Rutgers vs. Washington and Lee

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and Washington and Lee University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Washington and Lee University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Washington and Lee Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Washington and Lee Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Washington and Lee 2,241
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Washington and Lee Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Washington and Lee #31
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Washington and Lee -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Washington and Lee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Washington and Lee

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Washington and Lee $68,045
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Washington and Lee $68,045
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Washington and Lee $18,685
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Washington and Lee $23,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Washington and Lee $63,945
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Washington and Lee 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Washington and Lee 8,213
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Washington and Lee 1,147
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Washington and Lee 14%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Washington and Lee 41.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Washington and Lee 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Washington and Lee 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Washington and Lee 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Washington and Lee A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Washington and Lee Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Washington and Lee Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Washington and Lee 33/34
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Washington and Lee 1430/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Washington and Lee Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Washington and Lee Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Washington and Lee 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Washington and Lee
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • History (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Washington and Lee 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Washington and Lee $89,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Washington and Lee 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Washington and Lee $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Washington and Lee $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Washington and Lee 50%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Washington and Lee 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Washington and Lee Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Washington and Lee No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Washington and Lee 82%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Washington and Lee 3%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Washington and Lee 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Washington and Lee 3%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Washington and Lee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Washington and Lee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Washington and Lee 3%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Washington and Lee 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Washington and Lee 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Washington and Lee 17%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Washington and Lee 74%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Washington and Lee Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Rutgers No
  • Washington and Lee Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Washington and Lee Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Washington and Lee No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Washington and Lee No

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Washington and Lee based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 2,241 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Washington and Lee University is in Lexington, VA (Distant Town setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Washington and Lee University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Washington and Lee University 7:1.

Rutgers vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Washington and Lee? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than Washington and Lee ($20,522 vs. $23,055).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 15.9% lower than at Washington and Lee University ($15,714 vs. $18,685).
  • Washington and Lee University is 279.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $50,116 more per year; $68,045.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 81.7% higher at Washington and Lee than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $30,604 more per year; $68,045.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Washington and Lee University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (64% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 281.9% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($63,945 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Washington and Lee Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers or Washington and Lee? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Washington and Lee and Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington and Lee University (1490) is 80 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Washington and Lee students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Washington and Lee University 1430/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Washington and Lee University 33/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Washington and Lee - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Washington and Lee Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Washington and Lee students have a 0.57 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Washington and Lee (14%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 41.2% at Washington and Lee.

Rutgers vs. Washington and Lee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and Washington and Lee? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Washington and Lee University's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Washington and Lee University earn a median of about $22,800 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,000 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Washington and Lee University graduates have a $715 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Washington and Lee graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($222 vs. $229).
  • More Washington and Lee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.