How to get into Washington and Lee
What 41 admitted applicants actually had: their grades, test scores, activities, awards and intended majors, counted from 96 Washington and Lee results that students posted for the 2017 to 2026 cycles. Every number below is counted, not estimated.
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Washington and Lee admits by the numbers
Median unweighted GPA
3.97
Middle half 3.90 to 4.00
Median SAT
1,510
Middle half 1,460 to 1,550
Median ACT
33
Middle half 32 to 34
Median weighted GPA
4.49
Middle half 4.38 to 4.60
Results posted: 41 admitted, 21 rejected, 34 waitlisted. People who post results are a self-selected group, so this is not the Washington and Lee acceptance rate; the official rate is in Washington and Lee’s Common Data Set.
Admitted vs. rejected: grades are not the difference
| Median | Admitted | Rejected |
|---|---|---|
| Unweighted GPA | 3.97 | 3.80 |
| SAT | 1,510 | 1,490 |
When the rejected applicants’ numbers sit this close to the admitted ones, the decision was made somewhere else in the file: the activities, the essays and the letters. That is where the rest of this page looks.
What Washington and Lee admits did outside class
Share of admitted applicants listing at least one activity of each type.
- Nonprofit/Service68%
- Work/Job51%
- Athletics46%
- Music41%
- Research39%
- Tutoring/Teaching39%
- Debate/MUN/Speech37%
- Student government32%
Held a leadership role
90%
Founded something
39%
National or intl. award
80%
Did research
39%
Intended majors of Washington and Lee admits
- Political Science15%
- Computer Science12%
- English/Writing7%
- Biology5%
- Economics5%
- History5%
Who got in
Of the admitted posters, 27% first-generation, 29% low income, 32% underrepresented minority, 5% legacy, 2% recruited athlete and 12% international.
Three recent Washington and Lee admits
2026 cycle · RD · Political Science
Political science student who founded a mock trial team and a youth advisory board that shaped school policy.
GPA 3.93 UW · SAT 1510 · Original post
2026 cycle · RD · Linguistics/Languages
Eagle Scout and Spanish-immersion student with speech, robotics, and band involvement.
GPA 4.00 UW · SAT 1550 · Original post
2026 cycle · Music/Performing Arts
Music and chemistry student who led choir and writing club and researched music's link to stress.
GPA 3.80 UW · SAT 1310 · Original post
Where else Washington and Lee admits got in
Washington and Lee admissions questions
- What GPA do you need to get into Washington and Lee?
- Among 41 applicants who posted a Washington and Lee admission on r/collegeresults, the median unweighted GPA was 3.97 and the middle half reported 3.90 to 4.00 (27 reported a GPA). Washington and Lee sets no minimum GPA; these are what admitted posters reported.
- What SAT score do you need for Washington and Lee?
- Among 41 applicants who posted a Washington and Lee admission on r/collegeresults, the median SAT was 1,510 and the middle half scored 1,460 to 1,550 (30 reported an SAT). The median ACT was 33.
- What extracurriculars do Washington and Lee admits have?
- The most common activity types among admitted posters were nonprofit/service (68%), work/job (51%), athletics (46%), music (41%). 90% held at least one leadership role and 80% listed a national or international award.
- What is the Washington and Lee acceptance rate?
- The official rate is published by Washington and Lee in its Common Data Set. These pages do not compute one: people who post results are a self-selected group, so the share of admits among them is far higher than the real rate.
Applying to Washington and Lee?
A Specialist who got into a school like Washington and Lee can read your student’s file against these numbers and say where it stands out and where it doesn’t.
Source: self-reported results posts on r/collegeresults, each linked from our Database, counted across the 2017 to 2026 cycles with transfer applicants excluded. Aristo Scholars is not affiliated with Washington and Lee. All colleges