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
We are committed to meeting 100% of student financial need.
Every year, W&L awards about $53 million in institutional grants in addition to federal and state awards. And because of the strength of our need-based aid, only a fraction of families choose to take out optional loans.
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.
Explore Our Curriculum
Scene on Campus
Scene on Campus is a frequently updated collection of candid photos highlighting W&L campus life.
Want to see more?
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
At Washington and Lee University, we believe in the power of learning by doing, so students are encouraged to push beyond traditional classroom experiences.
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.
Undergraduate Research
Students are encouraged to pursue undergraduate research whether independent or in partnership with faculty.
Distinctively W&L
Our size, resources, innovative teaching and interdisciplinary learning, means 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.
‘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.
George Bent, Sidney Gause Childress Professor in the Arts, has spent his career at W&L inspiring and being inspired by his students.
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.
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.
Veronika Kolosova ’25 has explored the liberal arts experience at W&L through campus involvement and an interdisciplinary approach to her studies.
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.
This summer, students working with associate professor of theater Stephanie Sandberg explored the practice of compassion through the eyes of documentarians.
W&L students share their experiences getting to know the larger Lexington and Rockbridge community during the summer months.
Elka Prechel ’26 was inspired by a Spring Term Abroad to explore her passion for teaching in France and Italy this summer.
Eliza Spaht ’26 took a course on the economics of winemaking with the Council on International Educational Exchange’s Business and Culture program in Barcelona, Spain.
‘W&L After Class’ Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Lisa Alty
In this month’s episode, Alty discusses how a distasteful high school chemistry experience, enrolling in college as a first-generation student and seeing W&L evolve since the early years of coeducation shaped her approach to teaching.
Student Organization Spotlight: First-Year Orientation Committee
The First-Year Orientation Committee has been planning since last fall to offer programming to welcome the Class of 2028 to W&L’s campus later this month.