OWU vs. Washington and Lee

Deciding between Ohio Wesleyan 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 Wesleyan University
Washington and Lee University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • OWU Delaware, OH
  • Washington and Lee Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • OWU Distant Town
  • Washington and Lee Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • OWU 1,525
  • Washington and Lee 2,241
  • Type
  • OWU Private 4 Year
  • Washington and Lee Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • OWU #386
  • Washington and Lee #31
  • Religious Affiliation
  • OWU United Methodist
  • Washington and Lee -
  • Status
  • OWU Non-profit
  • Washington and Lee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • OWU
  • Washington and Lee
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • OWU $53,888
  • Washington and Lee $68,045
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • OWU $53,888
  • Washington and Lee $68,045
  • Room & Board
  • OWU $14,684
  • Washington and Lee $18,685
  • Average Net Price
  • OWU $23,006
  • Washington and Lee $23,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • OWU $45,481
  • Washington and Lee $63,945
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • OWU 100%
  • Washington and Lee 64%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • OWU 6,144
  • Washington and Lee 8,213
  • Admitted
  • OWU 3,416
  • Washington and Lee 1,147
  • Acceptance Rate
  • OWU 55.6%
  • Washington and Lee 14%
  • Enrolled
  • OWU 12.6%
  • Washington and Lee 41.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OWU 1230
  • Washington and Lee 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • OWU 28
  • Washington and Lee 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • OWU 3.54
  • Washington and Lee 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • OWU A-
  • Washington and Lee A
  • Admissions Standards
  • OWU Difficult
  • Washington and Lee Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • OWU Low
  • Washington and Lee Very High
  • ACT Range
  • OWU 25/31
  • Washington and Lee 33/34
  • SAT Range
  • OWU 1105/1350
  • Washington and Lee 1430/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • OWU Test-free
  • Washington and Lee Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • OWU Mar 1, 2027
  • Washington and Lee Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • OWU 12:1
  • Washington and Lee 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • OWU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Washington and Lee
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • History (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • OWU 61%
  • Washington and Lee 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • OWU $49,600
  • Washington and Lee $89,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • OWU 80%
  • Washington and Lee 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • OWU $27,000
  • Washington and Lee $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • OWU $279
  • Washington and Lee $222
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • OWU 44%
  • Washington and Lee 50%
  • % Women
  • OWU 56%
  • Washington and Lee 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • OWU Medium
  • Washington and Lee Very Low
  • HBCU
  • OWU No
  • Washington and Lee No
  • % White
  • OWU 70%
  • Washington and Lee 82%
  • % Asian
  • OWU 3%
  • Washington and Lee 3%
  • % Black
  • OWU 8%
  • Washington and Lee 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • OWU 5%
  • Washington and Lee 3%
  • % Native American
  • OWU 0%
  • Washington and Lee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • OWU 0%
  • Washington and Lee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • OWU 5%
  • Washington and Lee 3%
  • % International
  • OWU 6%
  • Washington and Lee 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • OWU 3%
  • Washington and Lee 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • OWU 71%
  • Washington and Lee 17%
  • % Out-of-State
  • OWU 24%
  • Washington and Lee 74%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Washington and Lee University is larger than OWU based on total student enrollment (2,241 students vs. 1,525 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio Wesleyan University is located in Delaware, OH (Distant Town setting); Washington and Lee University is in Lexington, VA (Distant Town setting).
  • Ohio Wesleyan 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 Wesleyan University 12:1; Washington and Lee University 7:1.

OWU vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OWU 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 Ohio Wesleyan University than Washington and Lee ($23,006 vs. $23,055).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio Wesleyan University are 21.4% lower than at Washington and Lee University ($14,684 vs. $18,685).
  • Washington and Lee University is 26.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than OWU (about $14,157 more per year; $68,045.00 vs. $53,888.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.3% higher at Washington and Lee than at Ohio Wesleyan University (about $14,157 more per year; $68,045.00 vs. $53,888.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Wesleyan University than at Washington and Lee University (100% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 40.6% larger than aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students ($63,945 vs. $45,481).

OWU vs. Washington and Lee Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OWU 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 OWU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington and Lee University (1490) is 260 points higher than at OWU (1230).
  • Incoming Washington and Lee students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at OWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Wesleyan University 1105/1350; Washington and Lee University 1430/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Wesleyan University 25/31; Washington and Lee University 33/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OWU - Test-free; Washington and Lee - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: OWU Mar 1, 2027; Washington and Lee Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Washington and Lee students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at OWU (3.54).
  • OWU has a higher acceptance rate (55.6%) than Washington and Lee (14%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at OWU vs. 41.2% at Washington and Lee.

OWU vs. Washington and Lee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OWU 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 Wesleyan University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Washington and Lee University earn a median of about $39,400 more per year than OWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,000 vs. $49,600), 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 OWU graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Washington and Lee graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OWU graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Washington and Lee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OWU 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.