UNCW vs. Washington and Lee

Should I go to University of North Carolina at Wilmington or Washington and Lee University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UNCW or Washington and Lee is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of North Carolina at Wilmington vs. Washington and Lee University comparison
University of North Carolina at Wilmington Washington and Lee University College 3 College 4
University of North Carolina at Wilmington Washington and Lee University
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Overview

UNCW Washington and Lee
Location Wilmington, NC Lexington, VA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 18,030 2,238
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #361 #26
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uncw.edu wlu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UNCW Washington and Lee
Tuition (In State) $4,443 $58,260
Tuition (Out of State) $18,508 $58,260
Room & Board $11,346 $16,270
Avg Net Price $17,946 $27,148
Avg Grant Aid $6,579 $46,752
% Receiving Grant Aid 67% 63%

Admission

UNCW Washington and Lee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,792 6,621
Admitted 10,736 1,248
Acceptance Rate 68% 18.8%
Enrolled % 22.7% 38.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.87
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 24/28 32/35
SAT Range 1210/1330 1410/1530
Submit Test Scores Considered but not required Considered but not required
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2024 Jan 1, 2024

Academics

UNCW Washington and Lee
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

UNCW Washington and Lee
Graduation Rate 67% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,700 $89,000
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $211 $222

Diversity

UNCW Washington and Lee
% Men 34% 49%
% Women 66% 51%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 82%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 7% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

UNCW Washington and Lee
% In-State 82% 18%
% Out-of-State 17% 76%

Campus

UNCW Washington and Lee
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington is larger than than Washington and Lee based on total student enrollment (18,030 students vs. 2,238 students)

UNCW vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNCW or Washington and Lee?

  • Washington and Lee University is 1,211.3% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($58,260.00 vs. $4,443.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 214.8% higher at Washington and Lee than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($58,260.00 vs. $18,508.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than Washington and Lee ($17,946 vs. $27,148)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 43.4% lower than costs at Washington and Lee University ($11,346 vs. $16,270)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than Washington and Lee University (67% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 610.6% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($46,752 vs. $6,579)

UNCW vs. Washington and Lee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNCW or Washington and Lee? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Washington and Lee or UNCW .

  • The average SAT score at Washington and Lee University (1395) is 233 points higher than at UNCW (1162)
  • Incoming Washington and Lee students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at UNCW (25)
  • Accepted freshman Washington and Lee students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at UNCW (3.56)
  • UNCW has a higher acceptance rate (68%) than Washington and Lee (18.8%)

UNCW vs. Washington and Lee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UNCW or Washington and Lee? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Washington and Lee and UNCW.

  • The graduation rate at Washington and Lee is higher than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (91% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from Washington and Lee University earn on average $44,300 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($89,000 vs. $44,700)
  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Washington and Lee graduates. ($20,500 vs. $21,500)
  • UNCW graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Washington and Lee graduates. ($211 vs. $222)
  • More Washington and Lee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/