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Washington and Lee University
With a 14% admission rate, no GPA makes Washington and Lee University a safety. The numbers below tell you what the admitted few look like.
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Washington and Lee University anchors the college town of Lexington, VA, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint. International students are a visible presence here — 8.2% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Business Administration, Management and Operations, where graduates median $121,699 four years out. 11.3% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 1,881 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 96.6% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1410 and 1530 — above the VA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Washington and Lee University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Washington and Lee University received 6,820 applications and admitted 1,184 (17.4%), with 502 enrolling.
Washington and Lee University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1410–1530 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Washington and Lee University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 710 | 730 | 750 |
| SAT Math | 700 | 760 | 780 |
| ACT Composite | 32 | 34 | 35 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Washington and Lee University compares
| Washington and Lee University | Virginia median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 14% | 83.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $68,045 | $21,650 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $94,810 | $53,453 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Washington and Lee University: $94,810 median at year ten, versus $53,453 across Virginia institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $68,045 regardless of where you're from. At Washington and Lee University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
Enrollment sits at 1,881 — Washington and Lee University is one of the smaller campuses on this site.
93.9% of Washington and Lee University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 39 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $68,045 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Washington and Lee University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $121,699 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $118,946 |
| Economics | $115,837 |
| History | $100,087 |
| Political Science and Government | $95,190 |
Median earnings for these 5 Washington and Lee University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $94,810 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 29 additional Washington and Lee University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Washington and Lee University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1410–1530 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 14% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Washington and Lee University's acceptance rate?
17.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,184 admitted from 6,820 applicants.
How much does Washington and Lee University cost?
At Washington and Lee University, published tuition is $68,045 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Washington and Lee University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Washington and Lee University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $94,810 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Virginia
- Riverside College of Health Sciences — 12.9% admitted
- Virginia Wesleyan University — 72.9% admitted
- Virginia Union University — 98% admitted
- Virginia State University — 88.6% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.