Washington and Lee University

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.