George Washington University

George Washington University was ranked 59th in the 2027 US News rankings, holding relatively stable compared to its rank of 56th in 2018. Admission to the university is moderately selective compared to other private institutions. In 2025, the university posted an acceptance rate of 47.1%, which was higher than 60% of peer schools among similarly ranked private research universities. This indicates that gaining admission is somewhat less difficult here than at many peer institutions. However, the university draws a modest proportion of accepted applicants to actually enroll. Its yield rate reached 19.3% in 2025, showing that fewer than one in five admitted applicants chose to attend. This yield rate suggests that many admitted candidates consider other alternatives. For prospective applicants, these patterns mean that admission is attainable for strong candidates, while the university competes actively against comparable private institutions to fill its incoming classes.

Applicants to George Washington University encounter competitive academic standards among enrolled students. For 2025, the enrolled class posted a median SAT score of 1430, placing GW slightly below the median of similarly ranked private universities. Admitted students who took the ACT demonstrated consistent strength, with the middle 50% scoring between 31 and 34. Beyond official institutional data, unofficial applicant cases collected by Forward Pathway show that accepted international students had a median unweighted GPA of 3.77. These figures illustrate that successful applicants generally present an unweighted high school grade point average close to an A-minus alongside test scores well into the top percentiles nationally. While fewer students submit standardized test scores compared to earlier years, those who do submit scores present competitive profiles. Prospective applicants should aim for high academic course performance and solid testing credentials to match the typical admitted profile.

Academic programs at George Washington University feature notable concentration in public affairs and international studies, directly reflecting its Washington location. In 2025, the top three undergraduate majors accounted for 34.6% of all bachelor's degrees conferred, led by International Relations and Affairs with 426 graduates. While undergraduate political science and international affairs produce the largest numbers of degree recipients, the university also achieves top national rankings in related fields, including an undergraduate International Business program ranked 5th in 2027 by US News. At the graduate level, specialized offerings such as Intellectual Property Law also earned a 5th-place ranking in 2026. Although the highest-volume undergraduate degrees center on policy, technological and healthcare majors deliver the strongest early career compensation. According to 2023 earnings data, bachelor's graduates in Computer Science achieved median first-year earnings of $98,819, followed closely by registered nursing. This demonstrates a divide between high-enrollment social science majors and high-earning professional fields.

The student body at George Washington University totaled 25,374 students in 2025, with graduate students making up the majority of overall enrollment. Female students represent the majority across both undergraduate and graduate divisions. Racial and geographic diversity differs visibly between academic levels. In the first-year undergraduate class, Asian students constitute the largest minority group, numbering 420 students or 17.1% of entering freshmen, while international freshmen account for a smaller proportion. Conversely, international representation is much more pronounced in post-baccalaureate programs, where 2,755 international graduate students make up 20.1% of the graduate population. Asian students also represent a notable segment of advanced degree enrollment, ranking fourth behind White, international, and Black students. For prospective applicants, these patterns indicate that domestic Asian diversity is prominent in undergraduate lecture halls, whereas international students are predominantly concentrated within the university's large graduate programs.

The age distribution at George Washington University reflects a distinct division between its undergraduate and graduate populations. In 2025, the undergraduate body consisted almost entirely of traditional college-age students, with 44.9% aged 20 to 21 and 30.2% aged 18 to 19. This concentration means undergraduate campus life is dominated by young adults moving directly through their degree programs. By contrast, the graduate division serves a mature, career-oriented group. Students aged 25 to 29 formed the largest graduate segment at 35.6%, followed by those in their early twenties and early thirties. This clear demographic split creates two different campus experiences: a traditional, youthful undergraduate setting alongside an older graduate cohort pursuing advanced professional training.

International enrollment trends at George Washington University have followed opposite trajectories at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The undergraduate international student share declined over recent years, reaching 7.9% in 2025. Despite this decrease, the university's undergraduate international proportion remains higher than 60% of peer schools among comparable private research universities. Conversely, the graduate international presence expanded, with international students comprising 20.1% of all graduate enrollees in 2025. Degree completion data illustrate that international students concentrate heavily in specific disciplines depending on degree level. Among bachelor's recipients, international graduates are most visible in Business Administration and Management and International Relations and Affairs. At the master's level, international representation is overwhelmingly concentrated in quantitative technical fields, making up 92.2% of graduates in Computer Science as well as a large majority in Data Science.

Families looking at George Washington University will find several other notable institutions in the surrounding capital area. Located just 1.5 kilometers away in northwest Washington, Georgetown University is a private national university ranked 23rd in the 2027 rankings. Nearby, Howard University sits 2.2 kilometers from campus and holds a national university rank of 73rd. Another private option within the District is American University, positioned 3.3 kilometers away and ranked 95th. In addition, The Catholic University of America is located 3.6 kilometers away with a rank of 148th. These institutions offer distinct academic communities and environments within close proximity of downtown Washington.

Campus safety records at George Washington University indicate an overall reduction in reported offenses over the past decade. The crime rate per 1,000 students declined to 6.7 in 2025, down from earlier years. The university's disciplinary and safety logs demonstrate that minor substance infractions, rather than violent crimes, constitute the vast majority of campus incidents. Over the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, the university recorded 749 liquor law disciplinary referrals and 190 drug law disciplinary referrals. Interpersonal safety incidents occurred in much lower frequencies across those same years, with recorded offenses including stalking and sexual offenses. For prospective students, these statistics show that safety concerns in GW's urban environment are largely centered around residence hall alcohol policy enforcement rather than widespread physical crime. Families can use these multi-year incident trends to form a balanced view of campus conditions.