Washington and Lee University Expands Tuition-Free Pledge to Families Earning up to $200K

Office of Communications and Public Affairs
August 20, 2026

Washington and Lee University is significantly expanding the W&L Promise, its tuition guarantee program, pledging that students from families with an annual household income of less than $200,000 will attend tuition-free, starting in fall 2027.

This expansion raises the W&L Promise income threshold from $150,000, thereby extending the tuition-free guarantee to more middle-income families. The W&L Promise, which launched in 2014, is one of the oldest tuition-guarantee programs in the country.

Under the program, students from families with annual household incomes below $75,000 will pay no tuition, room or board. For all students, W&L will continue its established commitment to offer aid packages that meet 100% of demonstrated need and do not include loans.

"This expansion of the W&L Promise reflects the university's continued commitment to making its top-tier undergraduate liberal arts education accessible to talented students from all financial backgrounds," said Ken Ruscio, interim president. "We know that the cost of higher education is an important consideration for families across all income levels and too often students rule out an institution before they fully understand the financial resources available to them. We want talented students and their families to know that if they see W&L as the right place for them, they should not assume that costs put this education beyond their reach."

W&L is one of only a handful of colleges and universities in the U.S. that are both need-blind in admissions - meaning the institution admits students without regard for their ability to pay - and committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated need for all students through financial aid packages that include no loans.

The university also awards the Johnson Scholarship, a competitive merit-based scholarship providing full tuition, room and board, as well as funding for summer opportunities, to approximately 10% of each entering class.

"Washington and Lee's financial aid program is distinctive because our commitment to affordability extends beyond any single income threshold, with more than two-thirds of undergraduate students receiving assistance," said Sally Stone Richmond, vice president for admissions and financial aid. "The W&L Promise provides families with a clear guarantee, and our commitment to meeting 100% of demonstrated need without loans allows our university to continue to recruit exceptional students based on their talent, character and potential rather than financial circumstances."

The university's ability to expand the W&L Promise is made possible primarily by generations of alumni and donors who have continued to support financial aid and student success.

"The generosity of W&L alumni and donors has allowed the university to make an extraordinary investment in its students," said Richmond. "Their support reflects the value they place on their own W&L experience and their desire to make that experience available to future generations."

The expanded W&L Promise applies to undergraduate students, including transfer students, beginning in fall 2027. To be considered for the W&L Promise, or any university-funded need-based assistance at W&L, students must complete an application for university-funded need-based aid, including the FAFSA and CSS Profile, by the relevant financial aid deadlines and meet the eligibility guidelines based on their family's income and assets.

This expansion builds on W&L's broader efforts to reduce financial barriers and ensure students and their families have clarity about the costs of attendance.

"We want families to evaluate Washington and Lee on whether it is the right academic and personal fit for their student and not simply on the published sticker price," said Ruscio. "We hope this expansion encourages more outstanding students to have a holistic look at our institution."

More information about the W&L Promise and the university's commitment to affordability can be found online.