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Washington and Lee University

Lexington, Virginia

Travel:

Driving: 3 hours 40 minutes (238 miles) from Charlotte, NC via I-77 N and I-81 N
Flying: Charlotte Douglas (CLT) to Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional (ROA), then 49-mile drive

Local Airport:

Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) - 49 miles from campus

Planning Your Visit
Places to Stay Near Campus

  • Hampton Inn Lexington Historic District 

  • The Georges (boutique hotel, downtown) 

  • The Gin Hotel (historic building) 

  • Holiday Inn Express & Suites 

  • Lexington Wingate by Wyndham 

  • Lexington Country Inn & Suites by Radisson 

  • Best Western Plus Inn at Hunt Ridge 

  • Sleep Inn Virginia Horse Center

Places to Eat

  • Haywood's - upscale southern cuisine, downtown 

  • Bistro on Main - French-inspired, local ingredients 

  • The Palms - fine dining, seasonal menu 

  • Hardens - contemporary American, downtown 

  • Heliotrope Brewery - craft beer, pub fare 

  • Juniper Lounge - cocktail bar, small plates 

  • Blue Sky Bakery - breakfast, lunch, baked goods 

  • NapaThai - Thai cuisine 

  • Taqueria Jalisco - authentic Mexican

Other Schools You Could Add to Your Trip:

  • Virginia Military Institute (VMI) - Lexington, VA (adjacent/walking distance) 

  • University of Virginia (UVA) - Charlottesville, VA (1.5 hours) 

  • Southern Virginia University - Buena Vista, VA (10 minutes) 

  • Liberty University - Lynchburg, VA (1 hour) 

  • Virginia Tech - Blacksburg, VA (1.5 hours) 

  • James Madison University (JMU) - Harrisonburg, VA (1.5 hours) 

  • Roanoke College - Salem, VA (45 minutes)

College Snapshot

Founded in 1749, Washington and Lee University is one of the nation's oldest and most distinguished private liberal arts colleges, located in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley town of Lexington, Virginia. With a 325-acre campus featuring historic Colonnade buildings and stunning mountain views, W&L combines intimate liberal arts education (7:1 student-faculty ratio, 1,886 undergrads) with unique pre-professional opportunities rarely found at small colleges. Distinguished by its student-run Honor System dating from the 1840s (with a single-sanction approach that creates extraordinary campus trust), the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics integrated into the liberal arts curriculum, and an innovative 4-4-1 academic calendar culminating in a distinctive one-class Spring Term, W&L attracts intellectually curious students seeking rigorous academics, self-governance, and close mentorship. The W&L Promise meets 100% of demonstrated financial need through grants and scholarships without loans, making this top-ranked institution accessible to talented students from all backgrounds. 


📊 Admissions Overview 

Freshman Applicants: 8,213 

Acceptance Rate: 14.0% 

Test Policy: Test-Optional (not required for admission, but considered if submitted) 


🎓 Who Gets In 

Class Rank: 32.2% of admitted students reported class rank 

- Top 10%: 77% 

- Top 25%: 97% 

- Top 50%: 100%  

Test Scores: 

Middle 50% (for students who submitted) 

- SAT Composite: 1430-1540 

- SAT Evidence-Based Reading/Writing: 710-760 

- SAT Math: 720-780 

- ACT Composite: 33-34 

- 24% of enrolled students submitted SAT scores 

- 20% of enrolled students submitted ACT scores 


📝 What Matters in Admissions 

Very Important: - Rigor of secondary school record - Academic GPA - Application Essay - Character/personal qualities 

Important: - Standardized test scores - Extracurricular activities - Talent/ability - Recommendation(s) 

Considered: - Class rank - Interview - First generation - Alumni/ae relation - Volunteer work - Work experience - Level of applicant's interest 

Not Considered: - Geographical residence - State residency - Religious affiliation/commitment - Racial/ethnic status Test Policy: Test-optional. SAT/ACT scores are not required for admission but are considered if submitted.

College Snapshot
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