Washington and Lee University

About Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee traces its origins to Augusta Academy, founded in 1749. The institution subsequently operated under several names before becoming Washington and Lee University in 1870. Its present name recognizes George Washington, whose 1796 gift supported the school, and Robert E. Lee, president of Washington College from 1865 until 1870. Prospective students should approach this history as a substantive part of the institution rather than a decorative detail; the university presents historical interpretation and information about its namesakes through official campus resources. The university’s structure is unusual among small liberal arts institutions. It offers undergraduate education spanning the liberal arts, business, journalism and engineering, alongside a separate graduate School of Law. Official 2025–2026 figures report 2,281 students: 1,912 undergraduates and 369 law students. The institution awards B.A., B.S. and J.D. degrees. Its official mission and accreditation page states that it is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, while SACSCOC’s reporting identifies it as a private nonprofit institution. The undergraduate calendar uses two 12-week terms and a four-week Spring Term in which students take one intensive course, sometimes off campus or abroad. This concentrated term can suit students who value focused, experiential work, but applicants should review individual course availability and costs before assuming that travel is included. Overall, W&L is best evaluated as a small residential undergraduate university with a professionally focused law school, not as a broad graduate research university.

For first-year entry in fall 2027, applicants may use the Common Application, Coalition Application through Scoir, or QuestBridge. The 2026–2027 cycle offers binding Early Decision I and II plans and nonbinding Regular Decision. Early Decision I applications are due November 1, 2026. Early Decision II and Regular Decision applications are due January 5, 2027; the university states that this January 5 date is new for the cycle. Regular Decision notifications are scheduled by April 1, 2027. Because Early Decision is binding, applicants should use it only after comparing academic fit and the likely net cost. W&L is test-optional for first-year and transfer applicants seeking fall 2027 enrollment. SAT or ACT results are not required, and the university says applications receive full consideration without them. International applicants educated in non-U.S. curricula are encouraged to consider scores when testing is reasonably available and must separately review the English-proficiency policy. Applicants should not infer a minimum score from the absence of a database value. Supplemental materials can include recommendations, midyear grades, optional short responses, portfolios and self-reported testing, depending on the applicant. Scholarship and financial-aid deadlines differ from admission deadlines. For the 2026–2027 cycle, the Johnson Scholarship essay is due December 1, 2026. Applicants seeking aid should follow the deadline tied to their admission plan and verify all required forms in the applicant portal.

Washington and Lee’s undergraduate curriculum spans 47 majors and 44 minors as listed on its current academics page. The offerings include traditional humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and arts as well as business administration, accounting, finance, journalism, strategic communication, computer science, engineering and data science. The official Areas of Study directory distinguishes majors, minors and other academic pathways, so students should confirm the exact credential attached to any field rather than treating every listed subject as a major. The university awards the B.A. and B.S. at undergraduate level. Its only graduate program is the School of Law, which awards the J.D.; this is a professional doctorate and is intentionally not represented as a Ph.D. in the normalized degree-level field. Undergraduate study is organized around the 12-12-4 calendar. During the four-week Spring Term, a student takes one course, creating room for concentrated seminars, field-based work or approved off-campus study. The broader academic model emphasizes small-scale teaching and faculty mentorship. Experiential options include undergraduate research, internships, global education and community engagement. Availability, selection rules and funding vary, so applicants should investigate the relevant department or program rather than assume every opportunity is guaranteed. Students considering law should also keep the admissions paths separate: entry to the undergraduate university does not constitute entry to the School of Law. The active 2026–2027 university catalog is the controlling source for current degree requirements, course rules and academic policies.

Key Highlights

• Founded in 1749 and operating under its current name since 1870
• Private nonprofit university accredited by SACSCOC
• Official 2025–2026 enrollment: 1,912 undergraduates and 369 law students
• Undergraduate 12-12-4 calendar includes a four-week intensive Spring Term

Student Life & Environment

Washington and Lee is strongly residential. The university requires undergraduates to live in university housing for their first three years, with on-campus space available to seniors as capacity permits. First-year students live in Gaines Hall or Graham-Lees Hall. Floors are organized into smaller residential sections supported by upper-division resident advisers, and the first-year halls offer single, double and triple rooms. Later housing includes community and theme houses, fraternity and sorority housing, apartments and townhouses. This range provides more independence over time, but the three-year residency rule materially limits off-campus choice for most undergraduates. Seniors who have completed the requirement may live in downtown Lexington or the surrounding area. Students should consult current housing assignments and meal-plan information because room availability and specific configurations can change. Campus life resources include student organizations, recreation, health and counseling support, dining, residential programming and outdoor activities. The campus-life pages also identify fraternity and sorority houses as part of the residential system, making Greek life a visible component of the social environment without implying that participation is required. The Honor System and traditions of student self-governance are prominent features of institutional life. Applicants should assess whether a close-knit residential community and the responsibilities attached to student governance fit their preferences.

Location & Surroundings

The university is in Lexington, a small city in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Its campus sits next to the historic downtown, allowing students to reach local shops, cafés, restaurants and community events without treating the campus as an isolated suburban site. The surrounding valley provides access to trails and other outdoor recreation, an important practical advantage for students who prefer mountains and smaller communities. W&L’s official location page places the campus about 45 minutes from Roanoke, roughly two hours from Richmond and approximately three hours from Washington, D.C. These distances make major-city trips possible but mean Lexington does not offer the transit access or employment density of an urban campus. Students arriving by air will generally need ground transportation from a regional airport; the university publishes visitor transportation resources and current-student shuttle information. The setting is therefore a meaningful fit consideration. Lexington offers a walkable college-town environment and nearby outdoor recreation, while specialized shopping, large-city entertainment and some travel connections require a drive or arranged transport. Prospective students should evaluate transportation plans alongside campus housing, particularly if they do not intend to bring a car.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, Washington and Lee lists undergraduate direct charges of $73,575 for tuition, $715 in activity fees, $320 in technology fees, $250 for the health-service fee, $10,580 for housing and $9,995 for meals. It estimates another $1,900 for books and supplies and $2,545 for miscellaneous personal expenses, producing an estimated cost of attendance of $99,880 before aid. Travel and individual spending can vary, so families should use the university’s estimator and aid offer rather than the headline total alone. The university states that undergraduate admission is need-blind and that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need through grants, scholarships and guaranteed campus work without required loans. This policy also applies to admitted international students, although admission does not guarantee that an international applicant will receive financial assistance. Merit aid is principally offered through the Johnson Scholarship; the university says awards cover tuition, fees, housing and food, plus summer-experience funding, for up to 10% of the incoming class. Eligibility and deadlines should be checked for the relevant cycle. Career and Professional Development provides advising, employer connections and career exploration. The university’s published Class of 2024 outcomes report says 16% entered graduate study, with master’s, law, health, Ph.D. and medical programs represented. That is a historical cohort result, not a promise about an individual student’s placement or earnings; program-specific outcomes and the latest reporting methodology should be reviewed before making comparisons.