Lexington, Virginia — USA
Washington and Lee University
One of the rare U.S. schools that is need-blind for international freshmen — asking for a full ride will NOT hurt your admission chances. If admitted, W&L meets 100% of demonstrated need with all-grant, no-loan packages, and the merit Johnson Scholarship covers full tuition, room, and board plus $7,000 for summer experiences.
Last updated July 2026. Always confirm details on the school's official page before applying.
Here is what makes Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia genuinely rare: it is need-blind for international freshman applicants. W&L does not consider your finances when deciding whether to admit you as a freshman, so requesting a full scholarship will not hurt your chances — a huge advantage over the many elite schools that are need-aware for international students. If you are admitted, W&L guarantees to meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need with packages made entirely of grants, with no loans to repay. On top of need-based aid, international freshmen are also eligible for the prestigious merit-based Johnson Scholarship, which covers full tuition, room, and board plus $7,000 for summer experiences. The one thing to understand: this generosity is at its most powerful for freshmen. International transfers can still receive need-based aid (W&L aims to meet 100% of need for admitted transfers), but transfers are not eligible for the Johnson, transfer admission is need-aware and extremely competitive, and W&L uses its own Transfer Application rather than the Common App.
At a glance
- SAT Required
- No — W&L is test-optional through the Class of 2031. You are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, though a high score (1480+ SAT) strengthens your candidacy for the merit Johnson Scholarship.
- English Proficiency Required
- Yes, if English is not your native language — TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo. Waived only if English was your primary language of instruction for at least 4 years of secondary school.
- Apply With CSS Profile
- Yes — the CSS Profile is required for need-based aid. W&L does NOT accept the ISFAA.
- CSS Fee Waiver
- Yes — via a free two-step process (no direct College Board waiver code).
- CSS Waiver Type
- First submit the free W&L International Grant Supplement in your applicant portal by the deadline (December 1 for Early Decision I). The financial aid office then automatically issues you a CSS Profile Fee Waiver Code, so you complete the CSS Profile for free.
- Acceptance Rate (Freshman)
- ~14% overall — but only ~1.9–2.5% for international applicants
- Application Fee (Freshman)
- $60 — a hardship fee waiver is available inside the Common Application.
- Transfer Students
- Accepted and eligible for need-based aid — W&L aims to meet 100% of demonstrated need for admitted transfers with all-grant packages. Transfers are NOT eligible for the Johnson (merit) scholarship, and transfer admission is need-aware.
- Acceptance Rate (Transfer)
- ~5.6% — extremely competitive, often fewer than 15 transfers admitted per year
- Application Fee (Transfer)
- Applies via the W&L Transfer Application (not the Common App).
What “full scholarship” means here
This school guarantees it will meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need. In simple English: if you get accepted and you've applied for financial aid and you don't have any money to attend, they can give you a full scholarship to cover your cost of attendance. Both conditions matter — and the CSS Profile is how you prove your need.
W&L Need-Based Financial Aid (100% demonstrated need)
Need-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- 100% of your demonstrated financial need
- All-grant packages — no loans to repay
Who qualifies
Admitted students who apply for financial aid. W&L is need-blind for international freshman applicants, so requesting a full ride does not hurt your freshman admission chances. International transfers are also eligible for need-based aid — W&L aims to meet 100% of need for admitted transfers — but transfer admission is need-aware and extremely competitive.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Freshmen: apply through the Common Application with the W&L Writing Supplement ($60 fee — a hardship waiver is available inside the Common App).
- 2Submit official high school transcripts, a counselor recommendation, and two teacher recommendations.
- 3Submit English proficiency scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo) if English is not your native language and you don't qualify for the 4-year English-instruction waiver.
- 4Submit the free W&L International Grant Supplement in your applicant portal by the deadline (December 1 for ED I). The financial aid office then automatically issues a CSS Profile Fee Waiver Code.
- 5Complete the CSS Profile using that waiver code (W&L does not accept the ISFAA).
- 6Transfers: apply through the W&L Transfer Application (NOT the Common App) with all college transcripts, a final high school transcript, a Dean's Report / College Official's Report, and two faculty recommendations. Test scores are optional but recommended. Transfers are eligible for need-based aid only.
Johnson Scholarship
Merit-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- Full tuition
- Room and board
- $7,000 for summer experiences
Who qualifies
International freshman applicants are eligible for this prestigious merit scholarship. A high SAT score (1480+) strengthens your candidacy. The Johnson application is optional but required for merit consideration. Transfer students are NOT eligible for the Johnson.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Apply to W&L for freshman admission through the Common Application.
- 2Complete the optional Johnson Scholarship application, which is required to be considered for the merit award, by the December 1 deadline.
- 3A strong academic record helps — a high SAT (1480+) strengthens your Johnson candidacy, even though testing is optional for admission.
Good to know
- W&L is need-blind for international freshman applicants — a genuinely rare policy. Your finances are not considered in the freshman admission decision, so a full-ride request will not count against you.
- The international acceptance rate (~1.9–2.5%) is far lower than the ~14% overall freshman rate, so your application still needs to be exceptional even though asking for aid won't hurt you.
- The Johnson Scholarship (merit) is a separate award from need-based aid, open to freshmen only. Submit the optional Johnson application by December 1 to be considered; a 1480+ SAT strengthens your candidacy.
- CSS fee waiver is a two-step process: submit the free W&L International Grant Supplement in your portal first, and the financial aid office automatically issues your CSS Profile Fee Waiver Code. W&L does not accept the ISFAA.
- Transfers use the W&L Transfer Application, not the Common App. They can receive need-based aid (W&L aims to meet 100% of need) but are not eligible for the Johnson, and transfer admission is need-aware and extremely competitive (~5.6%, often fewer than 15 admits per year).
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington and Lee University give full scholarships to international students?
Yes. If admitted, W&L meets 100% of your demonstrated financial need with all-grant, no-loan packages. International freshmen are also eligible for the merit-based Johnson Scholarship, which covers full tuition, room, and board plus $7,000 for summer experiences.
Is Washington and Lee need-blind for international students?
For freshmen, yes — and this is rare. W&L does not consider your finances when deciding whether to admit you as a freshman, so requesting a full scholarship will not hurt your freshman admission chances. Note that transfer admission is need-aware.
What is the Johnson Scholarship at Washington and Lee?
The Johnson Scholarship is W&L's prestigious merit-based award for freshmen. It covers full tuition, room, and board, plus $7,000 for summer experiences. International freshmen are eligible; the Johnson application is optional but required for merit consideration and is due December 1. A high SAT score (1480+) strengthens your candidacy.
Does Washington and Lee require the SAT for international students?
No. W&L is test-optional through the Class of 2031, so you are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, a high score (1480+ SAT) strengthens your candidacy for the merit-based Johnson Scholarship.
Does Washington and Lee require an English proficiency exam for international students?
Yes, if English is not your native language — W&L accepts the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test. The requirement is waived only if English was your primary language of instruction for at least 4 years of secondary school.
Is there a CSS Profile fee waiver for international students at Washington and Lee?
Yes, through a free two-step process. First, submit the free W&L International Grant Supplement in your applicant portal by the deadline (December 1 for Early Decision I). The financial aid office then automatically issues you a CSS Profile Fee Waiver Code so you can complete the CSS Profile for free. W&L does not accept the ISFAA.
What is Washington and Lee's acceptance rate?
About 14% overall for freshman applicants, but the rate for international applicants is significantly lower — roughly 1.9% to 2.5%. Transfer admission is extremely competitive at around 5.6%, often with fewer than 15 transfers admitted per year.
Does Washington and Lee accept international transfer students with full funding?
Transfers are eligible for need-based aid — W&L aims to meet 100% of demonstrated need for admitted transfers with all-grant packages — but transfers are not eligible for the merit Johnson Scholarship. Transfer admission is need-aware and extremely competitive (~5.6%). Importantly, W&L does not use the Common App for transfers; you apply through the W&L Transfer Application with all college transcripts, a final high school transcript, a Dean's Report / College Official's Report, and two faculty recommendations (test scores optional but recommended).
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