loading 6,000+ schools…
Washington, DC · Washington, DC
| American University | George Washington University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $41,943/yr | $36,586/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $23,233/yr | $17,440/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $22,750 | $20,449 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $20,444/yr | $17,292/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $26,035/yr | $22,080/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $30,063/yr | $28,100/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $53,673/yr | $55,337/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $241/mo | $217/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $17,982/yr | $16,920/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $19,336/yr | $16,920/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,000/yr | $1,450/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $1,618/yr | $1,700/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $76,058/yr | $83,856/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $58,771/yr | $67,710/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $58,771/yr | $67,710/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 14% | 16% |
| Students taking federal loans | 38% | 32% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 62% | 47% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1280–1460 | 1350–1500 |
| SAT average | 1381 | 1433 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 29–32 | 31–34 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 28–35 · Math 25–29 | English 32–35 · Math 27–32 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 17,786 | 27,094 |
| Students accepted | 8,427 | 11,798 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,856 | 2,539 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 22% | 22% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 26% | 30% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 16% | 12% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 75% | 84% |
| Freshmen who come back | 88% | 92% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $77,370/yr | $90,873/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $51,260–$112,884 | $62,102–$130,294 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 79% | 85% |
| White students graduating | 77% | 84% |
| Black students graduating | 79% | 86% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 71% | 83% |
| Asian students graduating | 80% | 87% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $61,328/yr | $71,607/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 84% | 88% |
| Graduate on time | 68% | 76% |
| Pell students who graduate | 75% | 85% |
| First-gen students who finish | 74% | 76% |
| Low-income students who finish | 66% | 72% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $70,443/yr | $78,974/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Social Sciences 34% · Business, Management & Marketing 11% · Communication & Journalism 8% | Social Sciences 33% · Business, Management & Marketing 14% · Health Professions 13% |
| Most popular program | Social Sciences — 34% of degrees | Social Sciences — 33% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 11% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 14% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Communication & Journalism — 8% of degrees | Health Professions — 13% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 8% of degrees | Psychology — 6% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 6% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $99,051/yr | Human Resources Management and Services — $136,925/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 7.7% | 15% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 7,266 | 11,182 |
| Students per professor | 10 : 1 | 13 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 4,845 | 13,697 |
| Average professor pay | $13,722/mo | $16,784/mo |
| Full-time professors | 59% | 49% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $84,200 | $71,358 |
| Setting | City (large) | City (large) |
| Location | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Region | Mid East | Mid East |
| Founded | 1893 | 1821 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 5.3% | 7.2% |
| Men | 38% | 36% |
| Women | 62% | 64% |
| White students | 56% | 48% |
| Black students | 8.2% | 7.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 14% | 14% |
| Asian students | 7.4% | 16% |
| Two or more races | 5.9% | 5.6% |
| Other / not reported | 3.3% | 2.1% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | None |
| First-generation students | 16% | 16% |
| Part-time students | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Students age 25+ | 1.4% | 7.4% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $19,197/yr | $24,525/yr |
| Endowment | $1.0B | $2.6B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 4,246 | 7,274 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $10,910/yr | $14,400/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $6,130/yr | $5,600/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | United Methodist | No data reported |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Navy |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | No | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | Yes | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I without football | NCAA Division I without football |
| Football team | No | No |
| Varsity teams | 12 | 17 |
| Student athletes | 298 | 420 |
| Athletic scholarships | $7.1M | $14.2M |
| Athletics budget | $20.3M | $41.3M |
| Athletics revenue | $20.3M | $41.3M |
| Recruiting spend | $212,390 | $531,522 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.