UofSC vs. Washington and Lee

Should I go to University of South Carolina Columbia or Washington and Lee University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UofSC 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 South Carolina Columbia vs. Washington and Lee University comparison
University of South Carolina Columbia Washington and Lee University College 3 College 4
University of South Carolina Columbia Washington and Lee University
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Overview

UofSC Washington and Lee
Location Columbia, SC Lexington, VA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 35,653 2,243
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #208 #30
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sc.edu wlu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UofSC Washington and Lee
Tuition (In State) $12,288 $60,590
Tuition (Out of State) $33,528 $60,590
Room & Board $11,780 $16,920
Avg Net Price $22,427 $24,733
Avg Grant Aid $6,880 $55,567
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 61%

Admission

UofSC Washington and Lee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 42,188 7,224
Admitted 27,022 1,225
Acceptance Rate 64.1% 17%
Enrolled % 24.3% 38.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.87
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 27/32 32/34
SAT Range 1180/1380 1410/1533
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 Dec 1, 2023 Jan 1, 2024

Academics

UofSC Washington and Lee
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (35%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

UofSC Washington and Lee
Graduation Rate 70% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,700 $89,000
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $240 $222

Diversity

UofSC Washington and Lee
% Men 42% 49%
% Women 58% 51%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 82%
% Black 10% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

UofSC Washington and Lee
% In-State 52% 18%
% Out-of-State 47% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than than Washington and Lee based on total student enrollment (35,653 students vs. 2,243 students)

UofSC vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison

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

  • Washington and Lee University is 393.1% more expensive to attend than UofSC for in-state tuition ($60,590.00 vs. $12,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 80.7% higher at Washington and Lee than University of South Carolina Columbia ($60,590.00 vs. $33,528.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Columbia than Washington and Lee ($22,427 vs. $24,733)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 43.6% lower than costs at Washington and Lee University ($11,780 vs. $16,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than Washington and Lee University (98% vs. 61%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 707.7% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($55,567 vs. $6,880)

UofSC vs. Washington and Lee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UofSC 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 UofSC .

  • The average SAT score at Washington and Lee University (1395) is 175 points higher than at UofSC (1220)
  • Incoming Washington and Lee students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at UofSC (28)
  • Accepted freshman Washington and Lee students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at UofSC (3.69)
  • UofSC has a higher acceptance rate (64.1%) than Washington and Lee (17%)

UofSC vs. Washington and Lee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UofSC 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 UofSC.

  • The graduation rate at Washington and Lee is higher than University of South Carolina Columbia (91% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from Washington and Lee University earn on average $37,300 more per year than UofSC graduates after ten years. ($89,000 vs. $51,700)
  • Washington and Lee University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than UofSC graduates. ($21,500 vs. $23,250)
  • Washington and Lee graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than UofSC graduates. ($222 vs. $240)
  • More Washington and Lee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UofSC students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 69%)

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