At a Glance

W&L prepares students to meet the world’s challenges as ethical leaders, visionary thinkers and compassionate citizens.

Some decide to attend for its small size and personal attention; others will say it’s our academic reputation, scenic location or engaged community. Whatever their reason, once here, students find a place to grow intellectually, unlock opportunities and prepare for the future. W&L students hold each other to the highest standard of integrity, united by the student-run honor system. And when they graduate, they do so as critical thinkers with a network of support, lifelong friendships and a degree that opens doors.

“I have achieved so much in my short time at W&L, and I know the sky is the limit when it comes to the future!”

Tanajia Moye-Green ’23
Major: Sociology Minor: Poverty Studies, Data Science

Fast Facts

As a top-tier liberal arts university, W&L is a place where students grow intellectually, unlock opportunities and prepare for their futures.

Campus Setting

How does a school become a home? How does a town become a community? In Lexington, it’s your first day in the Campus Kitchen, in a local coffee shop, on the river, or in a classroom. Lexington really is a remarkable place.

Situated on 325 acres in historic Lexington, Virginia (population 7,000), W&L is approximately two hours from Richmond, Virginia, and three hours from Washington, D.C. W&L is nestled in the Shenandoah Valley only minutes away from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail.

Enrollment

Full-time Undergraduate - 1,857
Law School - 378
Men - 49%
Women - 51%
Underrepresented - 19%
Countries - 41
U.S. States - 49

62% of students live on campus
150+ clubs and organizations
75% of students participate in service efforts
About 60% of students study abroad each year

Academic Profile

W&L is composed of two undergraduate divisions, the College and the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics; and a graduate School of Law. W&L is the only leading liberal arts college to have nationally accredited programs in business and journalism, and one of the few offering an engineering program.

36 Majors and 41 Minors
Classes Taught by Faculty - 100%
Average Class Size - 15
Student-Faculty Ratio - 8:1
Graduation Rate - 4 years - 92%
Degrees - BA, BS, JD

Athletics

34% of W&L students compete on one of 24 varsity teams within the NCAA Division III ODAC Conference, not to mention those that compete through club and intramural teams.

Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Riding, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling

Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Riding, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball

W&L has won the ODAC Commissioner’s Cup for overall athletic excellence for 25 of the past 27 years!

Outcomes

In their first year, students are assigned a Career Advisor to support them one-on-one. Advisors have focus areas, such as finance, government, law, consulting, health care and marketing, for industry-specific support, and they also help undecided students explore career paths and post-graduate options.

W&L is consistently named a top producer of Fulbright students in the U.S.

93% of graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.

93% of graduates are accepted to law, medical, dental, veterinary, and other professional programs.

Stories


Anthony Edwards, professor of Arabic

Shared Language

Anthony Edwards, professor of Arabic, brings his boundless energy to his teaching, research and mentorship of students.

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Jay Margalus tackes his Design Thinking class for a site visit at the Virginia Innovation Accelerator.

CBL Faculty Collaborative Generates New Community Connections

The 2023-2024 academic year at W&L saw the proliferation of several new course offerings for students through a new faculty development initiative offered by the Office of Community-Based Learning (CBL).

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Caroline Matthews, daugher of John and Nell McDaniel, holds a copy of the cover of the forthcoming volume of the James G. Leyburn Papers in Anthropology.

Unearthing History

Students, faculty and alumni gathered April 12-13 to recognize the archaeological evolution of W&L’s back campus.

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W&L Student Performs at Havana Jazz Festival

A meeting with a Broadway legend allowed engineering major Zaria Daniels ’26 to take her vocal talents to Cuba.

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Veronika Kolosova '25 and Jessie Zhang '26 in the WLUR studio.

Voices from the Generals

The Harte Center for Teaching and Learning is bringing student voices to a new podcast designed to share perspectives on transitioning to college life.

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Laura Murambadoro '26

An Extraordinary Combination

Laura Murambadoro ’26 brings varied interests, a collaborative leadership style and a passion for community engagement to W&L’s campus.

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W&L Repertory Dance Company students and alumni participate in a joint concert in Brooklyn, NY. Alumni include Rasaq Lawal ’10, Elliot Emadian ’17, Runa King ‘21, Amalia Nafal ‘21, and Mary Pace Lewis ‘21.

Alumni and Students Connect Through Choreography

The W&L Repertory Dance Company’s alumni-student dance performance in New York City’s Center for Performance Research returned after a four-year hiatus.

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Students in Accounting 452 VITA program Winter Term 2024

VITA Program Returns

Washington and Lee students are applying their accounting skills in the community as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

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Washington and Lee's RAM volunteers at a clinic in West Virginia.

Student Organization Spotlight: Remote Area Medical

Washington and Lee’s chapter of Remote Area Medical takes students to remote rural areas to provide medical services and gain valuable practical experience along the way.

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Mock Con's memorabilia on display in Special Collections.

Special Collections Exhibit Showcases Mock Convention Memories

Washington and Lee University’s Special Collections and Archives has been working with the 2024 Mock Convention to debut an exhibit showcasing extraordinary items from past conventions.

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WLSC students at Blue Sky

W&L Student Consulting Group Makes Connections on Campus and in the Community

Students in the Williams School consulted on a number of projects including marketing, research and social media strategy for businesses and organizations.

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Mock Convention 2024's Presidential Gala in full swing

Mock Con’s Presidential Gala Creates Convention Buzz

The 28th Mock Convention’s Presidential Gala on Nov. 12 offered the campus a glimpse of the upcoming excitement for the 2024 mock presidential convention.

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