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Colleges / The George Washington University

The George Washington University

Washington, DC 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate49%

About GW

The George Washington University sits in the heart of the nation's capital, where the worlds of politics, science, business, engineering, media, and the arts converge. Our students have unparalleled opportunities to study and work alongside leaders in every discipline. Our vast network of internships, research, service, partners, and alumni make coming here life changing. Every day, our students experience moments that happen only at GW.

The George Washington University Overview

The George Washington University is a private, nonprofit school in an urban setting in Washington, DC. GW was founded in 1821 and now enrolls around 27,017 students a year, including 11,762 undergrads. GW offers on-campus housing for students. Most students live in off campus housing.

There are many ways for students to get involved at GW! Love music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of GW's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? GW students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Excited for Greek life? GW has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? GW has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at GW on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at GW on the Student Life page.

Mark your calendar! January 5, 2022 is the final deadline to submit an application for Fall. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2022 should receive admissions decisions by April 1.

2021 GW Facts At-A-Glance
Academic Calendar Semester
Overall Acceptance Rate 43%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate 65%
Early Action Acceptance Rate EA not offered
Applicants Submitting SAT scores 50%
Tuition $57,797
Percent of Need Met 91.7%
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package $44,559

Is GW a Good School?

The definition of a "good school" is different for different people. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how competitive an institution is, but they don't tell you how happy or successful students are. However, there are a few good ways to get a better sense how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its student body.

Let's take a closer look at all of these areas to get a clearer idea of what GW offers and if it sounds like the right college for you.

2021 Acceptance Rate for The George Washington University

It is extremely difficult to get into GW. In 2021, GW accepted just 43% of all applicants. Out of 26,405 applications received in 2021, 11,366 students were offered admission.

Retention and Graduation Rates at GW

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

About 88% of students who start at GW come back for their second year of college.GW's six-year graduation rate for undergrads is 85%. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outlook GW Graduates

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers. Within six months of graduating, 61% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.

The average starting salary for recent GW grads is $50,093 a year. Average starting salaries vary by discipline, but the average starting salary for all 2021 graduates was around $60,000 a year.

Tuition and Financial Aid at GW

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. GW meets 91.7% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend GW full-time are awarded $44,559 a year in financial aid, on average.

The average student debt for graduates in the class of 2021 was around $36,731 per student, not including those with no debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! No one should ever pay to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at GW. Based on this information, how does GW sound? Remember, the best school for one person may be a terrible fit for another! So ask yourself: Is GW a good school for you?

If The George Washington University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

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Where is The George Washington University Located?

GW is located in the urban setting of Washington, DC.

If you want to see GW for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 95 to Washington, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Reagan National.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what GW and Washington are like without leaving home.

Considering Colleges in DC?

See a full list of colleges in DC and save your favorites to your college list.

College Info

1918 F Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20052

Campus Setting: Urban

GW Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Jan 5

Transfer Applications are Due

Apr 15

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to GW is Jan 5.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to GW is Apr 15.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

GW SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

1340 - 1470

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Math SAT Range

660 - 750

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Reading SAT Range

670 - 740

GW Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$86,390

In State

$86,390

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$64,700
$64,700
Fees
$290
$290
Housing
$20,000
$20,000
Books
$1,400
$1,400

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Student Life

Wondering what life at GW is like? There are approximately 25,939 students enrolled at GW, including 11,482 undergraduate students and 14,457 graduate students. 90% percent of students attend school full-time, 4% percent are from DC and 96% percent of students are from other states.

90%

Full Time

10%

Part Time

4%

In State

96%

Out-of-State

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

25,939

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

49%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$64,990

Out-of-State

$64,990

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 5
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