Washington And Lee University

Washington and Lee University's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, with Social Sciences accounting for 25% of graduates, Business representing 23%, and other STEM fields contributing 4%. The largest programs by cohort size are Business Administration (94 graduates), Economics (69 graduates), Political Science (69 graduates), and Accounting (37 graduates).

This concentration in social sciences and business-adjacent fields shapes the institution's overall earnings profile and reflects a liberal-arts identity with applied professional depth. The strongest national rankings cluster in quantitative and applied fields.

Azimuth ranks Business Administration #7 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 94 graduates earning $121,699. Azimuth ranks Accounting #8 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $118,946.

Economics also stands out — Azimuth ranks it #26 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 69 graduates earning $115,837. Business Administration, the program combining the largest cohort with strong pay, anchors the institution's aggregate return — Azimuth ranks it #7 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $121,699.

Several of Washington and Lee University's strongest programs feed into grad-school-dependent pathways — fields like Political Science and Accounting where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to law school, medical school, or doctoral programs. Business Administration and Accounting, by contrast, are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and four-year earnings more closely reflect labor-market outcomes.

Across 25 programs serving roughly 561 students annually, 5 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold.

Washington and Lee University's published cost of attendance is $87,000, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately −$1,777 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $4,497, and higher-income families pay approximately $40,646.

Azimuth ranks Washington and Lee University #838 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As with all net-price figures, these are medians within each income band; individual aid packages vary, so some families pay more and some pay less than the figures shown.

Washington and Lee's aid structure is primarily need-based, and the university has historically committed to meeting demonstrated financial need for admitted students. Families apply through the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the gap between sticker price and net price is most pronounced for lower-income families — a pattern consistent with institutions that prioritize need-based grant aid over broad merit awards.

Families weighing the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) between published cost and actual out-of-pocket expense should focus on the net-price figures by income band rather than the headline cost of attendance. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $38,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $100,514, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Washington and Lee University earn median earnings of $100,514 four years after enrollment, placing Washington and Lee University in the 94.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $57,042 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).

Azimuth ranks Washington and Lee University #34 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The combination of strong absolute earnings and a favorable comparison to peers reflects an institution where graduates move into well-compensated roles relatively quickly after completing their degrees.

The earnings pattern corresponds to Washington and Lee University's concentration in analytical and professional fields. Social Sciences is the dominant program family, accounting for 25% of degrees, followed by Business at 23% and other STEM fields at 4%.

Business Administration combines high enrollment with strong pay, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Business Administration #7 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 94 graduates earning median earnings of $121,699 — 1.8x the national benchmark for the field.

The Economics program graduates 69 students with median earnings of $115,837, and Azimuth ranks the program #26 among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The Political Science program graduates 69 students earning median earnings of $95,190, with Azimuth ranking the program #4 among nonprofit four-year institutions at 1.5x its national CIP-4 benchmark.

Accounting adds further depth, with 37 graduates earning median earnings of $118,946 and Azimuth ranking the program #8 among nonprofit four-year institutions.