Johnson Scholarship 2027 | Full-Cost Washington & Lee Award

Illustrated students with Johnson Scholarship 2027 headline, tuition, housing and meals, and December 1 2026 deadline — Original editorial illustration; this is not a photograph of the Washington and Lee campus.

The Johnson Scholarship at Washington and Lee University offers an award of at least tuition, housing and meals to exceptional first-year students, including international applicants, entering in fall 2027. Johnson Scholars also receive up to $10,000 for approved summer experiences. To be considered, submit the completed admission application and Johnson essay by December 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. in your local time zone.

Host: Washington and Lee University, Virginia, USA
Level: First-year undergraduate
Eligibility: Open to domestic and international applicants
Funding: At least tuition, housing and meals; up to $10,000 in summer funding
Deadline: December 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. in the applicant’s local time zone
Separate essay: Required, maximum 800 words

What does the Johnson Scholarship cover?

Washington and Lee describes the award as covering at least tuition, housing and meals. Its current admissions page also lists fees in its summary of the award. Every Johnson Scholar receives up to $10,000 in additional funding for approved summer experiences such as research, internships, travel or service. The university says up to 44 students, or roughly 10% of an incoming class, may receive awards. The exact value and any costs outside the award should be checked in an individual offer.

Who can apply?

The competition is open to first-year applicants under any admission round, including international students. Selection focuses on academic achievement, leadership, integrity and the potential to contribute to the university and wider world. There is no published nationality restriction or minimum GPA on the current scholarship pages.

Applicants do not need to choose the binding Early Decision I plan. Early Decision II and Regular Decision applicants may compete, but they must still submit the complete Johnson scholarship materials by December 1.

Application documents

Completed Common Application or Coalition Application, including the Washington and Lee section
Johnson Scholarship supplemental essay responding to one current prompt in no more than 800 words
Official secondary-school transcript and applicable external examination results or predictions
Two teacher recommendations
One counselor or school-official recommendation and Secondary School Report
Evidence of English proficiency for international applicants
Signed Early Decision Agreement only if applying through an Early Decision plan

SAT or ACT scores are optional for fall 2027 entry. Washington and Lee encourages international students in national curricula to consider sending scores when testing is reasonably available. Its international application page also lists an optional InitialView interview. Follow the live checklist in the application and applicant portal.

English-language requirements

All students must demonstrate English proficiency. Washington and Lee accepts several routes, including completion of secondary schooling in English, qualifying IB English A results, Duolingo English Test, IELTS, TOEFL iBT or an InitialView interview. The university lists typical successful scores of DET 130, IELTS 7 and TOEFL 100 for tests taken before January 2026 or 5 for tests taken after January 2026; it reviews results in context. It accepts only official DET results. Check the official language-policy page for your circumstances and current submission instructions.

Deadlines and time zone

Early Decision I admission: November 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. local time
Johnson Scholarship application and essay: December 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. local time, for every admission round
Additional scholarship supporting materials: December 15, 2026
Early Decision II or Regular Decision admission: January 5, 2027, 11:59 p.m. local time

The December 1 merit deadline comes before the January admission deadlines. Submit both the admission application and the scholarship essay by December 1 if applying for Johnson funding. Need-based aid deadlines are separate and depend on the admission plan.

Application fee and fee waivers

The official first-year admissions page does not specify a single university application-fee amount for the current cycle. Any Common Application or Coalition Application charge should be checked in the live application before submission. Washington and Lee offers application fee waivers to eligible applicants. There is no separately listed Johnson Scholarship fee.

How to apply

Choose Common App or Coalition Application and add Washington and Lee University.
Complete the university’s admission questions and the Johnson Scholarship writing supplement.
Select one of the official 2026–27 Johnson essay prompts and write no more than 800 words.
Arrange the transcript, recommendations, school report and any required international documents.
Submit the complete application and essay by December 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. in your local time zone.
Check the applicant portal and send any additional supporting material by December 15.

Apply Now: Official Johnson Scholarship Instructions

Frequently asked questions

Is the Johnson Scholarship fully funded?

It covers at least tuition, housing and meals, with up to $10,000 for approved summer experiences. Review the individual award letter for exact coverage and any remaining costs.

Can international students apply?

Yes. Washington and Lee explicitly states that international applicants are eligible for scholarships, and the Johnson competition is open to all first-year applicants.

Is the essay required?

Yes, for Common App and Coalition applicants. QuestBridge finalists forwarded to Washington and Lee are automatically considered and may submit the essay voluntarily.