Washington and Lee University

Lexington, VA · founded 1749 · 2,200 students · liberal arts college · ODAC

Known for: Notable for its strong programs in business, journalism, and law, with a historic honor system and tradition of leadership. It is one of the oldest universities in the United States, with a picturesque campus.

Rankings

U.S. News liberal arts: #21
Forbes: #54

Top programmes

Business Administration
Journalism
Politics
History
Economics
Law

Notable alumni

Robert E. Lee — Confederate general and university president
Tom Wolfe — Author and journalist
Roger Mudd — Journalist and news anchor
John Warner — Former U.S. Senator
Lewis F. Powell Jr. — Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Cy Twombly — Artist
John Danforth — Former U.S. Senator and ambassador
Meriwether Lewis — Explorer of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (attended)

Traditions

Fancy Dress Ball
Mock Convention
Speaking Tradition
Honor System

If Washington and Lee University were…

As a food: Virginia country ham aged in smokehouses — Deeply traditional, patiently cured over generations, with a distinct Southern character that improves with age and ceremony.
As an athlete: Peyton Manning — The legacy quarterback known for preparation, Southern gentleman demeanor, and turning family tradition into individual excellence.
As a person alive today: John Roberts — The Chief Justice who embodies institutional respect, careful precedent, and leading through quiet authority rather than flashy rhetoric.
As a historical figure: Robert E. Lee — The complex figure who presided over the institution's transformation, embodying its honor-bound traditions and complicated Southern heritage.
As a movie or TV show: The Godfather — A powerful family business where tradition, loyalty, and unspoken codes govern everything from dinner conversations to career advancement.
As a US president: George Washington — The Virginia gentleman farmer who valued honor above all, built lasting institutions, and understood leadership as service rather than power.
As a city: Charleston, South Carolina — The perfectly preserved Southern belle where historic beauty masks complex legacies and social codes govern every interaction.
As an element: Lead — Ancient Roman plumbing material that endures for millennia - stable, traditional, and foundational despite modern controversies.
As a car: 1965 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Coupe — This Lexington institution embodies old-money elegance and the Speaking Tradition—timeless, honor-bound, impeccably maintained, and steeped in Lee-Jackson history. The car that comes with a trust fund and knows which for

Campus life

W&L has a traditional, honor-bound culture with a strong sense of history and community. Social life includes Greek life, formal events, and outdoor activities, reflecting a blend of Southern charm and academic rigor.

The film, scored

This profile answers “if Washington and Lee University were a movie or TV show?” with The Godfather Part II (1974). A powerful family business where tradition, loyalty, and unspoken codes govern everything from dinner conversations to career advancement. It sits in the 96th percentile on rankquant, which re-centres every critic score on the reviewer who gave it, so a percentile means position against peers rather than a raw star average. The full film & TV catalogue ranks the rest the same way.