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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
Scene on Campus
Scene on Campus is a frequently updated collection of candid photos highlighting W&L campus life.
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From The Columns
Read The Columns for W&L stories on campus and around the world.
Meredith Harron ’26 trained and performed with the Mediterranean Opera Festival this summer through a Johnson Opportunity Grant.
‘W&L After Class’ Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Stu Gray
Stu Gray, associate professor of politics, discusses philosophy, teaching collaboratively with students and being mindful in a technological world.
Allie Stankewich ’23 Awarded SIT Alice Rowan Swanson Fellowship
While working for the Fulbright program as a teaching mentor in Uganda, Stankewich partnered with a local organization to build a fish farm social enterprise.
Students in the Outing Club’s new pilot Spring Term program had the chance to step outside their comfort zones one more time before Commencement.
A creative new Spring Term course brought students to Austin, Texas, for alumni mentorship, career exploration and literary analysis.
W&L Celebrates 463 Graduates at 238th Commencement
The ceremony included remarks by President Will Dudley and Harris Stripling ’25, president of the Executive Committee (EC) of the Student Body.
Chris Paudel ’28 set out to challenge himself — and cultural stereotypes — through a mountaineering expedition in his home country of Nepal.
Two innovative sociology research projects conducted in collaboration with professor of sociology Jonathan Eastwood give “networking” a whole new meaning.
Tolu Olubunmi ’02 has made her journey to citizenship an opportunity to inspire and serve others.
Entrepreneurship Summit Connects Students and Alumni With Shared Interests
The 2025 Entrepreneurship Summit brought students together for networking, honing their pitch skills and sharing ideas with alumni.
The Follow the Money workshop and Spring Term course bring W&L students together with business journalists from across the nation.
A chance encounter in the Science Center as a child set Alyssa Cirrincione ’25 on a path to pursue her curiosity at W&L.
Every day at W&L our community comes together to research to mentor to collaborate to learn.