Admit rate has ranged 41%–50% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
George Washington University isn't just a school in the nation's capital; it's a sprawling, politically-charged nerve center where the campus and the city are functionally indistinguishable. The vibe is ambitious, pragmatic, and globally networked, attracting students who see their education as a direct pipeline to internships at the State Department, NGOs on K Street, and media outlets a Metro ride away. While its sticker price is steep, GW's recent 'Revolutionary Promise' signals a dramatic shift toward accessibility for middle-income families, making its unique brand of D.C. immersion a more tangible reality.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
11,182
In-state tuition
$67,710
Out-of-state tuition
$67,710
No-Loan Policy
Yes, for families with incomes under $100,000 (Revolutionary Promise)
Graduation Rate
84%
Meets Full Need
No
Demonstrated Interest
Not considered
Median Earnings (10yr)
$90,873
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$90,873
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.5×
Median debt at graduation
$20,449
Graduation rate
84%
First-year retention
92%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
80%
Pell (lower-income) share
16%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
16%
Financial health
2.5 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Systems Engineering$74,576
Civil Engineering$74,307
Computer and Information Sciences, General$73,949
Computer Science$73,446
Finance and Financial Management Services$72,214
Mathematics$71,015
Applicants here also applied to
The schools that most often appear alongside GW on applicants’ lists, from our self-reported outcomes corpus.
Co-application frequency from self-reported results — directional peer discovery, not a recommendation.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
18
Per 1,000 students
0.72
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
86
Summer high
86°F
Winter low
31°F
Annual rain
55.6"
Annual snow
10.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
750
Scholarly works
117,574
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.2%
Bottom → top quintile
42%
From bottom quintile
5%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at George Washington University?
George Washington University's acceptance rate is approximately 47% (Washington, DC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for George Washington University?
Admitted students at George Washington University typically score 1350–1500 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does George Washington University cost?
At George Washington University, the average net price (after aid) is about $36,586 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend George Washington University?
George Washington University enrolls approximately 11,182 undergraduate students.
Where is George Washington University located?
George Washington University is located in Washington, DC.
Admissions
GW operates as a selective, university with an admissions process that heavily rewards early commitment. The overall sits at 47%, but the strategic advantage of applying Early Decision is stark: historical data shows ED acceptance rates ranging from roughly 60% to 70%, significantly higher than the regular decision pool. For the Class of 2030, the Early Decision I and II acceptance rate was reported at 69.24%. The university received over 1,000 Early Decision applications in a recent cycle, and this pathway fills a substantial portion of the incoming class. For those who submit test scores, the middle 50% SAT range is 1350–1500, and the ACT range is 30–33. The average GPA of admitted students is a demanding 3.96. Notably, GW does not consider demonstrated interest as a factor in its admissions decisions, per its . The rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—has historically been around 29-31.5%.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
$69,338
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$68,875
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
As a leading research university, GW structures its academics across multiple schools, with the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences serving as the liberal arts core. Columbian College alone offers 67 undergraduate majors, spanning from astrophysics and art history to political science and photojournalism. University-wide, students can explore more than 75 undergraduate programs. The academic culture is described as challenging, with a particular reputation for strength in STEM fields, bolstered by partnerships with major governmental agencies in D.C. This isn't a cloistered liberal arts college; the curriculum is often infused with a practical, policy-oriented edge, leveraging the university's prime location. The intellectual environment is enriched by a student body that includes a significant number of transfer students and those from diverse backgrounds, which enriches classroom discussions.
Life at GW is defined by the city itself. The campus is integrated into the Foggy Bottom and West End neighborhoods of Washington, D.C., granting students immediate access to a world of cultural experiences, internships, and institutions. On campus, students drive a vibrant and inclusive community through more than 500 student organizations. These run the gamut from Greek life and civic engagement groups to cultural organizations and special interest clubs. While Greek life is a visible presence, it's not the only social avenue; the university's size and diversity make it easy for students to find their niche circle of friends outside of it. The Office of Student Life focuses on bringing learning out of the classroom through innovative, personalized programs aimed at ensuring academic success. The overall vibe is one of high engagement, where students are as likely to be debating policy at a campus event as they are interning on Capitol Hill.
GW graduates launch into strong career trajectories, a direct benefit of the university's D.C. integration and professional focus. The graduation rate is a solid 84%. Post-graduation earnings are robust, with median wages for graduates reaching $106,677 eight years after graduation. Other sources report earnings of $91,442 five years out and $66,952 one year after graduation. The university actively surveys career outcomes, and the data underscores the value of the GW network in fields like government, international affairs, business, and media.
Attending GW is a significant financial investment, but the university provides substantial aid to offset costs. The average after aid is $36,586. A large majority (78%) of full-time beginning undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid, with the average aid package totaling $64,025. The need-based scholarship or grant award averages $42,265. It's important to note that, according to the university's own financial aid office, GW does not meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. However, GW has made a major recent affordability play with its 'Revolutionary Promise' program, which guarantees that new undergraduate students from families with incomes under $100,000 will pay no tuition. The university also offers merit scholarships and payment plans to assist with costs.
George Washington University's singular identity is inextricably linked to its location. It's not just near power—it's embedded within it. This creates an academic and professional ecosystem unlike almost any other: the State Department is a potential internship site, think tanks serve as extended classrooms, and national news unfolds on the sidewalk outside a dorm. The student body is self-selecting for ambition and global curiosity, creating a peer network that is as valuable as the degree itself. While historically a high-cost institution, the introduction of the 'Revolutionary Promise' is a game-changer, dramatically lowering the barrier to entry for middle-class families and aligning the university's price tag more closely with its public mission. For students who want a traditional, enclosed campus experience, GW is not that. For those who want to treat a world capital as their campus, with all the intensity, opportunity, and real-world stakes that entails, GW is in a category of its own.
George Washington University seal · sourceOur Location | The George Washington University · sourceOur Location | The George Washington University · sourceOur Location | The George Washington University · source
