Head-to-head comparison
Haverford College vs. Washington and Lee University
Real published data on acceptance rates, cost, and outcomes. Side by side.
Calculate your odds at bothIs Haverford or Washington & Lee harder to get into?
Haverford is harder to get into than Washington & Lee. Haverford's 12.4% acceptance rate is lower than Washington & Lee's 14.0%.
Which is cheaper, Haverford or Washington & Lee?
Washington & Lee costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Washington & Lee's average net price is $23,781 vs $25,314 at Haverford.
Which has higher post-graduation earnings?
Washington & Lee graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $79,966 at Haverford and $94,810 at Washington & Lee.
Full Comparison
| Metric | Haverford | Washington & Lee |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 12.4% | 14.0% |
| SAT mid-50% | 1460–1550 | 1430–1540 |
| ACT mid-50% | 33–35 | 33–34 |
| Cost of attendance | $90,382 | $87,000 |
| Avg net price (after aid) | $25,314 | $23,781 |
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,430 | 1,881 |
| 6-yr graduation rate | 89.6% | 93.9% |
| Median earnings (10yr) | $79,966 | $94,810 |
| Setting | Haverford, Pennsylvania | Lexington, VA |
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (IPEDS) and school-published admit cycle data. Last verified May 2026.
The Real Differences
Haverford is modestly harder to get into. The 1.6-point gap matters at the margin but doesn't change the overall difficulty tier. Both schools draw similar applicant pools and admit similar profiles.
Net cost is essentially the same at both schools after grants and scholarships, despite different sticker prices. Both schools meet most demonstrated need for in-range income brackets.
Washington & Lee graduates earn $14,844 more on average at the 10-year mark. This usually reflects major distribution more than school quality — schools that concentrate in CS, engineering, and finance pull higher medians than schools with more humanities and social science graduates. Haverford grads' earnings within the same major category are typically comparable.
Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Haverford is in Haverford, Pennsylvania; Washington & Lee is in Lexington, VA. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.
Washington & Lee's graduation rate is meaningfully higher (93.9% vs 89.6% 6-year completion). Graduation gaps at this level usually reflect support-system differences, financial aid adequacy, or degree-flexibility — worth verifying with each school's first-year retention and major-change policies.
Student Body Composition
The two schools have different student body compositions. Haverford is 56.9% women, 10.9% international, and 12.9% Asian-American. Washington & Lee is 51.1% women, 8.2% international, and 4.7% Asian-American.
| Demographic | Haverford | Washington & Lee |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 56.9% | 51.1% |
| International | 10.9% | 8.2% |
| White | 49.2% | 68.0% |
| Asian | 12.9% | 4.7% |
| Hispanic | 11.5% | 8.6% |
| Black | 4.4% | 4.6% |
Personalized estimate
What are your odds at Haverford vs. Washington & Lee?
Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.
Run the calculatorThe Verdict
Pick Haverford if
- its student-run Honor Code
Pick Washington & Lee if
- Your odds are realistic at Washington & Lee (slightly easier admit)
- Net price matters: Washington & Lee costs $1,533 less per year on average
- Higher median post-grad earnings ($94,810 vs $79,966)
- Higher 6-year graduation rate
- the Honor System
Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.
Full School Pages
For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:
Full profile
Haverford College
12.4% accept · Haverford, Pennsylvania
Full profile
Washington and Lee University
14.0% accept · Lexington, VA
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
- Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.