Washington, DC · Private · 11,182 undergraduates · urban

George Washington University

Selective

GW operates two contrasting undergraduate environments: downtown Foggy Bottom and a smaller Mount Vernon campus built around residential academic programs.

APK / CC BY 4.0

Institutional profile

Highly regarded Strong in career outcomes, and solid in academic standing.

Academic standing Solid

Affordability Solid

Career outcomes Strong

Mobility Steady

Student experience Steady

Admission: 43.5% admitted
Price by income: Varies across five income ranges
Completion: 84.3%

What sets George Washington University apart

Academic design

Several first-year special-interest programs combine dedicated coursework with residential communities, including politics, civic engagement, sustainability, honors, and leadership themes.

Campus pattern

Foggy Bottom occupies Washington's urban street grid, while Mount Vernon provides a separate residential campus in northwest Washington.

A signature opportunity

Mount Vernon first-year living-learning programs.

Can I get in?

43.5% admitted

B.A./B.S.-M.D. applicants apply Regular Decision to Columbian College, submit required standardized testing, and complete a dedicated program essay.

Recent applicant pool

27,094

About 44 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 43.5%

Entering class

Academic range

SAT middle 50%1350–1500

12601600

ACT middle 50%31–34

2936

Of admitted students, 30% submitted an SAT, and 12% submitted an ACT. Because ACT scores came from few admitted students, the range describes that self-selected group rather than the full class.

Academic benchmarkSelective

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for George Washington University, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What George Washington University weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

Course rigor
GPA
Test scores
Essay
Recommendations
Extracurriculars
Demonstrated interest

See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

Show preparation for this curriculum

Several first-year special-interest programs combine dedicated coursework with residential communities, including politics, civic engagement, sustainability, honors, and leadership themes.

Make institutional fit specific

GW operates two contrasting undergraduate environments: downtown Foggy Bottom and a smaller Mount Vernon campus built around residential academic programs.

Use the application route carefully

B.A./B.S.-M.D. applicants apply Regular Decision to Columbian College, submit required standardized testing, and complete a dedicated program essay.

Give commitments a clear through-line

Activities and recommendations should show sustained contribution, not a collection of disconnected credentials.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

B.A./B.S.-M.D. applicants apply Regular Decision to Columbian College, submit required standardized testing, and complete a dedicated program essay.

Early DecisionNov 1

Early Decision IIJan 5

Regular DecisionJan 5

Fee and waiver$80 application fee

Fee waiver: accepted

Major and program admission

Some fields have their own entry path.

The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.

Communication and journalismAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Health professionsAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

NursingAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$95,155

Average annual cost after aid$37,000

Affordability profileSolid

College funding

Scholarships and financial aid

Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.

George Washington University publishes six merit awards. four require a separate scholarship application. four renew past the first year.

Reviewed with admission Merit scholarship

Open across the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews

Separate scholarship application Merit scholarship

Open across the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews

Separate scholarship application Merit scholarship

Through one school within the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews

Art; Design

Separate scholarship application Merit scholarship

Open across the university · Merit · Competitive

Nomination required Merit scholarship

Through one school within the university · Merit and financial need · Competitive · Renews each year

Engineering

Separate scholarship application Merit scholarship

Open across the university · Merit · Competitive

In the season card

These six awards, by name

What each one is called, what it pays, the grades and scores it asks for, and what to send.

The name of each award
What it pays
The grades and scores it asks for
How to be considered
What to send, and where

See the full read

GW Revolutionary Promise Full Tuition GuaranteeBeginning Fall 2026, eligible new domestic undergraduate entrants from households with income of $100,000 or less and typical assets receive grant and scholarship aid sufficient to cover full tuition.New full-time domestic residential undergraduates pursuing a first degree; household income at or below $100,000 with typical assets and required aid materials submitted.GW Revolutionary Promise Half-Tuition GuaranteeEligible new domestic undergraduate entrants from households with income up to $150,000 and typical assets receive aid covering at least 50% of tuition.New full-time domestic residential undergraduates pursuing a first degree; household income up to $150,000 with typical assets and required aid materials submitted. NAVY ROTCHost campus

Open financial aid plan

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at George Washington University

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

$0–30k
$30–48k
$48–75k
$75–110k
$110k+

Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.

Complete within 8 years84.3%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one92%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$90,873

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

International Relations and National Security Studies

Recent graduates511

Median earnings$76,751

Political Science and Government

Recent graduates305

Median earnings$79,692

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Recent graduates272

Median earnings$96,741

Admits separately

Business Administration, Management and Operations

Recent graduates156

Median earnings—

Admits separately

Public Health

Recent graduates129

Median earnings$87,217

Admits separately

What is campus life like?