Quad

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, VAQuad's selectivityHighly selective
Known forTop test scoresBig endowment per studentHigh earnersHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Fall 2026: 8,904 applied (fall 2024: 8,213)Washington and Lee University (Fall 2026)
  • Fall 2026: 1,218 admits (fall 2024: 1,147)Washington and Lee University (Fall 2026)
  • Fall 2026: 13.7% admitted (fall 2024: 14.0%)Washington and Lee University (Fall 2026)

Source:Washington and Lee University (Fall 2026), Fall 2026About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2026

1 in 7 applicants admitted

Washington and Lee admits about 1 in 7 applicants (14%). That puts it in the "Highly selective" tier, more selective than 97% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

14%

14%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityHighly selective

Applied

8,904

Admitted

1,218

Yield

40%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1430–1540

10001600
ACT middle 50%

33–34

1836
Applications +41% since fall 2014 · admit rate 19% → 14%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 1,881 undergrads, where 11% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

1.9K

undergrads · larger than 55% of colleges

Diversity index

0.52

Pell Grant

11%

below the median

Distant townFirst-years live on campusNCAA D-III · Old Dominion Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroad
More diverse · index 0.31 → 0.52 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (20% of graduates). 7 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 92% of colleges. 88% of faculty are full-time. Spends $40,378 a year on instruction per student.

7 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 92% of colleges

Most popular major

Business Administration and Management, General

20% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Business Administration, Management and Operations

$121.7K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

88%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$40.4K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $46,366 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $22.1K more than the national median. The 64% who received grants paid $23,055 on average; the other 36% paid the full sticker price of $87,000.

47%

$46.4K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $22.1K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$87,000 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
37% · avg $62K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 47% of full price

Federal loans

14%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −8% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $94,810 ten years after enrolling, more than at 97% of colleges; 94% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.0 years of that salary.

94%

94%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$94.8K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$19.5K

≈ $207/month for 10 years

Retention

97%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 88% → 94% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 13% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 8%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 41% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 19% to 14%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −8% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +41%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 19% → 14% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.31 → 0.52

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Colorado College

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Dickinson College

41% admit · SAT 1390 · 2.3K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Washington and Lee University (Fall 2026)

    Washington and Lee University · Fall 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  4. 4
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Washington and Lee University (2026–27)

    Washington and Lee University · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  13. 13
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    Washington and Lee University (2026)

    Washington and Lee University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 234207 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything