Washington and Lee University will cover your full cost of attendance — tuition, housing, and food — plus $10,000 for a summer project, if you are one of up to 44 incoming Johnson Scholars. The package is worth more than $89,000 per year.
The deadline is December 1. There is no separate scholarship application: you apply for admission, add one extra essay, and you are automatically in the running.
What the scholarship pays for
The scholarship covers tuition and fees, plus housing and food, for your undergraduate years at W&L. Every scholar also receives $10,000 for a summer experience — research, an internship, volunteering, or travel. Students with extra financial need may receive more, covering textbooks, travel, and technology costs.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Washington and Lee University |
| Location | Lexington, Virginia, USA |
| Scholarship | Johnson Scholarship (undergraduate, merit-based) |
| Awards per year | Up to 44 (roughly 10% of the first-year class) |
| Value | Tuition and fees, housing and food, plus $10,000 for a summer experience — more than $89,000 per year |
| Application deadline | December 1 |
| How to apply | Common Application + Johnson supplement (one extra essay) |
Who can apply — and who should skip it
The scholarship is for students applying to Washington and Lee as incoming first-year undergraduates — up to 44 per year, roughly one in ten of the class. The official page lists no nationality restriction, and past scholars include international students.
Selection rests on academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, and integrity — plus the potential to contribute to campus life. Strong grades alone will not carry you; they want evidence of character.
This scholarship is not for you if you are not applying to W&L as a first-year student. The award is tied to first-year admission only. If you are already enrolled elsewhere or applying for graduate study, look at other options.
The application is simpler than it looks
There is no separate Johnson Scholarship form to fill in. You submit your complete Common Application for admission, plus the Johnson Scholarship supplement — a single additional personal essay. That is the entire extra workload.
The December 1 deadline is firm. You may apply under any admission plan — Early Decision I, Early Decision II, or Regular Decision — but W&L must receive your Johnson materials by December 1. Note the trap: Regular Decision is due January 5, a month after the Johnson deadline.
One application does double duty. Applying for the Johnson Scholarship automatically puts you in the running for W&L’s other merit scholarships as well. There is no downside to trying.
What happens after you apply
Finalists are notified in early February and invited to an on-campus selection event. Washington and Lee pays all costs of attending, so money is never the reason to skip it. Treat it as a visit, not an exam.
At the event you room with a current Johnson Scholar, attend real classes, and interview with faculty, staff, and students. Many students say the friendships formed that weekend decided where they enrolled. Winners are notified in mid-March.
How to make your application stand out
The Johnson essay matters more than anything except your Common App personal statement. Do not repeat that essay — tell one clear story of leadership or integrity instead: a time you led when it was difficult, or did the right thing when nobody was watching. One specific moment beats a page of general claims.
Choose recommenders who have seen your character up close, not only your grades — and tell them the Johnson rewards leadership and integrity. Remind them of exact moments they witnessed. A detailed letter about who you are beats a vague one about your marks.
The $10,000 summer fund is the hidden gem
Most scholarships stop at tuition. The Johnson adds $10,000 for a summer experience — study abroad, unpaid internships (the fund covers your living costs), volunteering, or research. It can even fund W&L’s Spring Term Abroad in May.
Think of it as career capital. An unpaid internship becomes affordable when summer living costs are covered; a research trip abroad becomes possible without family wealth. Start imagining your summers before you arrive on campus.
More than money: the Johnson community
The scholarship sits inside the Johnson Program for Leadership and Integrity, which funds the whole student body. Rising juniors and seniors can win Opportunity Grants of up to $6,000 for their own projects — recent ones include a documentary, an internship at the British House of Commons, and hospital research.
The alumni network is more than 500 strong, and three recent scholars have won Rhodes Scholarships — a remarkable record for a small liberal arts university. You are joining a group whose members open doors for one another.
Still weighing your options? See also the Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship (fully funded master’s, Netherlands) and the KAUST Scholarships (fully funded master’s and PhD, Saudi Arabia).
Frequently asked questions
What is the Johnson Scholarship deadline?
December 1. W&L must receive your Johnson materials by this date, no matter which admission plan you apply under.
Is there a separate application for the scholarship?
No. You submit the Common Application plus the Johnson supplement, which is one additional personal essay.
What exactly does the scholarship cover?
Tuition and fees, housing and food, plus $10,000 for a summer experience — worth more than $89,000 per year. Students with extra need may receive more for books, travel, and technology.
Can international students apply?
The official page lists no nationality restriction, and past Johnson Scholars include international students.
What happens at the selection event?
Finalists visit campus, room with a current scholar, attend classes, and interview with faculty, staff, and students. W&L covers all event costs, and winners are notified in mid-March.
