Exploring George Washington University's Student Population

George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a private federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C. It has around 11,500 undergraduate students and 15,000 graduate students enrolled, with an overall acceptance rate of 49%. The university is spread across three campuses in the Washington, D.C. area: Foggy Bottom, Mount Vernon, and Virginia Science and Technology. The Foggy Bottom Campus houses the majority of academic programming and is located just a few blocks from the White House.

Undergraduate and graduate student numbers

The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a private federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C. It offers degree programs in seventy-one disciplines, enrolling around 11,500 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students.

GW is the largest higher education institution in Washington, D.C. The undergraduate student body is made up of around 10,000 full-time students, while the graduate student population is around 14,000. In total, GW's three campuses in the Washington, D.C. area enrol approximately 25,500 students, with about 10,800 undergraduates, 14,100 graduate and professional students, and 600 non-degree students.

The undergraduate enrollment at GW was 11,387 in Fall 2023. The university received 27,266 undergraduate applications in 2022, with an acceptance rate of 49%. The university's total enrollment for 2022 was 25,939 students, with 17,658 full-time students and 8,281 part-time students.

Acceptance rate

The undergraduate acceptance rate for George Washington University was 49% in 2022, with 13,354 admissions out of 27,266 applications. This was a slight decrease from the previous year, when the acceptance rate was 49.7%. The number of applicants increased by 0.11% from 2021 to 2022, while admissions declined by 1.37%.

The overall acceptance rate for all programs at George Washington University in 2022 was 32%, with 21,433 applications received. The university offers degree programs in 71 disciplines, enrolling around 11,500 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students.

The yield for George Washington University, which represents the number of admitted students who end up enrolling, is 22%. The university received 27,266 undergraduate applications in 2022, a slight increase from the previous year. Of those applicants, 13,354 were accepted, resulting in a larger incoming class compared to the previous year.

The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at George Washington University is high, at 90%. This is higher than the average retention rate for similar Doctoral Universities, which is 84%.

Tuition fees

The George Washington University (GW) is a private federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C. It offers degree programs in seventy-one disciplines, enrolling around 11,500 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students.

The tuition fees for the 2024-2025 academic year for new, incoming first-year and transfer undergraduate students, as well as returning second-, third- and fourth-year students, is $67,420, with mandatory fees of $290. This is a 4.2% increase from the 2023-2024 rate of $64,700.

GW offers financial aid and scholarships to support students. The university also provides funding opportunities for unpaid internships.

The tuition rate includes students taking 12-18 credit hours per semester. Students registered for more than 18 credits per semester will be charged at the current undergraduate per credit hour rate for each credit exceeding that limit. Students enrolled in the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) may take up to 19 credits with no additional tuition charge.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, the per-credit-hour rate for undergraduates is $2,170, while it was $2,080 for the previous year.

GW also offers a fixed total program cost for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the Virginia Science and Technology Campus. For the academic year starting in Summer 2023 and ending in Spring 2024, the total program cost is $82,400.

Students enrolled in the R.N. to B.S.N. program are charged per credit hour, with rates for tuition only. For the academic year starting in Summer 2023 and ending in Spring 2024, the rate is $720 per credit hour.

For undergraduate students enrolled in Health Sciences programs, the rate per credit hour for tuition only is $681 for the academic year starting in Summer 2024 and ending in Spring 2025, and $661 for the previous year. Active-duty military students enrolled in these programs are charged $250 per credit hour.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Professional Studies program are charged per credit hour for tuition only. The rate is $975 per credit hour for the academic years starting in Summer 2024 and ending in Spring 2025, and the year before.

The year-to-year increase in the estimated cost of attendance for a continuing undergraduate student is 3.75%, and 4% for a new, first-year student. The estimated cost of attendance includes direct costs (tuition, housing, dining, and fees) and indirect costs (books, transportation, and personal expenses). The actual total cost of attendance varies for each student.

Full-time undergraduate students who entered GW in spring 2020 and have maintained continuous enrollment will pay the fixed-tuition rate of their entering class year.

Housing and Dining

For incoming first-year students, the university has set a base rate for housing and dining of $16,920, a $620 increase from the previous year. The base residence hall room rate is $11,020, and the dining rate is $5,900 for the academic year.

Housing rates vary for continuing students as they have more room options, such as suites and apartment-style living.

Student demographics

The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a private federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1821 and is the first university founded under Washington, D.C.'s jurisdiction. The university has three fully integrated campuses in the Washington, D.C. area: the Foggy Bottom campus, the Mount Vernon campus, and the Virginia Science and Technology campus.

GW is the largest higher education institution in Washington, D.C., with a total enrollment of around 25,500 students as of 2024. This includes about 10,800 undergraduate students, 14,100 graduate and professional students, and 600 non-degree students. The university receives applications from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and 140 countries.

In terms of race and ethnicity, the student body at GW is diverse. As of 2022, the enrolled student population was 45.8% White, 12.3% Asian, 10.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Black or African American, 3.92% Two or More Races, 0.15% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.123% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. Additionally, 4.54% of students did not report their race.

GW also has a significant number of international students, with over 130 countries represented in the student body during the 2013-2014 academic year. The most represented countries included China, South Korea, India, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Turkey, France, Nigeria, Pakistan, Japan, Iran, Germany, Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam.

The gender breakdown of the student body shows a higher percentage of female students. In 2022, 63.7% of degrees were awarded to women, while 36.3% were awarded to men. This trend is consistent with full-time undergraduate programs, where the most common demographic groups are White Female (31.2%) and White Male (18.3%).

The acceptance rate for GW's undergraduate programs was 32% for the 2011-2012 academic year. The university received 27,266 undergraduate applications in 2022, with a 49% acceptance rate for that year. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates was 90%, higher than the average for similar Doctoral Universities.

The average net price for students after taking grants and loans into account was $42,723 in 2022. Additionally, 64% of undergraduate students received financial aid through grants, and 31% received aid through loans. The median undergraduate tuition at GW is higher than the national average for Doctoral Universities, at $60,856 as of 2022.

Student satisfaction

The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a private federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C. It offers degree programs in seventy-one disciplines, enrolling around 11,500 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students. The university is committed to ensuring student satisfaction and successful student experiences, and provides a wide range of resources to support students' academic progress, engagement, and well-being.

Academic Resources

The Office for Student Success (OSS) offers academic resources and support to students, including college-readiness and dual enrollment programs for high school students, as well as targeted interventions, outreach, and academic support programs for incoming and enrolled undergraduates. OSS also provides individualized and structured coaching to help students establish academic skills and personal strategies for success.

High-Impact Academic Programs

GW recognizes that its large size can be overwhelming for students, so it offers a variety of high-impact academic programs to enhance the student experience. These include more than 12,000 internship opportunities, with funding available to support unpaid internships, ensuring that financial considerations do not limit students' choices.

Health and Wellness Programs

GW understands the critical importance of personal health and wellness for a positive student experience. The university offers a network of services that takes a holistic and integrated approach to student support, addressing the personal dimension of health and wellness, as well as accessibility to safe spaces, food security, physical well-being, and mental guidance.

Career Services

GW is committed to helping students succeed in their professional endeavours. The GW Career Center's consulting services are widely used by students, with at least two-thirds of those who have used the services rating them as meeting or exceeding their expectations.

Student Feedback

GW values student feedback and has conducted various surveys to gauge student satisfaction. In the Service Excellence Survey 2009, four out of five students rated the services provided by the Registrar's Office, Colonial Central front desk, and Student Accounts as meeting or exceeding their expectations. Additionally, 71% of students indicated that the services provided by Student Financial Assistance met or exceeded their expectations.

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