Washington and Lee Welcomes the Class of 2027 The university’s first-year class represents 26 countries and 43 U.S. states and territories.

By Emily Innes
September 15, 2023

Washington and Lee University proudly welcomed 502 new undergraduate students to campus in August. First-year students moved into their residence halls on Aug. 26 before starting their Leading Edge orientation activities, an opportunity made available to all students this year at no additional cost. The Leading Edge program provides first-year students an introduction to the campus community through a shared, meaningful experience that helps them forge new friendships, acclimate to college life and begin developing the necessary skills to flourish at W&L.

The Class of 2027 is a diverse and vibrant group of students who bring a range of thought, backgrounds and experiences to W&L. Twenty-four percent of the incoming first-year class are domestic students of color, twelve percent are the first generation in their family to attend college, and ten percent are children of W&L alumni. Twenty-six languages are spoken at home among members of this class. The Class of 2027 represents a pool of well-rounded and academically gifted leaders, including fifty Johnson Scholars comprising ten percent of the class and twenty students matched through QuestBridge.

Sally Stone Richmond, Washington and Lee’s Vice President for Admissions and Financial Aid, said the students in this year’s class represent a remarkable range of accomplishments inside and outside the classroom, but they embody more than just high-achieving statistics.

“Every entering class is unique, and the Class of 2027 is no exception,” Richmond said. “We are thrilled to welcome these students to the W&L community, and we’re excited to see them learn and thrive and grow over the next four years. The intelligence, enthusiasm and curiosity they displayed during the application process are already being demonstrated across campus. Seeing how they’ve already made their positive presence felt is rewarding confirmation that they belong here.”

Learn more about the incoming class here, and take a few moments to meet some members the Class of 2027 in the video below: