US CollegesGetting in
Washington and Lee University admits 14% of those who apply, which makes it among the most selective in the country. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1498 out of 1600 (midpoints: 725 in reading and writing, 745 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 34 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees for a year | $71,365 |
| Room and meals on campus | $19,605 |
| Books and supplies | $1,900 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $91,700 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $25,279 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off. It is 14% above the median net price of colleges in Virginia on this site ($22,186). International students normally pay the published tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $28 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $690 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $3,023 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $10,627 |
| Above $110,000 | $39,474 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | VA median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 97% | 75% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 96% | 52% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $102,966 | $56,693 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $17,500 | $21,843 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Virginia and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
14% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 15% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 51% women and 49% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 25 of the 72 colleges in Virginia on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,217.
Other colleges in Virginia of a similar size
- Marymount UniversityArlington, private nonprofit
- Roanoke CollegeSalem, private nonprofit
- Strayer University-VirginiaArlington, private for-profit
- Shenandoah UniversityWinchester, private nonprofit
- Randolph-Macon CollegeAshland, private nonprofit
- University of LynchburgLynchburg, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Washington and Lee University?
Washington and Lee University admits 14% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Washington and Lee University?
Published tuition and fees are $71,365 a year. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Washington and Lee University?
96% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.