Washington and Lee University voluntarily publishes a number of key undergraduate academic performance indicators, including peer performance metrics, trended over time. The collection and reporting of select admissions statistics, enrollment data, and financial information follow different cycles and, as such, it is important to note the time period identified for individual metrics.
The University considers among its peers the top liberal arts institutions in the country, including Amherst College, Bates College, Bowdoin College, Carleton College, Claremont McKenna College, Colby College, Colgate University, Davidson College, Grinnell College, Hamilton College, Haverford College, Middlebury College, Pomona College, Smith College, Swarthmore College, University of Richmond, Vassar College, Wellesley College, Wesleyan University, and Williams College.
Admissions Applications
At 7,224, the number of undergraduate applicants for Fall 2022 was the highest in the University's history. Interest in and competition for the esteemed Johnson Scholarship continues to generate significant interest from a large number of exceptionally talented individuals.
W&L Applications
Year of Enrollment
Number of Applicants
Fall 2013
6222
Fall 2014
5797
Fall 2015
5377
Fall 2016
5101
Fall 2017
5455
Fall 2018
5855
Fall 2019
6178
Fall 2020
4998
Fall 2021
6621
Fall 2022
7224
Admissions Selectivity
Enrollment of new first-time, first-year students remains highly competitive with large numbers of exceptional applicants from diverse backgrounds. Over the past decade, the pecentage of admitted students has ranged from 17% - 24%, while the percentage of admitted students who enroll averages 39%.
Admissions Selectivity
Year of Application
Yield (% of Accepted Students Who Enrolled)
Selectivity (% of Applicants Accepted)
Fall 2013
42
18
Fall 2014
41
20
Fall 2015
35
24
Fall 2016
39
24
Fall 2017
39
22
Fall 2018
38
21
Fall 2019
40
19
Fall 2020
37
24
Fall 2021
39
19
Fall 2022
39
17
Enrollment by State
The Class of 2026 (first-time, full-time, first-year fall 2022 cohort) represents 43 states (and U.S. territories) and 25 different foreign countries.
Class of 2026: Top States of Origin
State
Students
Virginia
86
Nonresident or Abroad
43
Texas
35
North Carolina
34
Georgia
25
Maryland
24
New Jersey
22
New York
20
Pennsylvania
19
Connecticut
17
Florida
14
South Carolina
14
All Others
123
First-Year Enrollment by Census Region
A majority of students in the Class of 2026 (first-time, full-time, first-year fall 2022 cohort) come from the South Atlantic, Middle Atlantic and West South Central US Census Regions.
First-Year Enrollment by Region
Region
Percent Enrollment
South Atlantic
44
Middle Atlantic
13
West South Central
11
International
9
East South Central
6
New England
6
East North Central
4
Pacific
3
Mountain
3
West North Central
2
Military APO/Other
0
Enrollment History
Over the last five years, undergraduate enrollment has averaged 1,847 while Law School enrollment has averaged 383. The University consistently meets its enrollment, persistence, and completion goals.
Enrollment History
Year of Enrollment
Undergraduate Enrollment
Law Enrollment
2012
1838
464
2013
1855
422
2014
1890
374
2015
1854
318
2016
1830
330
2017
1827
393
2018
1829
394
2019
1860
404
2020
1822
361
2021
1857
381
2022
1867
376
Financial Aid of any Type for First-Time, First-Year Students
Financial aid packages may include federal, state, local and institutional grants, as well as student loans and work-study. Of the class entering in Fall of 2021, 61% received at least one type of financial aid award.
Percent of First-Time, First-Year Students Receiving Financial Aid of Any Type
Academic Year
Percent of First Year Students
2012
63
2013
63
2014
63
2015
60
2016
64
2017
64
2018
66
2019
67
2020
63
2021
61
Institutional Grants for First-Year Students
In 2021-22, 57% of first year students received an institutional grant at an average of $57,034 per recipient. The W&L Promise provides a minimum grant of tuition to any undergraduate student admitted to W&L with a total family income below $125,000 and assets typical for their income.
Percent of First-Year Students Receiving Institutional Grants
Year of Enrollment
Percent of First-Year Students Receiving Grants
2012
49
2013
49
2014
49
2015
48
2016
52
2017
52
2018
57
2019
52
2020
52
2021
57
Average Institutional Grant Amount Per Recipient
Year of Enrollment
Average Institutional Grant Amount Per Recipient
2012
39638
2013
40413
2014
43207
2015
41494
2016
41556
2017
46265
2018
49042
2019
51401
2020
53770
2021
57034
Undergraduates Receiving Pell Grants
Sixty-three (63%) percent of all Washington and Lee undergraduate students received financial aid in 2021-22. Of the total student population, approximately 10% received Pell grants.
Percent of Undergraduates Receiving Pell Grants
Academic Year
Percent of Undergraduates Receiving Pell Grants
2012
9.6
2013
9.6
2014
9.5
2015
9.2
2016
8.7
2017
9.5
2018
10.7
2019
10
2020
10.5
2021
10.4
Total Grant Aid Awarded
In 2021-22, $58,615,087 was awarded in grants and scholarships to W&L undergraduates. This includes all grant and/or scholarship aid dollars received from the federal government, state or local government, the institution, and private grant sources. The overwhelming majority of grant aid comes from private and institutional sources.
Total Grant Aid to Undergraduate Students from All Sources
Year
Total Grant Aid to Undergraduate Students from All Sources
2012
37916182
2013
39434413
2014
41584039
2015
39530065
2016
40094795
2017
43914759
2018
47740389
2019
52290423
2020
54963063
2021
58615087
First-Year Retention
The retention rate is an indicator of how well first-year students acclimate to an institution's academic and social life. Ninety-six percent (96%) or more of the University's first-year students consistentily return their second year, a rate comparable with that of our peer institutions and among the highest levels in the nation.
First-Year Retention Rates
Fall Cohort
Washington and Lee
Peer Average
2012
97
95
2013
97
95
2014
96
95
2015
95
95
2016
97
96
2017
96
96
2018
98
96
2019
97
94
2020
96
94
2021
98
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
The student-faculty ratio reflects the intimacy of the educational experience. In recent years, W&L's ratio has maintained a favorable ratio of 1 faculty member for every 8 students.
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
Academic Year
Washington and Lee
Peer Average
2010 - 11
9
9
2011 - 12
9
9
2011 - 12
8
9
2012 - 13
9
9
2013 - 14
8
9
2014 - 15
8
9
2015 - 16
8
9
2016 - 17
8
9
2017 - 18
8
8
2018 - 19
8
8
2019 - 20
8
8
2020 - 21
8
8
Class Size
Fully 78% of undergraduate courses at Washington and Lee have fewer than 20 students, fostering a more personalized learning experience.
Percent of Courses With Fewer than 20 Students
Year
Washington and Lee
Peer Average
2011
74
69
2012
74
70
2013
73
69
2014
72
71
2015
74
71
2016
76
71
2017
72
71
2018
75
71
2019
77
71
2020
78
71
Distribution of Majors
In 2020-21, W&L awarded 444 undergraduate degrees to students who completed a total of 585 first and second majors. The accompanying chart illustrates the distribution of majors by broad discipline.
Distribution of Majors
Major
Percent
Business/Accounting
24.6
Social Sciences
23.6
Biological/Life Sciences
8.4
Humanities
6.7
Foreign Languages/Literatures
5.6
History
4.6
Physical Science
4.6
Cognitive & Behavioral Science
4.3
English
3.4
Visual/Performing Arts
2.9
Communication/Journalism
2.7
Mathematics
2.6
Computer/Information Sciences
2.6
Environmental Science
2.1
Engineering
1.4
Interdisciplinary Studies
0
Graduation Rates
The six-year graduation rate represents students who enrolled as first-time, full-time students six years earlier and completed their undergraduate degrees within 150% of the traditional 4-year time frame. W&L's six-year graduation rates are equivalent with our peers. Although the six-year graduation rate is a federal reporting standard, nearly all students complete their program in four years.