George Washington University

Quick Stats

2121 I Street NW
Washington, DC 20052: [map]

Phone: (202) 994-1000

2011-2012 Tuition

$42,425: tuition and fees

Students

10,358: enrolled

44%: male /

56%: female

Admissions

Jan. 10: application deadline

31.7%: accepted

More Information

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U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category

U.S. News rank	Category Name
#50	National Universities

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Summary

George Washington University is a private institution that was founded in 1821. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 10,358, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 43 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. George Washington University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 50. Its tuition and fees are $42,425 (2011-12).

George Washington University’s urban location in downtown Washington, D.C., is ideal for fans of politics and city life. The school is spread out across the D.C. Foggy Bottom neighborhood, near the State Department and about a mile away from museums on the National Mall and the Washington Monument. Freshmen do not have to live on campus, though about three fourths choose to do so. The school’s sports teams are nicknamed the Colonials, and compete in the Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. A costumed student called George, named for George Washington, is the school mascot, though an 10-foot inflatable character known as Big George and an on-campus statue of a hippopotamus are unofficial mascots. There are more than 400 organizations on campus, and students can start their own clubs with an original idea and four other members. About 25 percent of students are involved in the school’s large Greek system. The TRAiL program takes students on outdoor excursions like hiking, kayaking, and horseback riding. Student publications include the GW Hatchet, The Daily Colonial, and The GW Patriot.

The school has broad graduate offerings, and its Law School and Graduate School of Education and Human Development are particularly well regarded. Among the scores of famous GW graduates are politicians Harry Reid and Eric Cantor, former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, and performers including Courteney Cox Arquette. Alec Baldwin attended GW but did not graduate.

School mission (as provided by the school):

Founded in 1821 and chartered by the United States Congress, George Washington University takes full advantage of its location in the midst of the nation's capital. Students have the opportunity to plug into the extraordinary world of Washington, the political, policy, and research centers that move our country and the world. The number of majors and array of classroom experiences is almost boundless, but if you don't find what you're looking for, you can custom tailor a major to fit your academic interests. And because GW is so close to the centers of thought and action in every field offered, it is easy to integrate its academic tradition, special programs, and faculty connections, with the best internship and job opportunities in the Washington metropolitan area. A generous scholarship and financial assistance program attracts top students from all parts of the country and the world.

General Information

School type	private, coed college
Year founded	1821
Religious affiliation	N/A
Academic calendar	semester
Setting	urban
2010 Endowment	$1,394,281,000

Applying

When applying to George Washington University, it's important to note the application deadline is January 10, and the early decision deadline is November 10. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 10. The application fee at George Washington University is $65. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 31.7 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity	most selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate	32%
Application deadline	January 10
SAT/ACT scores must be received by	January 10

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at George Washington University is 13:1, and the school has 55.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at George Washington University include: Social Sciences; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Psychology; Health Professions and Related Programs; and English Language and Literature/Letters. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 91.5 percent.

Class sizes

Student-faculty ratio

13:1

4-year graduation rate

75% - High

Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates

Social Sciences	35%
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services	21%
Psychology	6%
Health Professions and Related Programs	4%
English Language and Literature/Letters	3%

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Student Life

George Washington University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 10,358, with a gender distribution of 44.4 percent male students and 55.6 percent female students. 70.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 30.0 percent of students live off campus. George Washington University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at George Washington University.

Total enrollment	25,135
Student gender distribution

Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity

Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority

Collegiate athletic association	NCAA I

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Campus Info & Services

George Washington University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, health service, and health insurance. George Washington University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at George Washington University.

Students who have cars on campus	N/A
Health insurance offered	Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer	No

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Paying for School

At George Washington University, 46.6 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $27,270.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees	$42,425 (2011-12)
Room and board	$12,960 (2011-12) - High
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews Ratings data provided by Unigo

The best thing about GW is that its in a good part of DC. I mean Georgetown is in a good part of DC, but the school sits in a residential area and is kind of isolated on a hill. GW is in the thick of things, right in downtown near the mall, near offices (if you land an internship), near good restaurants, near the metro (subway), and better or worse, GW took over the neighborhood where people used to live so there are lots of students mixed in with working folks. We're not an isolated entity, but there are times when the residents of Foggy Bottom wish we were, like Thursday nights through Sunday Morning. Catholic is in the hood, Howard is in a hood that is undergoing substantial gentrification, American is isolated, but they have metro. People say that GW is a good school, usually because they don't know much about it. If they do know anything about it, they know that its expensive as hell. Its not like Georgetown which has immediate name recognition and reputation, so whatever. I spend most of my time on campus in either my place or a friend's place. Its not like there are any places that students just hang out in, though GW has tried to create that in the Hippodrome. I refer to GW's "college town" as GWorld (also the name of our ID cards). Its not just limited to Foggy Bottom, but GWorld is the totality of everything that is GW. Pentagon City Mall is part of GWorld, Dupont Circle clubs and bars, Adams Morgan bars and clubs, Georgetown bars and clubs. There are places that people will go and say "oh I know DC", but really DC is so much bigger than their concept of the city. GWorld is a mindset that if you go further than three stops away on the metro, its not worth going to. Students will hardly ever venture outside of NW DC, and will seldom discover some things even in NW like Tenleytown, which is on Wisconsin Ave, but beyond Georgetown. They will go to Adams Morgan, but not Cleveland Park, or down U Street. GWorld is buying an Ipod on your GWorld, or having a $400 impulse buy at Coach on a Tuesday afternoon with daddy's credit card. GWorld is getting EmerGed and not getting in trouble because your mother who is a lawyer in Jersey called to "smooth things over". GWorld is the complete lack of real-world consequenses because we keep ourselves insulated to our concept of "college life". Karl Rove was the biggest controversy on campus lately, but this is being rivaled by the commencement speaker who is equally polarizing on the other side of the political arena. Most people at GW are "too cool" for school pride.

T. Junior

GW is proud of it's diversity, whether it's through ethnicity, religious views, or sexual preference. We are very unique not only with our student body, but our location. Since we're the only school 4 blocks away from the White House, we have a lot of resources other American schools don't have. In the beginning when I told people I was enrolled at GW, then immediately thought Georgetown; however, now GW has it's own image. GW has grown a lot over the years after what SJT had done for the University, but the best way to see the progress is when GW reached a $1 billion endowment. There is a lot of red tape at GW for anything, but they have improved a lot of it when scheduling classes and selecting housing. Since GW is in the heart of DC, it is difficult to provide beds for EVERYONE, so some people can be forced to live off campus. Greek life has been growing immensely. When I first joined my fraternity about 11% were involved in Greek life, but now it is closer to or above 20%. One complaint from some students and families is the food options. Since we don't have a cafeteria it is easier to eat unhealthy; however, this doesn't mean there aren't healthy options. It's all there but some choose some meals over others.

Steve

GW is not your typical college. We don't have rolling green hills, crazy pride with our sports teams or that we're all blonde or super smart. Yes we have our stereotypes, but you will seriously find every kind of student here from the ones with the long hair playing guitar on the quad, to the frat boys throwing around the football in front of the sorority houses to the kid who never seems to not be in a business suit. Its almost like living in the real world but not quite. We're not protected by some big gate - walk five blocks in either direction and you're in the city, but you still sometimes get a sense of the bubble. So you can really chose how to live your GW experience, either in the bubble or taking a step outside.

Hadas Sophomore

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* Overview details based on 2010 data

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Summary

General Information

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