The Washington and Lee University Undergraduate Academic Indicators Report contains a set of key performance indicators trended over time. The collection and reporting of official admissions data, enrollment figures, and financial information follow different cycles, so it is important to pay careful attention to the time period identified for individual indicators.
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, Colorado College, Davidson College, Grinnell College, Hamilton College, Harvey Mudd 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
From 2010 - 2014, the number of students applying to Washington and Lee averaged 6,221, due in large part to interest and competition for the esteemed Johnson Scholarships. Over the past several years, changes in admissions practice, strategy, and efficiencies have netted fewer applicants while attracting a more diverse student body of equally exceptional academic ability and talent. The 19% decline in applicants in Fall 2020 coincided with many factors and is viewed as an anomaly outside the typical trends.
W&L Applications
Year of Enrollment
Number of Applicants
Fall 2010
6627
Fall 2011
6487
Fall 2012
5972
Fall 2013
6222
Fall 2014
5797
Fall 2015
5377
Fall 2016
5101
Fall 2017
5455
Fall 2018
5855
Fall 2019
6178
Fall 2020
4998
Admissions Selectivity
Selectivity remains highly competitive with large numbers of exceptional applicants. Over the past decade, the pecentage of admitted students ranged from 18% - 24%, while the percentage of admitted students who enrolled averaged 39%.
Admissions Selectivity
Year of Application
Yield (% of Accepted Students Who Enrolled)
Selectivity (% of Applicants Accepted)
Fall 2010
37
19
Fall 2011
42
18
Fall 2012
41
19
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
Class Rank
On average, 97% of enrolled first-year students graduated in the top 25% of their high school class while fully 82% placed in the top 10%.
Class Rank
Application Year
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Top 10%
83
81
80
80
81
85
83
81
83
82
Top 25%
98
98
98
98
95
99
99
96
97
96
ACT Scores
ACT scores of incoming first-year students remain exceptional and are significantly higher than the national averages of all college bound seniors. At 32 and 33, the bottom and top quartiles of students submit ACT scores that vary by only two points.
ACT Scores
Fall 2010
Fall 2011
Fall 2012
Fall 2013
Fall 2014
Fall 2015
Fall 2016
Fall 2017
Fall 2018
Fall 2019
Fall 2020
W&L 75th %ile
32
32
32
33
33
33
33
33
34
34
34
W&L Average
31
31
31
31
32
32
32
32
33
33
33
W&L 25th %ile
29
29
29
30
30
30
30
31
32
32
32
National Average
21.0
21.1
21.1
20.9
21.0
21.0
20.8
21.0
21.0
20.7
20.6
Enrollment by State
The Class of 2024 represents 40 states and 13 different foreign countries.
Class of 2024: Top States of Origin
State
Students
Virginia
59
Texas
46
North Carolina
39
Georgia
31
Maryland
26
Pennsylvania
26
New York
25
New Jersey
24
Nonresident or Abroad
23
Florida
19
South Carolina
16
All Others
125
First-Year Enrollment by Census Region
A majority of students in the Class of 2024 come from the South Atlantic, Middle Atlantic and West South Central US Census Regions.
First-Year Enrollment by Region
Region
Percent Enrollment
South Atlantic
45
West South Central
12
Middle Atlantic
16
East South Central
7
New England
5
East North Central
3
International
5
Pacific
3
West North Central
1
Mountain
3
Military APO/Other
0
Enrollment History
Undergraduate enrollment has averaged 1,833 over the last five years. Law School enrollment declined to record lows and, mirroring national trends, has now rebounded .
Enrollment History
Year of Enrollment
Undergraduate Enrollment
Law Enrollment
2010
1759
414
2011
1793
403
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
Financial Aid of any Type for 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 2019, 67% received at least one type of financial aid.
Percent of First-Year Students Receiving Financial Aid of Any Type
Academic Year
Percent of First Year Students
2010
63
2011
66
2012
63
2013
63
2014
63
2015
60
2016
64
2017
64
2018
66
2019
67
Institutional Grants for First-Year Students
In 2019-20, 52% of first year students received an institutional grant at an average of $51,401 per recipient. Additionally, concurrent with the W&L Promise, the average award per recipient has increased by nearly $10,000 over the past four years.
Percent of First-Year Students Receiving Institutional Grants
Year of Enrollment
Percent of First-Year Students Receiving Grants
2009
47
2010
47
2011
54
2012
49
2013
49
2014
49
2015
48
2016
52
2017
52
2018
57
2019
52
Average Institutional Grant Amount Per Recipient
Year of Enrollment
Average Institutional Grant Amount Per Recipient
2010
34832
2011
38261
2012
39638
2013
40413
2014
43207
2015
41494
2016
41556
2017
46265
2018
49042
2019
51401
Undergraduates Receiving Pell Grants
Sixty-seven (67%) percent of all Washington and Lee undergraduate students received financial aid in 2019-20. Of the total student population, 10% received Pell grants.
Percent of Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid Receiving Pell Grants
Academic Year
Percent of Undergraduates Receiving Pell Grants
2010
7.8
2011
8.9
2012
9.6
2013
9.6
2014
9.5
2015
9.2
2016
8.7
2017
9.5
2018
10.7
2019
10
Total Grant Aid Awarded
In 2019-20 over $52,290,000 was awarded in grants to W&L undergraduates. This includes all grant 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
2010
31209746
2011
35337348
2012
37916182
2013
39434413
2014
41584039
2015
39530065
2016
40094795
2017
43914759
2018
47740389
2019
52290423
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
2009
95
94
2010
93
95
2011
95
95
2012
97
95
2013
97
95
2014
96
95
2015
95
95
2016
97
96
2017
96
96
2018
98
96
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
Class Size
Over 70% 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
2009
72
67
2010
72
67
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
Distribution of Majors
In 2019-20, W&L awarded 446 undergraduate degrees to students who completed a total of 574 first and second majors. The accompanying chart illustrates the distribution of majors by broad discipline.
Distribution of Majors
Major
Percent
Business/Accounting
27
Social Sciences
22
Biological/Life Sciences
9
Foreign Languages/Literatures
5
Communication/Journalism
5
History
5
English
4
Mathematics
4
Humanities
3
Cognitive & Behavioral Science
3
Physical Science
3
Engineering
3
Computer/Information Sciences
3
Environmental Science
2
Visual/Performing Arts
1
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.
Six-Year Graduation Rates by Cohort Year
Year
Washington and Lee
Peer Average
2003
91
90
2004
93
90
2005
91
90
2006
90
91
2007
90
91
2008
88
90
2009
91
92
2010
92
91
2011
92
92
2012
95
91
2013
94
91
Post-Graduation Study
At graduation, 87 members of the Class of 2019 (21% of those who responded) reported they were beginning advanced studies immediately. Law and medicine are consistently popular fields of post-graduate study.
Post-Graduate Studies
Profession
Number
Law
29
Medical/Health
22
Engineering
12
Math/Sciences
10
Education
10
Business/Accounting
7
Social Sciences
5
Other
5
Employment Rates
A majority of graduates report being employed, either full-or part-time. 76% of the Class of 2018 reported being employed 6 months after graduation. The majority of those who are not employed are enrolled full-time in graduate studies, for a combined total of 98% attending graduate school or employed 6 months after graduation.
Employment Rates Within 6 Months of Graduation
Class Year
Percent Employed Within 6 Months of Graduation
2008
68
2009
66
2010
57
2011
57
2012
77
2013
81
2014
72
2015
74
2016
80
2017
71
2018
76
Top Fields of Employment
In recent survey years, a larger percentage of graduates have been employed in the economics and finance fields. Education, Marketing, Health Care, and Science fields are also popular.
