Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
Washington and Lee University Featured Rankings
- #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Virginia 2026
- #1 Best Private Colleges in Virginia
- #1 Best Small Colleges in Virginia
- #5 Communications Liberal Arts Colleges
- #5 Best Colleges in Virginia 2026
- #5 Most Influential US Universities by State
- #10 Earth Sciences Liberal Arts Colleges
- #13 Communications Colleges and Universities
- #18 English Liberal Arts Colleges
- #22 Best Small Colleges 2026
- #23 Anthropology Liberal Arts Colleges
- #23 Best Liberal Arts Colleges 2026
- #44 Best Undergrad Private Colleges
About Washington and Lee University
According to Wikipedia, Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia. Established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, it is among the oldest institutions of higher learning in the United States.
Washington and Lee University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6,820 | 14% | 97% | 96% | 1485 | 33 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does Washington and Lee University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $71,365 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $28 |
| 30K - 48K | $690 |
| 48K - 75K | $3,023 |
| 75K - 110K | $10,627 |
| 110K+ | $39,474 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do Washington and Lee University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Washington and Lee University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $102,966 a year, and 96% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
Washington and Lee University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 2,282 | 1,903 | 379 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Washington and Lee University?
Washington and Lee University is located at 204 West Washington Street, Lexington, VA 24450-2116.
How Safe is Washington and Lee University?
Relative to its enrollment, Washington and Lee University has a violent crime rate of 0.13% and a property crime rate of 0.09%. Lexington has a violent crime rate of 0.14% and a property crime rate of 0.46%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is Washington and Lee University Known For?
Washington and Lee University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Law
- Literature
- Communications
- Physics
- History
- Political Science
- Economics
- Biology
- Engineering
- Anthropology
- Earth Sciences
- Philosophy
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Chemistry
- Religious Studies
- Computer Science
- Sociology
Washington and Lee University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Washington and Lee University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
Washington and Lee University ranks #63 in the U.S. and #187 worldwide for influence in Law.
Washington and Lee University ranks #99 in the U.S. and #248 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #111 in the U.S. and #362 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #165 in the U.S. and #694 worldwide for influence in Physics.
physics DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #168 in the U.S. and #468 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #180 in the U.S. and #695 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #188 in the U.S. and #877 worldwide for influence in Economics.
economics DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #234 in the U.S. and #860 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #257 in the U.S. and #1499 worldwide for influence in Engineering.
engineering DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #277 in the U.S. and #869 worldwide for influence in Anthropology.
anthropology DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #304 in the U.S. and #1274 worldwide for influence in Earth Sciences.
earth-science DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #309 in the U.S. and #1018 worldwide for influence in Philosophy.
philosophy DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #339 in the U.S. and #1374 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #341 in the U.S. and #855 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #361 in the U.S. and #1872 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #487 in the U.S. and #2150 worldwide for influence in Religious Studies.
religious-studies-hub DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #652 in the U.S. and #2912 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.
computer-science DegreesWashington and Lee University ranks #784 in the U.S. and #2668 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesWho Are Washington and Lee University's Most Influential Alumni?
Washington and Lee University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Law, Literature, and Communications. Here are some of Washington and Lee University's most famous alumni:
- Tom Wolfe
- An American author and journalist.
- Cy Twombly
- An American painter and artist .
- Robert Paxton
- An American political scientist and historian.
- Joseph L. Goldstein
- An American biochemist.
- Jack Goldsmith
- An American legal scholar.
- Gilbert Shelton
- A Cartoonist.
- Lewis F. Powell Jr.
- A US Supreme Court justice from 1972 to 1987.
- John J. Crittenden
- An American congressman and attorney general .
- Henry L. Roediger III
- An American psychologist.
- William Wilson Morgan
- An American astronomer.
- J. Bowyer Bell
- An American historian and artist .
- John Minor Wisdom
- An American judge .
Who Are Washington and Lee University's Most Influential Faculty?
Washington and Lee University's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Law, Literature, and Communications. Here are some of Washington and Lee University's most famous faculty:
