Washington and Lee University

10/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Lexington, VA
4.3 3 reviews

#23 Best Value Colleges in America

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

2,241

Location Lexington, Virginia
Website wlu.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Distant Town

Best Colleges Rank

#31

Size Small
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

Washington and Lee University occupies a historic campus in the Shenandoah Valley town of Lexington, Virginia, approximately 150 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. The liberal arts institution, founded in 1749 as Augusta Academy, is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and features distinctive Colonnade architecture, designated as a National Historic Landmark. Named after George Washington, who provided a foundational endowment, and Robert E. Lee, who served as president after the Civil War and established the university's journalism program and honor system, W&L maintains highly selective undergraduate admissions standards. The university consists of the College, offering liberal arts programs, and the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics, alongside a School of Law, with particular strengths in business, journalism, and pre-professional programs. Most undergraduate students reside on the central campus, which maintains a residential college system within its historic dormitories and modern housing facilities.

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Ratings

Washington and Lee is rated within the top 7% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 10 out of 10.

Overall Rating

10 out of 10
Academics

10 out of 10
Resources

10 out of 10
Outcomes

10 out of 10
Value

10 out of 10

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Rankings

Rankings for Washington and Lee University within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

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Admissions

Admission Standards

Elite

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1430/1540
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 33/34

Acceptance Rate

14%

Applications Due Jan 1, 2027
Enrollment Rate 41.2%
Application Fee $60

Applicant Competition Very High

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$68,045

Costs for Washington and Lee University
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$68,045
Books and Supplies		$2,370
Other Fees		$1,245
Room and Board		$18,685
Budget for Other Expenses		$2,600
Total One Year Cost		$92,945

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$89,000 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

91% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Washington and Lee University are Social Sciences, Business, and Foreign Languages. 21% of students major in Social Sciences, 19% in Business, and 9% in Foreign Languages.