Getting in
For Fall 2025, 27,034 first-year students applied to GW, 12,741 were admitted and 2,405 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 47.1%.
Source: GW Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Sep 30, 2026.
By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025
| Applicants | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state (District of Columbia) | 482 | 154 | 32% |
| Out-of-state | 21,934 | 10,785 | 49.2% |
| International | 3,804 | 1,380 | 36.3% |
| Unknown | 814 | 422 | 51.8% |
Source: GW Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Sep 30, 2026.
By school or major. GW's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by school or major.
Source: GW Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Early decision. The Common Data Set lists both early decision rounds but leaves their counts blank, so it gives no early decision acceptance rate.
Source: GW Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C21. Read Sep 30, 2026.
Programs with extra requirements
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
Most GW applicants need only the application. Some programs ask for more:
- BFA programs (except Interior Architecture). A portfolio review: 12 to 20 completed works of art, your best and most recent, sent through SlideRoom under the same major as your application.
- B.A./B.S.-M.D. program. An additional essay, and SAT or ACT scores (with the ACT Science section, if you send the ACT).
- University Honors Program. An additional essay.
- Corcoran Scholars. An additional essay.
Source: GW Undergraduate Admissions, First Year Applicants (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Majors
95 majors across 7 schools. Every undergraduate major in GW's official Bulletin at the seven schools that admit first-year students, grouped by school, with the degree it leads to. Concentrations, minors and combined graduate programs are left out.
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences57
- Africana Studies (BA)
- American Studies (BA)
- Anthropology (BA)
- Arabic Studies (BA)
- Archaeology (BA)
- Astronomy and Astrophysics (BS)
- Biological Anthropology (BS)
- Biology (BA)
- Biology (BS)
- Biophysics (BS)
- Business Analytics (STEM) (BS)
- Chemistry (BA)
- Chemistry (BS)
- Chinese Language and Literature (BA)
- Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies (BA)
- Cognitive Neuroscience (BS)
- Cognitive Science of Language (BS)
- Communication (BA)
- Criminal Justice (BA)
- Data Science (BS)
- Economics (BA)
- Economics (BS)
- English (BA)
- English and Creative Writing (BA)
- Environmental and Sustainability Science (BS)
- Environmental Studies (BA)
- French Language, Literature, and Culture (BA)
- Geography (BA)
- Geological Sciences (BA)
- Geological Sciences (BS)
- German Language and Literature (BA)
- History (BA)
- Human Services and Social Justice (BA)
- Japanese Language and Literature (BA)
- Judaic Studies (BA)
- Korean Language and Literature (BA)
- Mathematics (BA)
- Mathematics (BS)
- Neuroscience (BS)
- Organizational Sciences (BA)
- Peace Studies (BA)
- Philosophy (BA)
- Philosophy (Public Affairs Focus) (BA)
- Physics (BA)
- Physics (BS)
- Political Science (BA)
- Political Science (BS)
- Political Science (Public Policy Focus) (BA)
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (BA)
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (BS)
- Religion (BA)
- Russian Language and Literature (BA)
- Sociology (BA)
- Spanish and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (BA)
- Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (BA)
- Statistics (BS)
- Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (BA)
Source: GW Bulletin, Find Your Program, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Corcoran School of the Arts and Design11
- Art History (BA)
- Dance (BA)
- Fine Arts (BA)
- Fine Arts (BFA)Extra requirement: A portfolio review of 12 to 20 completed works of art, sent through SlideRoom under the same major as your application.
- Graphic Design (BFA)Extra requirement: A portfolio review of 12 to 20 completed works of art, sent through SlideRoom under the same major as your application.
- Interaction Design (BA)
- Interaction Design (BFA)Extra requirement: A portfolio review of 12 to 20 completed works of art, sent through SlideRoom under the same major as your application.
- Interior Architecture (BFA)
- Music (BA)
- Photojournalism (BFA)Extra requirement: A portfolio review of 12 to 20 completed works of art, sent through SlideRoom under the same major as your application.
- Theatre (BA)
Source: GW Bulletin, Find Your Program, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
School of Media and Public Affairs2
- Journalism and Mass Communication (BA)
- Political Communication (BA)
Source: GW Bulletin, Find Your Program, School of Media and Public Affairs (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Elliott School of International Affairs5
- Asian Studies (BA)
- International Affairs (BA)
- International Affairs (BS)
- Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (BA)
- Middle East Studies (BA)
Source: GW Bulletin, Find Your Program, Elliott School of International Affairs (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
GW School of Business8
- Accountancy (BS)
- Business (BS)
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation (BS)
- Finance (BS)
- Information Systems (BS)
- International Business (BS)
- Marketing (BS)
- Strategic Management and Public Policy (BS)
Source: GW Bulletin, Find Your Program, GW School of Business (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
School of Engineering and Applied Science8
- Biomedical Engineering (BS)
- Civil Engineering (BS)
- Computer Engineering (BS)
- Computer Science (BA)
- Computer Science (BS)
- Electrical Engineering (BS)
- Mechanical Engineering (BS)
- Systems Engineering (BS)
Source: GW Bulletin, Find Your Program, School of Engineering and Applied Science (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Milken Institute School of Public Health4
- Exercise Science (BS)
- Health Data Science (BS)
- Nutrition (BS)
- Public Health (BS)
Source: GW Bulletin, Find Your Program, Milken Institute School of Public Health (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Source: GW Undergraduate Admissions, First Year Applicants (opens in a new tab), for the extra requirements. Read Sep 30, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 1 | Late December | Yes |
| Early Decision II | January 5 | Late February | Yes |
| Regular Decision | January 5 | Late March | No |
The financial aid deadline matches each application deadline. GW has no early action plan.
Source: GW Undergraduate Admissions, First Year Applicants (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Both early decision rounds are binding: if you are admitted, you agree to attend GW, pay a non-refundable enrollment fee by your deposit deadline, and withdraw your other applications. Apply under a binding plan to one college only.
Source: GW Undergraduate Admissions, Apply (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
GW is test-optional. You choose on the application whether to send the SAT or ACT; if you do, scores are considered, and if you do not, they are not looked at even when they appear on your transcript. Scores are required for B.A./B.S.-M.D. applicants, homeschooled applicants, and students whose schools give only narrative evaluations. GW superscores both tests.
Source: GW Undergraduate Admissions, Test Optional (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
The Common Data Set marks the SAT or ACT as required for some applicants for fall 2027, which matches the groups above, with scores due by January 5.
Source: GW Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Sep 30, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked GW's admission pages on September 30, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: GW Undergraduate Admissions, First Year Applicants (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at GW, 2026-2027:
| Tuition | $72,000 |
|---|---|
| Required fees (first year) | $770 |
| Food and housing (on campus, first year) | $18,160 |
| Books and supplies | $1,450 |
| Transportation | $1,075 |
| Other expenses | $1,700 |
| Total | $95,155 |
First-year figures. After the first year, required fees are $420 and on-campus food and housing is $21,520.
Source: GW Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections G1 and G5. Read Sep 30, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $17,440 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $17,292 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $22,080 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $28,100 |
| Over $110,000 | $55,337 |
| All incomes | $36,586 |
What first-year, full-time students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from GW's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to George Washington University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
Howard UniversityWashington, DC · Private42.2% admitted$50,539 average net price
Morehouse CollegeAtlanta, GA · Private44% admitted$39,013 average net price
Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX · Private47.6% admitted$40,892 average net price
Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth, TX · Private48.1% admitted$36,660 average net price
Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA · Private48.2% admitted$48,381 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.