George Washington University
Washington, DC 20052
About George Washington University
George Washington University (GW) is a private research university in Washington, District of Columbia, with about 11,182 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 47.09% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $90,873 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- George Washington University charges about 2.3× the national private non-profit median tuition ($67,710).
- Versus the District of Columbia median, sticker tuition is about 3.5×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 83.98%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $90,873.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at George Washington University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 521% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
George Washington University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 195 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington University | $67,710 | $36,586 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| District of Columbia (state median) | $19,530 | — | 14 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 46% below published tuition at George Washington University
Key findings
- George Washington University's average net price ($36,586) is 46% below published tuition ($67,710).
- George Washington University charges about 2.3× the national private non-profit median tuition ($67,710).
- Versus the District of Columbia median, sticker tuition is about 3.5×.
George Washington University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $67,710
Finding George Washington University charges about 2.3× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $67,710. That is about 2.3× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the District of Columbia median ($19,530), sticker tuition is about 3.5×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 5.7×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at George Washington University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at George Washington University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at George Washington University is $36,586.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $36,586 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $16,533 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway George Washington University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 46% lower after grants and scholarships.
George Washington University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for George Washington University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$67,710
Avg. net price
$36,586
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $17,440 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,292 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $22,080 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $28,100 |
| $110,001+ | $55,337 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $270,840. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What George Washington University is known for
Top program completions
- International Relations and Affairs716
- Law551
- Public Health, Other530
- Business Administration and Management, General423
- Political Science and Government, General310
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 22% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1433
- Midpoint ACT: 32
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is George Washington University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
George Washington University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for George Washington University.
Campus
Location
Washington, DC
City / state
- ZIP
- 20052
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is about 1.8× the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Mid East
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
11,182
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 12,571
- Graduate
- 13,697
- Full-time share
- 96%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$20,449
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 15.82%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for George Washington University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at George Washington University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for George Washington University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $47,343 | $47,343 | $30,206 |
| 2014 | $48,760 | $48,760 | $30,057 |
| 2015 | $50,435 | $50,435 | $33,637 |
| 2016 | $51,950 | $51,950 | $35,282 |
| 2017 | $53,518 | $53,518 | $31,956 |
| 2018 | $55,230 | $55,230 | $33,734 |
| 2019 | $56,935 | $56,935 | $33,719 |
| 2020 | $58,640 | $58,640 | $32,563 |
| 2021 | $59,870 | $59,870 | $26,272 |
| 2022 | $62,200 | $62,200 | $34,462 |
| 2023 | $64,990 | $64,990 | $37,454 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1433 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 32 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.80
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
George Washington University reported total enrollment of about 11,182 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 36% male and 64% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (47.8%), Asian (15.7%), and Hispanic or Latino (13.7%). About 15.82% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 16.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
95.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at George Washington University in 2024 is 11,182 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 12,571 students. Graduate enrollment is about 13,697 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
92.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
75.76% 100% Completion Time
83.98% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 75.76% of students graduating from George Washington University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- International Relations and Affairs: 43% male / 57% female
- Law: 45% male / 55% female
- Public Health, Other: 16% male / 84% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
George Washington University graduates earn a median of $90,873 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of George Washington University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $90,873. Median federal loan debt: $20,449. Average net price used in cost models: $36,586.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway George Washington University graduates report median earnings of $90,873 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for George Washington University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (195 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at George Washington University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for George Washington University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for George Washington University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$2.52B
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- District of Columbia median 19× the median ($133M)
- Mid East median 59× the median ($42.6M)
- U.S. median 96× the median ($26.4M)
- District of Columbia median 1.6× the median ($68,912)
- Mid East median 6.8× the median ($16,427)
- U.S. median 9.2× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 49.3%
- District of Columbia median 7.9 pp below median (57.1%)
- Mid East median 7.6 pp below median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 8.7 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $16,784
- District of Columbia median 2.0× the median ($8,291)
- Mid East median 2.1× the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 2.2× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $24,525
- District of Columbia median 1.9× the median ($13,241)
- Mid East median 2.7× the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 3.4× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
George Washington University at a glance
George Washington University
George Washington University is a private non-profit institution in Washington, DC, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- International Relations and AffairsLawPublic Health, Other
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian47.8%Asian15.7%Hispanic or Latino13.7%
Schools near George Washington University
Other campuses in Washington, DC when available, plus nearby institutions in District of Columbia.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade A) within District of Columbia, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is GW located?
George Washington University is located in Washington, DC. The institution is also known as GW.
What is GW's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at George Washington University (GW) is 47.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 27,094 applicants and 11,798 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is GW's tuition?
George Washington University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $67,710 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $36,586 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does GW cost?
Reported tuition is $67,710 and average net price is $36,586 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,920 annually.
Why is GW's net price so much lower than tuition?
At George Washington University, published tuition is $67,710 while average net price is $36,586—about 46% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains GW's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($36,586), completion (84.0% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($90,873). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at GW?
George Washington University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 12,571 students, White (47.8%), Asian (15.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend GW?
About 16.1% of students at George Washington University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for George Washington University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, George Washington University reports midpoint SAT about 1433 and midpoint ACT about 32.
What do graduates of George Washington University earn?
Median earnings are $71,607 six years after entry and $90,873 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at George Washington University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 84.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do George Washington University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,449.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- District of Columbia college profile
- District of Columbia college costs
- District of Columbia colleges by ROI
- George Washington University vs Howard University vs Georgetown University
- Washington, District of Columbia city profile
- Mid East regional profile
- Urban (City) college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in District of Columbia
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.