Admissions
Getting in, fall 2026
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$60 to apply
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 12%, women at 16%.
Yield
40% of admitted students enroll, one of the highest nationally.
Where you stand
How Washington and Lee reads a record
The high school record and a college-prep program are required; GPA and class rank are considered. Scores are optional. 24% of first-years sent an SAT and 20% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores.
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
- High school GPA
- Considered
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Considered
- College-prep program
- Required
- Recommendations
- Required
- Essay
- Considered
- Legacy status
- Considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Considered
Recent change: Started considering other tests in fall 2024; Started requiring an English proficiency test in fall 2024; Stopped requiring an essay (still considered) in fall 2023.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1485 on the SAT, 315 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Washington and Lee University (Fall 2026), Fall 2026;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)