George Washington University

#132 / #45
Global Influence / U.S. Influence
#76
Most Desirable School
Private university in Washington, D.C., US

George Washington University Featured Rankings

About George Washington University

By James Barham, PhD

George Washington University (GWU) was founded in 1821, under the name of Columbian College, by an act of the US Congress, signed by President James Monroe.

In 1873, the university underwent an expansion, changing its name to Columbian University. In 1904, it assumed its present name, and in 1912 it moved its campus to its present location in the Washington neighborhood of Foggy Bottom.

Today, GWU consists of 14 colleges and schools, including the:

  • Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (considered to be the direct descendant of the original Columbian College founded in 1821)
  • Elliott School of International Affairs
  • Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration
  • George Washington University Law School
  • Corcoran School of the Arts and Design

Both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank operate out of offices located on GWU’s main campus in Foggy Bottom, just blocks away from the White House and the US State Department.

With a student body topping 27,000, GWU is the largest university located in the United States’ capital city.

As might be expected, many GWU-connected students and faculty have been prominent in the public life of the United States and other countries.

For example, we may note the following well-known GWU alumni:

  • Current US Attorney General, William Barr
  • Political consultant, former US Presidential Counselor, Kellyanne Conway
  • Founding Director of the CIA, Allen Dulles
  • Former US Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles
  • Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister and Ambasador to US, Abba Eban
  • Current US Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper
  • Former US Senator, J. William Fulbright
  • Current President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé
  • Current President of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović
  • Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaidó
  • Founding Director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover
  • Former US Senator, Daniel Inouye
  • Former President of South Korea, Lee Myung-bak
  • Former US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State, Colin Powell
  • Former US Senator, Harry Reid
  • Former President of South Korea, Syngman Rhee
  • Former President of Georgia,mMikheil Saakashvili
  • Former Prime Minister of Mongolia, Chimediin Saikhanbileg
  • Political correspondent, Director of GWU School of Media and Public Affairs, Frank Sesno
  • Lawyer, judge, university president, and special prosecutor of Bill Clinton impeachment investigation, Kenneth W. Starr
  • Current US Senator and candidate for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential nomination, Elizabeth Warren

Of special interest is GWU Law School graduate Belva Ann Bennett, who in 1879 became the first woman authorized to argue cases before the US Supreme Court. Also, sitting US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas formerly lectured at the GWU Law School.

Among GWU-connected individuals in the STEM disciplines, we may mention:

  • Biochemist, Nobel laureate, Julius Axelrod
  • Physicist, George Gamow
  • Physicist, Nobel laureate, Masatoshi Koshiba
  • Physiologist, Nobel laureate, Ferid Murad
  • Biochemist, Nobel laureate, Marshall Nirenberg
  • Physicist, Edward Teller
  • Biochemist, Nobel laureateVincent du Vigneaud

Other GWU-associated individuals include:

  • Actor, Karen Allen
  • Actor, Alec Baldwin
  • Sociologist, Amitai Etzioni
  • Novelist, Edward P. Jones

According to Wikipedia, The George Washington University is a private federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Chartered in 1821 by the United States Congress, GWU is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia.

George Washington University's Online Degrees

George Washington University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information

Annual ApplicationsAcceptanceGraduation RateMedian SAT ScoreMedian ACT Score
27,23650%84%136031

How Much Does George Washington University Cost To Attend?

Tuition (in-state)
$59,870
Price by Family Income
IncomeAverage Net Cost
0 - 30K$17,673
30K - 48K$14,889
48K - 75K$21,174
75K - 110K$29,225
110K+$47,056

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

How Much Do George Washington University Graduates Make?

If you graduate from George Washington University, then you can expect to earn an average of $82,400 per year. You also have a 91% chance of being employed after 10 years.

George Washington University's Demographics

Demographic data is for full-time, on-campus students.

Student BodyUnder-GradsGraduates
19,55410,9698,585

Where is George Washington University?

George Washington University is located at 1918 F Street, NW, Washington DC 20052

How Safe is George Washington University?

Washington has a violent crime rate of less than .01% and a property crime rate of less than .01%.

What Is George Washington University Known For?

George Washington University is known for it's academic work in the following disciplines:

George Washington University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered

Who Are George Washington University's Most Influential Alumni?

George Washington University's most influential alumni faculty include professors and professionals in the fields of Political Science, Law, and Criminal Justice. Here are some of George Washington University's most famous alumni:

J. Edgar Hoover
J. Edgar Hoover
An American law enforcement administrator .
L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard
An American writer and Church of Scientology founder .
Glenn Greenwald
Glenn Greenwald
An American journalist, lawyer and writer.
Bob Woodward
Bob Woodward
An American journalist.
George Armitage Miller
George Armitage Miller
An American psychologist .
Allen Dulles
Allen Dulles
A First civilian and longest-serving Director of Central Intelligence .
Juan Guaidó
An Ex President of the National Assembly of Venezuela..
James E. Webb
James E. Webb
An Administrator of NASA in 1961–1968.
Roger Stone
Roger Stone
An American political consultant and lobbyist .
Lester Frank Ward
Lester Frank Ward
An American sociologist and paleontologist .
Michael D. Griffin
An American physicist and aerospace engineer.
Brian Williams
Brian Williams
An American TV news anchor.

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