Graduates earn among the highest incomes nationally, with outcomes that significantly exceed peer expectations.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Washington and Lee University graduates demonstrate steady earnings progression across their early-to-mid career years. Median earnings increase from $76,516 six years after enrollment to $89,772 at eight years and $94,810 at ten years, representing 23.9% growth from the six-year mark.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduates from this institution significantly outperform peers — earnings are 88% higher than similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $19,500 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
Washington and Lee University graduates maintain relatively controlled debt levels despite the institution's high sticker price. Median student debt reaches $19,500, which is $5,500 below the peer median of $25,000, indicating effective financial aid in limiting borrowing needs.
Washington and Lee University delivers exceptional return on investment, ranking at the 99.9th percentile nationally with among the highest performance we track. Graduates earn $28,615 beyond expectations compared to similar students, placing the institution at the 97.1st percentile for earnings uplift and demonstrating substantial value creation beyond predicted outcomes.
Approximately 22.7% of Washington and Lee graduates continue to graduate or professional school, though this estimate carries low confidence due to th...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Program-level earnings demonstrate Washington and Lee's ability to create exceptional outcomes across diverse academic fields. Applied Economics leads with $110,050 median earnings, followed by Accounting at $101,332 and Business Administration at $98,403, establishing the institution's dominance in business-related fields.
Liberal arts programs achieve remarkable outcomes given typical field expectations, with American History graduates earning $67,315 and English Literature graduates earning $57,710. Even Mathematics, the institution's single STEM program with sufficient data, produces $76,460 median earnings.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution at Washington and Lee reveals substantial upside potential while maintaining strong outcomes across the spectrum. The gap between 25th percentile earnings of $64,147 and 75th percentile earnings of $141,033 creates a 2.2:1 ratio, indicating meaningful variation in career trajectories while preserving a high floor for post-graduation income.
