Washington and Lee University
Academics

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How strong are the academics at Washington and Lee University?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

8:1
Student to faculty ratio
14
Average class size
92%
4-year grad rate

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

Washington & Lee has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
121
10-19
320
20-29
79
30-39
4
40-49
2

Honors Programs

Washington and Lee University has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on Washington & Lee's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at Washington and Lee University:

95%
First-year retention rate
92%
4-year grad rate
95%
6-year grad rate

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are Washington and Lee University's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Business Administration and Management, General
Economics, General
Political Science and Government, General
Accounting and Business/Management
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
12.8
28.64
44.48
60.32
76.16
92

The Full List

Major Graduates
Area
  • Russian Studies 1
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 26
  • Neuroscience 22
  • Biochemistry 4
Business
  • Business Administration and Management, General 92
  • Accounting and Business/Management 39
  • Accounting 0
Communication
  • Public Relations/Image Management 14
  • Journalism 6
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer Science 14
Engineering
  • Engineering, General 9
  • Engineering Science 7
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 16
Foreign Languages
  • Spanish Language and Literature 5
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 2
  • East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 2
  • East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 2
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 2
  • Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 1
  • Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 1
  • German Language and Literature 0
  • French Language and Literature 0
History
  • History, General 11
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 10
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 1
  • Medieval and Renaissance Studies 0
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Studies 11
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 4
  • Religion/Religious Studies 1
Physical Sciences
  • Chemistry, General 9
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 5
  • Physics, General 5
Psychology
  • Research and Experimental Psychology, Other 24
Social Sciences
  • Economics, General 51
  • Political Science and Government, General 43
  • Sociology and Anthropology 11
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Music, General 2
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General 2
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 2
  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation 1

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