College Profiles/ Washington and Lee University
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
Washington and Lee University Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Lexington, VA · 1,916 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to Washington and Lee University for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
Washington and Lee University admitted 13.7% of 8,904 first-year applicants.[1] Early Decision applicants were admitted at 27.6%.[2] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1430 to 1530.[2] The most recent cost of attendance is $87,000.[3] First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $71,985.[2] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 1, Early Decision II Jan 5, Regular Decision Jan 5.[4]
13.7%
Overall admit rate[1]
27.6%
Early Decision admit rate[2]
1430 to 1530
Middle 50% SAT[2]
$87,000
Cost of attendance[3]
$71,985
Average need-based grant[2]
$2.2B
Endowment, FY2025[5]
Washington and Lee University at a Glance
- Location
- Lexington, VA
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 7:1[2]
- Endowment
- $2.2 billion (FY2025)[5]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional[4]
- Application
- Common App, Coalition (Scoir), QuestBridge[4]
- First-year retention
- 97.5%[2]
The ConnectPrep Take on Washington and Lee University
The ConnectPrep take
Washington and Lee runs a whole-person review and says it wants to know how each applicant will contribute to the life of the university, reading the record, personal statement, recommendations, activities, an optional portfolio and an optional interview. With 41 percent of students majoring or minoring in both the College and the Williams School, a student who connects the liberal arts to business or journalism fits naturally. The admit rate is 13.7%, and ED I on Nov 1 raises it: 27.6% of 1,048 ED applicants were admitted, about 2.0 times the overall rate, though early pools are self-selected and often include recruited athletes and legacies. Testing is optional; with a middle 50% SAT of 1430 to 1530, submit at 1480 or above. The biggest trap is the Johnson Scholarship essay, due Dec 1 in every round.
What to do this fall
- Write the Johnson Scholarship essay by Dec 1, even for RD, with supporting materials by Dec 15.
- Book a staff interview before Oct 31, or an alumni interview by Jan 15; only one is allowed.
- Send an SAT of 1480 or higher, and retest toward 1530 if needed.
- Families weighing ED can request an early need-based aid evaluation; ED I aid is due Dec 1.
Applying to Washington and Lee University? Get a free strategy session. We map your student’s round, testing plan, essays and every scholarship deadline for this school.
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Washington and Lee University Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
8,904 |
1,218 |
13.7% |
| Early Decision[2] |
1,048 |
289 |
27.6% |
- Early Decision admits made up about 24% of all admitted students, so a large part of the class is filled before Regular Decision applications are read (ConnectPrep calculation from the figures above).
- The Early Decision admit rate is about 2.0 times the overall rate. Early pools are self-selected and often include recruited athletes and legacy applicants, so the true advantage for a typical applicant is smaller.
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 40.1%.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[2] |
710 to 750 |
| SAT Math[2] |
720 to 780 |
| SAT composite[2] |
1430 to 1530 |
| ACT composite[2] |
33 to 34 |
| Enrolled students who submitted the SAT[2] |
30% |
| Enrolled students who submitted the ACT[2] |
22% |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1530 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 34 on the ACT. When testing is optional, we generally advise submitting scores at or above about 1480, the middle of the range. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What Washington and Lee University looks for
In its own words: W&L describes a whole-person review and says it wants to get to know each applicant and how they will contribute to the life of the university, considering the academic record, personal statement, recommendations, activities, an optional creative portfolio, and an optional interview.[4]
Washington and Lee University Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Decision I |
Nov 1 |
Dec 20 (ED I); Feb 1 (ED II) |
| Early Decision II |
Jan 5 |
|
| Regular Decision |
Jan 5 |
Apr 1 |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from Washington and Lee University’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
Johnson Scholarship
Before RD |
Dec 1 (essay); Dec 15 (materials) |
Essay due Dec 1, 2026 in all rounds, including RD (Jan 5); supporting materials by Dec 15. QuestBridge Finalists are considered automatically. Finalists hear in early February.[4] |
Named honor scholarships (Boyd, Favrot, Weinstein, MacCorkle, Boetsch)
Before RD |
Dec 1 (via Johnson application) |
These full-tuition or full-cost awards come through the Johnson application unless stated otherwise. Weinstein also needs a brief statement of interest with it.[6] |
On-campus and virtual interviews
Before RD |
Oct 31 |
Staff interviews, on campus or virtual, close Oct 31 of senior year; alumni interviews run Oct 1 to Jan 15. Only one interview.[7] |
| FAFSA and CSS Profile |
Dec 1 (ED I); Jan 15 (ED II); Feb 15 (RD) |
Aid is due Dec 1 for ED I, a month after the Nov 1 application. The aid office offers early need-based aid evaluations for families considering ED.[4] |
| Art and music portfolio |
Nov 15 (ED I); Jan 15 (ED II); Feb 1 (RD) |
Art and music portfolios follow the supplemental materials deadline; RD materials are due Feb 1, 2027.[4] |
See how Washington and Lee University compares with other colleges in the Mid-Atlantic deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
Washington and Lee University Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (federal data)[3] |
$87,000 |
| Tuition[3] |
$68,045 |
| First-years awarded need-based aid[2] |
58.3% |
| Average need-based scholarship or grant[2] |
$71,985 |
| Average total financial aid package[2] |
$80,346 |
| Average share of need met[2] |
100.0% |
| Merit (non-need) awards to first-years[2] |
29 students, average $62,110 |
- For a family that qualifies for need-based aid, the average grant would bring the $87,000 cost of attendance down to roughly $15,015 before loans and work-study. This is a ConnectPrep calculation for illustration; your student’s number depends on your family’s finances, so run the school’s net price calculator.
- Washington and Lee University states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.[8]
- Aid packages are loan-free.[8]
- Beginning in 2027-28, the W&L Promise guarantees at least full tuition for families with total income under $200,000 and typical assets, and families earning less than $75,000 pay no tuition, room, or board.[8]
- International students: W&L meets the full demonstrated need of every admitted applicant without loans, all first-year applicants, including domestic, international and undocumented students, are eligible to apply for need-based aid, and W&L says it admits students without considering their ability to pay.[8]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[3]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$0 (aid exceeded cost) |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$75 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$4,497 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$8,162 |
| Over $110,000 |
$40,646 |
| All aided students |
$23,781 |
Academics and Majors at Washington and Lee University
Most popular fields by share of bachelor’s degrees awarded[2]
- Business/marketing26%
- Social sciences18%
- Biological/life sciences9%
- Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics6%
- Psychology6%
Signature programs
Johnson Scholarship
About 10 percent of each class receives a full-ride Johnson Scholarship plus $10,000 for research, travel, or internships.[5]
The W&L Promise
Beginning in 2027-28, families earning under $200,000 with typical assets receive at least full tuition, and those under $75,000 pay no tuition, room, or board.[8]
Spring Term
W&L's calendar includes a Spring Term, and students can study abroad for a Spring Term, a semester, or a full year.[5]
Williams School and accredited journalism program
W&L pairs its liberal arts college with accredited business and journalism programs, and students can combine them through dual majors or minors.[5]
Honor and civility
Student life is grounded in the core values of honor, integrity, and civility.[5]
Choosing a major and getting in
W&L is the only top liberal arts college with accredited programs in business and journalism, and 41 percent of students major or minor in both the College and the Williams School.[5]
Special admission paths
- Early Decision I and Early Decision II (both binding).[4]
- QuestBridge partner (finalists are automatically considered for the Johnson Scholarship).[4]
- Johnson Scholarship (separate essay due December 1).[4]
Washington and Lee University Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[2] |
97.5% |
| Graduated within four years[2] |
91.3% |
| Graduated within six years[2] |
95.9% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[3] |
$94,810 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[3] |
$19,500 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[3] |
11% |
Make Washington and Lee University a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
Compare Similar Colleges
Washington and Lee University FAQs
What is the Washington and Lee University acceptance rate?
Washington and Lee University admitted 13.7% of first-year applicants (1,218 of 8,904). The Early Decision admit rate was 27.6%.
When are the Washington and Lee University application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Decision I Nov 1; Early Decision II Jan 5; Regular Decision Jan 5. 3 scholarship, honors or program deadlines come before Regular Decision; see the insider deadlines table on this page.
How much does Washington and Lee University cost?
The most recent cost of attendance is $87,000. First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $71,985. The school states it meets 100% of demonstrated need.
What SAT score do you need for Washington and Lee University?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1430 to 1530 on the SAT and 33 to 34 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1530, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Optional.
How does the Johnson Scholarship work at Washington and Lee?
About 10 percent of each class receives a full-ride Johnson Scholarship plus $10,000 for research, travel or internships. The essay is due Dec 1, 2026 in every round, including Regular Decision, with supporting materials by Dec 15. Named honor scholarships such as Boyd and Favrot also come through the Johnson application.
What is the W&L Promise?
Beginning in 2027-28, the W&L Promise guarantees at least full tuition for families with total income under $200,000 and typical assets, and families earning less than $75,000 pay no tuition, room or board. W&L meets full demonstrated need without loans and admits students without considering ability to pay.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Washington and Lee University. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
