Incredible opportunity
for those with
incredible potential.
Leading Lives of Consequence celebrates W&L’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.
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 Virginia’s 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 Our Curriculum
Scene on Campus
Scene on Campus is a frequently updated collection of candid photos highlighting W&L campus life.
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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.
Experiential Education
We believe in the power of learning through experience, encouraging students to go beyond conventional classroom settings.
Global Education
Most students travel abroad at least once during their W&L experience, whether for a semester, a full year, a Spring Term, a summer program, an internship, research, or service.
Undergraduate Research
W&L students are encouraged to pursue undergraduate research, either independently or with a faculty mentor.
Distinctively W&L
Our size, resources, and focus on teaching ensure students get personal attention and have opportunities for distinctive experiences.
From The Columns
Read The Columns for W&L stories on campus and around the world.
Student Organization Spotlight: International Student Mentors
W&L’s International Student Mentors Program pairs new international students with upper-division students to help them navigate life on campus.
W&L Holds 2025 Leadership Excellence Awards
The annual banquet recognizes the many individual and group accomplishments of W&L students within the past year.
Looking Forward and Giving Back
The Class of 2025’s Senior Gift Committee co-chairs have already sailed past their monetary goal as they look toward Commencement.
Jay Margalus, Johnson Professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership and director of the Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship, offers us an office tour.
Students in W&L’s Bonner Program spent the last year creating a digital map of health care networks for people experiencing homelessness worldwide.
A group of students passionate about research has been working tirelessly to make this year’s Science, Society and the Arts 2025 conference an event to remember.
Helen Ezgo ’25 and Maina Shodmonbekova ’25 traveled across the world to expand their horizons at W&L thanks to the John M. Gunn International Scholarship.
Student Organization Spotlight: Career Fellows
W&L Career Fellows offer peer-to-peer support for students exploring their career aspirations.
Mackenzie Brooks, associate professor and digital humanities librarian, has made an impact on campus through her innovative and collaborative approach to teaching and scholarship.
Showcasing History, Culture and Community
W&L’s third annual NPHC Step Show Competition invited the campus and local community into a vibrant tradition.
Positivity Meets Personal Connections
Mariam Drammeh ’25 has approached research, internships and campus involvement with an eye toward a future rooted in service to others.
Rho Gammas Guide First-Years Through Sorority Recruitment
Sorority recruitment counselors, or Rho Gammas, assist first-year women in W&L’s formal recruitment process to join Panhellenic sororities.