of about $17,800 more per year than ONU graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,000 vs. $71,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Washington and Lee University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than ONU graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Washington and Lee graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ONU graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Washington and Lee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ONU 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.