Front Lawn at Washington and Lee makes a picture-perfect hangout and study spot.
The
Passion Purpose &
Consider this your ticket to Washington and Lee University, home to 1,850 undergraduate students in Lexington, Virginia. Itâs not just a glimpse into how our rigorous academics lead to real-world applications; itâs a window into a community built on curiosity, character and connection. Here, education isnât one-size-fits-all â and thatâs by design. Itâs personal, challenging and filled with possibility. From your first class to your final semester, youâll be trusted to lead, encouraged to explore and supported every step of the way. Faculty know your name. Opportunities find you. And the Honor System creates a foundation of mutual respect that shapes everything we do. Weâre a small school with a big reach and a generous network of alumni to help the next generation succeed.
This booklet offers just a quick glance of what your time at W&L can look like. The full experience? Thatâs yours to create.
Youâve got your ticket â now letâs see where it takes you.
Thinking about what comes next? We may have just the answer.
Can learning really be this interesting?
Can one course really change everything?
COMMUNITY
Can a small school feel bigger than it is?
SUPPORT
What if help wasnât something I had to ask for?
How does one rule really shape a whole community?
What does success look like 10 years from now?
Come for the challenge. ( Leave ready for anything. )
EXTRA CREDIT
peerless, fearless Among top liberal arts colleges, only W&L offers degree programs in business, journalism and engineering â a curriculum built for the world students are actually entering.
research, redefined Students in every department work alongside faculty to investigate big questions. Not just in labs. Not just in STEM. professionally prepped Pre-health and pre-law students build personalized, interdisciplinary plans â choosing the courses that fit the kind of doctor or lawyer they want to be.
An education at W&L is built for depth and discovery, allowing you to explore across disciplines and chart a path thatâs entirely your own. You get the academic range of a larger university, with the close support only a small college can provide. With a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 15 , youâll work with professors who see your potential â and push you beyond it.
Learn more about W&Lâs academic opportunities at go.wlu.edu/areasofstudy
IN W&LâS CLASS OF 2024, COMPLETED TWO MAJORS
At Washington and Lee, the entire campus is your classroom.
academics
Weâre all-in on research (in this case, 25 feet beneath the surface off the coast of Belize).
impact
Immersion required.
( Real learning isnât passive. )
Here, youâll test your ideas in the ïżœeld and in the lab. With no grad student competition on campus, undergrads take the lead in faculty-mentored research. Spring Term offers four focused weeks around a single topic â such as regional geology in New Zealand or social innovation in Scandinavia. And with strong funding, internships are built into how you learn.
Discover our first-year research opportunities at go.wlu.edu/research
ON THE RECORD
national spotlight W&Lâs Mock Convention is a student-run academic exercise that predicts the presidential nominee for the party out of power â and draws professional media and rĂ©sumĂ© attention.
management material The Williams Investment Society manages more than $25 million of W&Lâs endowment â with every decision researched, proposed and executed by students.
the real newsroom Students report, write and produce the Rockbridge Report â an award-winning, professional news site and broadcast with real deadlines, real stories and real community impact.
INTERNSHIPS, RESEARCH, STUDY ABROAD: OF GRADUATES DID TWO OR MORE 90%
SEEN & HEARD
jump-start your journey Leading Edge is W&Lâs free pre-orientation experience â with trip options that let new students hike, serve, lead and make friends before classes begin.
center stage The arts are everywhere here â from student productions and gallery exhibits to concerts by artists youâve actually heard of.
get in the game We have 24 NCAA DIII teams and plenty of club and intramural competitions. Play for a title, campus bragging rights or the camaraderie that strengthens more than muscles.
Small in size.
W&L students come from 49 states and just as many countries, bringing bold perspectives and a shared sense of purpose. And while our size is small, your social network wonât be . Youâll find your home â in classrooms, residence halls, Greek and theme houses, athletic fields and performance spaces â on a campus and in a town where crossing paths is part of the plan.
Learn more about W&Lâs many offerings at go.wlu.edu/campuslife
Historic. A midAtlantic gem. Lexington, Virginia, is more than a backdrop â itâs part of the experience.
community
At W&L, scenic doesnât mean secluded. Lexington blends small-town charm with surprising breadth â think independent shops, standout dining and a thriving arts scene. Youâre also within reach of nearby college towns and live music and just three hours from Washington, D.C.
Support at W&L isnât a meeting, itâs a moment â and itâs usually just a step away.
support
Opportunity starts here. ( And only keeps growing. )
W&L offers merit-based scholarships and generous financial aid. Weâre need-blind and meet 100% of demonstrated need without loans â then we go further . From funding research and travel to day-one career advising and fellowship and internship support, we make sure you have what you need to take full advantage of each opportunity. How you use that support? Thatâs entirely up to you.
Learn more about W&Lâs supportive atmosphere at go.wlu.edu/aid
NOW HEAR THIS
funded exploration W&L financial aid travels with you for study abroad, and additional grants support internships, research and travel during the summer and academic year.
built-in career prep Support starts in your first year, with rĂ©sumĂ© reviews, alumni mentorship and career exploration trips â plus events like the Entrepreneurship Summit and industry meetups.
international recognition W&L students compete for â and earn â elite post-graduate fellowships like Fulbright and Rhodes, which fund global study and research.
Integrity is the expectation.
(
Trust is the reward. )
TRUTH OF THE MATTER
â
Because of W&Lâs Honor System, I can trust my students to do the right thing, which lets me teach more creatively. I know theyâre here to learn, not cut corners â and that makes a world of difference.â
Robert Humston, John Kyle Spencer Director of Environmental Studies and Professor of Biology
Our 175-year-old Honor System isnât a list of rules. Itâs a shared understanding, run entirely by our students, that asks for something rare: mindful, intentional choices in how we learn, live and treat one another . In a world that needs principled leadership, our students prioritize fairness over advantage and community over self.
Learn more about W&Lâs values-driven culture at go.wlu.edu/honor
GUIDING PRINCIPLE: DON'T LIE, CHEAT, STEAL OR VIOLATE THE COMMUNITYâS TRUST
honor
Signing the Honor Book in Washington Hall is a time-honored tradition for first-years.
Kaylee Hartung â07, an Emmy-nominated sports journalist and âTodayâ show correspondent, doublemajored in politics and journalism at W&L.
outcomes
Liberal arts prepares you for anything ( No, really. )
A
W&L education doesnât just prepare you to answer questions â it teaches you to ask the right ones. That skill matters in the classroom and the boardroom.
In an ever-changing world, what sets you apart is how you think, how you listen and how you lead. A liberal arts foundation sharpens those instincts â and will power your career no matter what comes next.
Learn about the benefits of our W&L liberal arts curriculum at go.wlu.edu/careers
WEâVE GOT NEXT
ready to launch W&L ranks among the nationâs leaders for retention and on-time graduation â proof that students thrive here and take off on time.
in demand W&L students succeed in the next step: 92% medical school and 87% law school admission rates for the past decade.
big payoff Liberal arts grads earn 25% more over 40 years â and W&L ranks #3 for career earnings among peer schools. (Georgetown University study on education and the workforce)
ARE EMPLOYED OR IN GRAD SCHOOL WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF GRADUATION, 94%
Hiking with W&Lâs president (second from left) is just one of the many adventures you may participate in with the Outing Club.
There isnât a better way to get to know Washington and Lee than by connecting with us directly.
W&L offers a variety of in-person and virtual options all designed to meet you where you are, whether youâre just starting your college search or narrowing your list.
Ways to Say âHeyâ
Visit our campus in Lexington, Virginia, and experience W&Lâs energy firsthand.
virtually to hear takeaways from faculty, staff and current students. thatâs self-guided. Dip in, dip out â itâs all at your own pace and on your schedule. when we visit your high school or participate in a regional college fair. Join an open house Take an online tour Meet us in person
204 W. Washington Street Lexington, Virginia 24450-2116 WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS