Incredible opportunity
for those with
incredible potential.

Why W&L

Washington and Lee University is a small liberal arts college nestled in the Virginia mountains. We are known for our personal and engaging undergraduate experience and highly regarded School of Law.

W&L Advantage

Founded in 1749, W&L is the 9th oldest college in the United States, even older than the U.S. Constitution.

Today, W&L is a top-ranked liberal arts university that continues to build on its innovative and flexible approach to education. W&L’s motto, “Not unmindful of the future,” reflects our commitment to an education that is relevant to the 21st century.

Making College Affordable

W&L is one of fewer than 25 colleges in the U.S. that can admit students without regard for financial need and guarantee to cover 100% of demonstrated need without loans.

Every year, W&L awards about $60 million in institutional grants and federal and state awards. 60% of the entering first-year class receives need-based financial aid, with an average aid award greater than $60,000.

Engaged Community

We are a close-knit, residential campus where students build lifelong friendships by living on campus, working and studying together, participating in clubs and activities, and serving the community.

A community which is strengthened by the student-run Honor System, and the commitment students make not to lie, cheat, steal or otherwise violate the trust of the community.

Pool of Opportunities

Our size, resources and commitment to innovation mean students have access to faculty and resources from day one.

One of the hallmarks of the W&L experience is the accessibility of faculty. Every class is taught by a faculty member who often becomes a mentor, colleague and champion, pushing students to raise the bar.

Adventure-Ready Location

Our campus is about 50 miles from Roanoke, 140 miles from the state capital of Richmond, and 180 miles from the national capital of Washington, D.C.

Lexington — and the adventure-ready landscape that surrounds it — become such a part of students’ lives that graduates often return to visit long after their college days are behind them.

Scene on Campus

Scene on Campus is a frequently updated collection of candid photos highlighting W&L campus life.

The Heart Of W&L

We have a long tradition of educating smart, ambitious students who have the ability and the desire to make a difference in the world.

Fly high

Fly high

Experiential Education

At Washington and Lee University, we believe in the power of learning by doing, so students are encouraged to push beyond traditional classroom experiences.

Experiential Education at W&L

Fly high

Fly high

Global Education

Most students participate in an experience abroad during their W&L experience. This may be for a term or full-year, Spring Term, summer program, internship, research, or service.

Study Abroad

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Fly high

Undergraduate Research

Students are encouraged to pursue undergraduate research whether independent or in partnership with faculty.

Research at W&L

Distinctively W&L

Our size, resources, innovative teaching and interdisciplinary learning, means students get personal attention and have opportunities for distinctive experiences.

Distinctive Programming

From The Columns

Read The Columns for W&L stories on campus and around the world.

Spider Sense

Nadia Ayoub, professor of biology, loves sharing her passion for open-ended scientific exploration with colleagues and students.

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W&L Launches $650 Million Capital Campaign

Washington and Lee University announced on Friday, Oct. 25, the launch of a $650 million comprehensive capital campaign, Leading Lives of Consequence: The Campaign for Washington and Lee.

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Historic Gift Allows Washington and Lee University to Adopt Need-Blind Admissions Policy

Alumnus Bill Miller donates $132 million to expand access and affordability.

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Spooky Action on Campus

W&L’s quantum computing program is among the first in the nation offered at a small liberal arts institution.

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Opportunity to Thrive

Adhip Adhikari ’27 spent much of his summer creating a library at a secondary school near his family's home in Katmandu, Nepal.

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‘W&L After Class’ Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Melissa Kerin

In this month’s episode, Kerin, professor of art history, discusses how following her curiosity of the ways in which people tell stories opened her to opportunities to study remote Buddhist shrines in the Himalayas and examine how we live and die as the director of the Roger Mudd Center for Ethics.

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Inspiring Minds

George Bent, Sidney Gause Childress Professor in the Arts, has spent his career at W&L inspiring and being inspired by his students.

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Student Org Spotlight: wluLEX

W&L’s student-run social media team arrived this fall ready to explore multiple social media platforms and showcase the vibrance of the Fall Term.

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W&L Marketplace Celebrates National Food Service Workers Day

Approximately 300 Dining Services employees plan, make and serve meals at one of the seven dining facilities on campus.

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Impacting Lives Through Words

Veronika Kolosova ’25 has explored the liberal arts experience at W&L through campus involvement and an interdisciplinary approach to her studies.

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Fiber Arts Leading Edge

Hands-On Experience

Students participating in two new Leading Edge programs during this year’s first-year orientation were able to complete tactile projects while building community on campus.

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Compassion in Action

This summer, students working with associate professor of theater Stephanie Sandberg explored the practice of compassion through the eyes of documentarians.

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