Washington and Lee University
Source: https://www.wlu.edu
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:34
Washington and Lee University
Transformative Education
Washington and Lee’s innovative curriculum encourages students to explore a variety of subjects and make connections between them.
Discover your passion
1 / 4
Impactful Experiences
The Washington and Lee experience extends beyond the classroom to opportunities that have been proven to have a significant educational impact, including internships, service-learning, research with faculty, and study abroad.
Expand your horizons
2 / 4
Engaged Community
When W&L students and alumni describe what makes Washington and Lee special, they invariably mention the community.
Find your place
3 / 4
Lives of Consequence
Washington and Lee students graduate equipped with the habits of mind, strength of character, and essential knowledge needed to pursue lives of consequence.
Make your mark
4 / 4
Pause
Resume
Why
W&L
Washington and Lee University is a small liberal arts university nestled in the mountains of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. We are committed to providing a highly personalized academic experience, making our education affordable for all students, and preparing our graduates for lives of personal fulfillment and professional success.
Access and Affordability
Academic Opportunities
Post-Graduate Success
Beautiful Setting
Access and Affordability
Washington and Lee’s dedication to access and affordability is reflected in its generous need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships. The university is need-blind for all undergraduate students and guarantees to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need with aid packages that do not include loans. Through the W&L Promise, students with an annual household income of less than $150,000 pay no tuition, and those with an annual household income of less than $75,000 pay no tuition, room or board.
In addition to need-based aid, the Johnson Scholarship Program awards merit-based, full tuition, room and board scholarships to roughly 10% of each incoming class.
The W&L Promise
The Johnson Scholarship
Learn More about Scholarships and Aid
Academic Opportunities
Solving problems in today’s world requires bringing ideas and people together in unexpected ways. At W&L, students cultivate their intellectual curiosity in small classes with the guidance of faculty mentors who teach them to collaborate, ask difficult questions and discover meaningful connections across academic disciplines.
Our expansive liberal arts curriculum is amplified by nationally accredited programs in business, journalism, education and law. The unusual breadth of educational opportunities we offer encourages exploration and discovery. Students have abundant options for in-depth and experiential learning, including our immersive four-week Spring Term.
Majors and Minors
Post-Graduate Success
A W&L education develops versatile, necessary skills like critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and effective communication that prepare students not only for their first job after college but for every job they’ll have in their careers.
From the moment students arrive on campus, they have opportunities for one-on-one advising, career exploration trips, and skill development workshops. We offer funding for students to pursue internships, research opportunities, and professional conferences, and our loyal alumni network opens doors for graduates in cities and industries around the world.
The results speak for themselves. Over the past decade, an average of 96% of graduates were employed or attending graduate school within six months of graduation.
Student Outcomes
Beautiful Setting
Nestled in the scenic Shenandoah Valley, Washington and Lee is located in Lexington, Virginia — just three hours from D.C., and a quick drive from Roanoke. It’s a small town with a big personality, offering the best of both worlds: space to focus, and endless ways to get involved.
There are abundant opportunities to connect with the local community through hands-on learning and service, while also exploring the outdoors year-round. Hike to the summit of House Mountain, kayak the Maury River, or take part in excursions through our Outing Club—one of the most popular organizations on campus.
Life in Lexington means fewer distractions, more adventure, and a community that feels like home. Many students come for the education—and leave with a lifelong connection to the town.
Explore Lexington, VA
A Liberal Arts
University
We augment the liberal arts and sciences with offerings not commonly found at a small college. Our core curriculum, combined with the breadth of our course catalog, encourages students to make connections across disciplines.
The College
The College is the liberal arts core of W&L, home to fine arts, humanities, social sciences, journalism, and STEM fields.
Areas of Study
Course Spotlight
The Follow the Money workshop and Spring Term course bring W&L students together with business journalists from across the nation.
The Williams School
The Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics is distinctive among its peers — offering a business education within a larger liberal arts curriculum.
The Williams School
W&L Student-Run Investment Fund Ranks Among Nation’s Largest
The Williams Investment Society’s $25.5 million assets under management rank sixth nationally according to a survey conducted by the Center for Investment Research.
The School of Law
W&L’s only graduate program, The School of Law seeks to cultivate broad-minded, highly skilled, and honorable practitioners of law.
The School of Law
Program Spotlight
The Law, Justice and Society program brings together the Law School, Williams School and College in a curricular concept unlike what any other liberal arts college can offer.
The Campaign for Washington and Lee
Leading Lives of Consequence
Leading Lives of Consequence celebrates Washington and Lee’s ideals and represents a powerful investment in current and future students who will carry those values forward. This campaign funds critical priorities that will allow the transformative power of a W&L education to endure for generations to come.
Learn more about the campaign
Historic Gift Allows W&L to Adopt Need-Blind Admissions Policy
Lindley's Legacy Lives On
Scene
on Campus
Scene on Campus is a frequently updated collection of candid photos highlighting W&L campus life.
Want to see more?
View the Scene on Campus Archive
Virtual Tour
From
The Columns
Read The Columns for W&L stories on campus and around the world.
Stories
View All Stories
Making Civic Magic
Shepherd Program students spent their Winter Term imagining how to create healthy spaces for civic discourse in the Rockbridge area.
Continue Reading
W&L’s University Libraries Celebrate a Milestone Birthday
Washington and Lee’s university library system held its 250th anniversary celebration March 11-12 with events and programs that highlighted the library’s past and present.
Continue Reading
Finding the Why
Phil Marella ’81 is the founder of Dana’s Angels Research Trust, an organization dedicated to funding research on Niemann-Pick disease type C.
Continue Reading
Students Help Shape Library Life Through Advisory Board
W&L’s Library Student Advisory Board allows students to have a voice in the university library’s events and initiatives.
Continue Reading
Educational Odyssey
Ashton Evans ’26 reflects on a W&L experience full of mentorship, global learning and skills she will carry with her for life.
Continue Reading
W&L Adds New Creative Writing Major
Washington and Lee’s new creative writing major helps students hone their craft.
Continue Reading
Winter Reading Recs
Washington and Lee University’s library staff recommend their current favorite winter reads.
Continue Reading
W&L’s DART Internship Program Places Students in Cutting-Edge Research Labs
At prestigious labs around the country, W&L students have pushed themselves and the frontiers of science to help those with a rare disease.
Continue Reading
Making Space for Makerspaces
W&L students have access to cutting-edge tools and technology through W&L’s commitment to hands-on pedagogy.
Continue Reading
‘W&L After Class’ Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Angela Sun
To kick off the seventh season of “W&L After Class,” assistant professor of philosophy Angela Sun reflects on aesthetics from the lens of her field of research.
Continue Reading
W&L Without Borders
Brandon Bishop ’26’s journey shows how W&L’s global opportunities, language instruction and fellowships can transform a student’s path.
Continue Reading
Brian ’96 and Katie ’95 Boland on Building a Well-Being Economy
The Bolands have dedicated their time and energy to building a more equitable economic system.
Continue Reading
Watch Video
Play
Pause
Every day at W&L our community comes together to research to mentor to collaborate to learn.
About W&L
Academics
Admissions & Aid
Campus Life
Outcomes
Alumni
Current Students
Faculty & Staff
Families
Visitors
News
Events
Arts
Athletics
Giving
Transformative Education
Washington and Lee’s innovative curriculum encourages students to explore a variety of subjects and make connections between them.
Discover your passion
1 / 4
Impactful Experiences
The Washington and Lee experience extends beyond the classroom to opportunities that have been proven to have a significant educational impact, including internships, service-learning, research with faculty, and study abroad.
Expand your horizons
2 / 4
Engaged Community
When W&L students and alumni describe what makes Washington and Lee special, they invariably mention the community.
Find your place
3 / 4
Lives of Consequence
Washington and Lee students graduate equipped with the habits of mind, strength of character, and essential knowledge needed to pursue lives of consequence.
Make your mark
4 / 4
Pause
Resume
Why
W&L
Washington and Lee University is a small liberal arts university nestled in the mountains of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. We are committed to providing a highly personalized academic experience, making our education affordable for all students, and preparing our graduates for lives of personal fulfillment and professional success.
Access and Affordability
Academic Opportunities
Post-Graduate Success
Beautiful Setting
Access and Affordability
Washington and Lee’s dedication to access and affordability is reflected in its generous need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships. The university is need-blind for all undergraduate students and guarantees to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need with aid packages that do not include loans. Through the W&L Promise, students with an annual household income of less than $150,000 pay no tuition, and those with an annual household income of less than $75,000 pay no tuition, room or board.
In addition to need-based aid, the Johnson Scholarship Program awards merit-based, full tuition, room and board scholarships to roughly 10% of each incoming class.
The W&L Promise
The Johnson Scholarship
Learn More about Scholarships and Aid
Academic Opportunities
Solving problems in today’s world requires bringing ideas and people together in unexpected ways. At W&L, students cultivate their intellectual curiosity in small classes with the guidance of faculty mentors who teach them to collaborate, ask difficult questions and discover meaningful connections across academic disciplines.
Our expansive liberal arts curriculum is amplified by nationally accredited programs in business, journalism, education and law. The unusual breadth of educational opportunities we offer encourages exploration and discovery. Students have abundant options for in-depth and experiential learning, including our immersive four-week Spring Term.
Majors and Minors
Post-Graduate Success
A W&L education develops versatile, necessary skills like critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and effective communication that prepare students not only for their first job after college but for every job they’ll have in their careers.
From the moment students arrive on campus, they have opportunities for one-on-one advising, career exploration trips, and skill development workshops. We offer funding for students to pursue internships, research opportunities, and professional conferences, and our loyal alumni network opens doors for graduates in cities and industries around the world.
The results speak for themselves. Over the past decade, an average of 96% of graduates were employed or attending graduate school within six months of graduation.
Student Outcomes
Beautiful Setting
Nestled in the scenic Shenandoah Valley, Washington and Lee is located in Lexington, Virginia — just three hours from D.C., and a quick drive from Roanoke. It’s a small town with a big personality, offering the best of both worlds: space to focus, and endless ways to get involved.
There are abundant opportunities to connect with the local community through hands-on learning and service, while also exploring the outdoors year-round. Hike to the summit of House Mountain, kayak the Maury River, or take part in excursions through our Outing Club—one of the most popular organizations on campus.
Life in Lexington means fewer distractions, more adventure, and a community that feels like home. Many students come for the education—and leave with a lifelong connection to the town.
Explore Lexington, VA
A Liberal Arts
University
We augment the liberal arts and sciences with offerings not commonly found at a small college. Our core curriculum, combined with the breadth of our course catalog, encourages students to make connections across disciplines.
The College
The College is the liberal arts core of W&L, home to fine arts, humanities, social sciences, journalism, and STEM fields.
Areas of Study
Course Spotlight
The Follow the Money workshop and Spring Term course bring W&L students together with business journalists from across the nation.
The Williams School
The Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics is distinctive among its peers — offering a business education within a larger liberal arts curriculum.
The Williams School
W&L Student-Run Investment Fund Ranks Among Nation’s Largest
The Williams Investment Society’s $25.5 million assets under management rank sixth nationally according to a survey conducted by the Center for Investment Research.
The School of Law
W&L’s only graduate program, The School of Law seeks to cultivate broad-minded, highly skilled, and honorable practitioners of law.
The School of Law
Program Spotlight
The Law, Justice and Society program brings together the Law School, Williams School and College in a curricular concept unlike what any other liberal arts college can offer.
The Campaign for Washington and Lee
Leading Lives of Consequence
Leading Lives of Consequence celebrates Washington and Lee’s ideals and represents a powerful investment in current and future students who will carry those values forward. This campaign funds critical priorities that will allow the transformative power of a W&L education to endure for generations to come.
Learn more about the campaign
Historic Gift Allows W&L to Adopt Need-Blind Admissions Policy
Lindley's Legacy Lives On
Scene
on Campus
Scene on Campus is a frequently updated collection of candid photos highlighting W&L campus life.
Want to see more?
View the Scene on Campus Archive
Virtual Tour
From
The Columns
Read The Columns for W&L stories on campus and around the world.
Stories
View All Stories
Making Civic Magic
Shepherd Program students spent their Winter Term imagining how to create healthy spaces for civic discourse in the Rockbridge area.
Continue Reading
W&L’s University Libraries Celebrate a Milestone Birthday
Washington and Lee’s university library system held its 250th anniversary celebration March 11-12 with events and programs that highlighted the library’s past and present.
Continue Reading
Finding the Why
Phil Marella ’81 is the founder of Dana’s Angels Research Trust, an organization dedicated to funding research on Niemann-Pick disease type C.
Continue Reading
Students Help Shape Library Life Through Advisory Board
W&L’s Library Student Advisory Board allows students to have a voice in the university library’s events and initiatives.
Continue Reading
Educational Odyssey
Ashton Evans ’26 reflects on a W&L experience full of mentorship, global learning and skills she will carry with her for life.
Continue Reading
W&L Adds New Creative Writing Major
Washington and Lee’s new creative writing major helps students hone their craft.
Continue Reading
Winter Reading Recs
Washington and Lee University’s library staff recommend their current favorite winter reads.
Continue Reading
W&L’s DART Internship Program Places Students in Cutting-Edge Research Labs
At prestigious labs around the country, W&L students have pushed themselves and the frontiers of science to help those with a rare disease.
Continue Reading
Making Space for Makerspaces
W&L students have access to cutting-edge tools and technology through W&L’s commitment to hands-on pedagogy.
Continue Reading
‘W&L After Class’ Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Angela Sun
To kick off the seventh season of “W&L After Class,” assistant professor of philosophy Angela Sun reflects on aesthetics from the lens of her field of research.
Continue Reading
W&L Without Borders
Brandon Bishop ’26’s journey shows how W&L’s global opportunities, language instruction and fellowships can transform a student’s path.
Continue Reading
Brian ’96 and Katie ’95 Boland on Building a Well-Being Economy
The Bolands have dedicated their time and energy to building a more equitable economic system.
Continue Reading
Watch Video
Play
Pause
Every day at W&L our community comes together to research to mentor to collaborate to learn.
About W&L
Academics
Admissions & Aid
Campus Life
Outcomes
Alumni
Current Students
Faculty & Staff
Families
Visitors
News
Events
Arts
Athletics
Giving