by our College Data Analytics TeamThis overview lays out the cost of attending Washington and Lee University, from the published cost of attendance and projected degree cost through to net price, median student debt at graduation, default outcomes, and how aid varies by family income.
Want a specific number? Skip ahead to any section using the links below:
The cost of attendance at Washington and Lee University amounts to about $82,990.00 per academic year.
The blocks below show what you would pay with no aid, with average aid, and as a low-income student.
| Tuition and fees | $68,045.00 |
| + Room, board & other expenses | $14,945.00 |
| Total cost | $82,990.00 |
| That is 153% above the national average net price. |
| Total cost | $82,990.00 |
| − Grants and scholarships | −$63,219.00 |
| Net price | $19,771.00 |
| That is 40% below the national average net price. |
| Total cost | $82,990.00 |
| − Grants and scholarships | −$88,777.00 |
| Net price | $-5,787.00 |
| That is 118% below the national average net price. | |
| For the full breakdown, see the tuition & fees page and room and board. |
Cost of attendance here has been rising by around 4.6% per year; the projections below compound that across a degree. These tables carry the cost across a degree for three cases: low-income w/ aid, average aid, and no aid. Loan figures amortise the projected total over ten years at 6.8%.
| Projected 4-year net costs | Low Income w/ Aid | w/ Average Aid | No Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual growth rate | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| Freshman year | $-6,056.00 | $20,690.00 | $86,846.00 |
| Senior year | $-6,940.00 | $23,710.00 | $99,524.00 |
| Total 4-year net price | $-25,965.00 | $88,708.00 | $372,358.00 |
| 10-year loan interest @ 6.8% | $-9,892.00 | $33,795.00 | $141,855.00 |
| Total monthly payment | $-299.00 | $1,021.00 | $4,285.00 |
| Total amount paid | $-35,857.00 | $122,503.00 | $514,213.00 |
| Projected 2-year net costs | Low Income w/ Aid | w/ Average Aid | No Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual growth rate | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| Freshman year | $-6,056.00 | $20,690.00 | $86,846.00 |
| Senior year | $-6,337.00 | $21,651.00 | $90,882.00 |
| Total 2-year net price | $-12,393.00 | $42,341.00 | $177,728.00 |
| 10-year loan interest @ 6.8% | $-4,721.00 | $16,130.00 | $67,708.00 |
| Total monthly payment | $-143.00 | $487.00 | $2,045.00 |
| Total amount paid | $-17,115.00 | $58,471.00 | $245,436.00 |
Read more in the Net Price section.
The net price is the real out-of-pocket cost — what families pay after grant and scholarship aid is applied. For most students, this is the more useful number than published tuition because it reflects the real out-of-pocket cost.
| Average net price (on-campus) | $23,781.00 |
| Average net price (off-campus) | $23,911.00 |
What families actually pay shifts with income, since need-based grants are larger for lower-income students. Below, average net price is broken out by family income:
| Family income | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $76.00 |
| $30,000 to $48,000 | $887.00 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $6,983.00 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $9,222.00 |
| Over $110,000 | $42,745.00 |
Run your own numbers with the Washington and Lee University Net Price Calculator, or reach out to the financial aid office.
Dig into how aid is awarded on the financial aid breakdown.
Median graduate debt at Washington and Lee University amounts to $16,617.00, which federal data classifies as a Low ($10-20k) debt-burden category.
The percentile spread of debt at graduation is shown below:
| Percentile | Debt at graduation |
|---|---|
| 10th | $5,302.00 |
| 25th | $7,500.00 |
| Median (50th) | $16,617.00 |
| 75th | $27,000.00 |
| 90th | $29,500.00 |
The 10th-to-90th-percentile spread is one signal of how variable debt outcomes are across the student body.
Read the complete debt breakdown on the student loan debt detail.
First-generation college students often carry different debt loads than their continuing-generation peers.
| Student group | Median debt at graduation |
|---|---|
| First-generation students | $15,835.00 |
| Continuing-generation students | $17,105.00 |
Pell Grants are the federal government’s primary need-based undergraduate aid program. Contrasting Pell and non-Pell borrowers shows how need shapes debt.
The Pell-versus-non-Pell median debt difference at Washington and Lee University amounts to $-8,714.00.
The default-rate classification at Washington and Lee University is Low (<5%).
| Window | Cohort default rate |
|---|---|
| 2-year | 2.2% |
For scale, federal Stafford loan disbursements at Washington and Lee University total $105,736,133.00 over 3,411 loan recipients.
Veterans and active-duty servicemembers can tap dedicated federal aid programs like the Post-9/11 GI Bill and DoD tuition assistance.
| GI Bill recipients | 28 |
| Avg GI Bill amount | $43,400.00 |
For the full rundown of veteran and military benefits, see the college veterans page.
Use the figures above as a launch point, then think through Washington and Lee University, the questions below are worth your time:
Each page below covers one part of paying for college in more detail:
Data sources. Figures on this page draw from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and MediaFactual editorial review. Net-price calculator and financial-aid office links are taken from the institution’s own published data.