I found this 2022 President’s review to be interesting, and encouraging on many fronts. It’s a lengthy review, but here are some items that caught my attention:
24% of the undergraduate Class of 2026 identify as domestic students of color. 10% are first-generation and 10% are children of alumni.
graduation and retention rates continue to be among the highest in the country: 97% of our first-year undergraduates return for their sophomore year — the highest percentage of all liberal arts colleges — and 91% of our students graduate in four years — the highest percentage of all colleges and universities.
W&L meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need of every undergraduate student we admit, and we do it without loans. 58% of the Class of 2026 receives financial assistance, with an average need-based grant of $57,464. The Johnson Scholarship awards full tuition, room and board to 40 students in each incoming class on the basis of academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, and their potential to contribute to W&L and the world. The W&L Promise guarantees financial awards of at least full tuition to undergraduate students whose families earn less than $125,000 a year. Since 2015, we have doubled the proportion of Pell-eligible students in the incoming undergraduate class and increased the proportion of students receiving financial aid by over 35%.
In the Class of 2021, 97% of undergraduates and 96% of law students were employed or enrolled in postgraduate studies six and ten months after graduation. W&L is the only liberal arts institution in the country to produce more than one Rhodes Scholar in the last 10 years. We were also honored to be named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars for the fourth straight year.