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 17,987 2,277
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #390 #28
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uncw.edu wlu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UNCW Washington and Lee
Tuition (In State) $4,443 $63,315
Tuition (Out of State) $20,111 $63,315
Room & Board $12,605 $17,685
Avg Net Price $18,606 $24,667
Avg Grant Aid $6,516 $58,323
% Receiving Grant Aid 54% 63%

Admission

UNCW Washington and Lee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,370 6,820
Admitted 12,856 1,184
Acceptance Rate 74% 17.4%
Enrolled % 21% 42.4%
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 1220/1360 1410/1530
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

UNCW Washington and Lee
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 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 5% 9%
% Women 14% 8%
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 77% 17%
% Out-of-State 22% 75%

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 (17,987 students vs. 2,277 students)

UNCW vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison

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

  • Washington and Lee University is 1,325.1% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($63,315.00 vs. $4,443.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 214.8% higher at Washington and Lee than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($63,315.00 vs. $20,111.00)
  • 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 ($18,606 vs. $24,667)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 40.3% lower than costs at Washington and Lee University ($12,605 vs. $17,685)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Washington and Lee University than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (63% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 795.1% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($58,323 vs. $6,516)

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 (74%) than Washington and Lee (17.4%)

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/