The George Washington University

A spirit of purposeful engagement with the corridors of power defines the intellectual life at The George Washington University, where the nation’s capital serves as both campus and classroom. Founded in 1821 through a congressional charter — one of only six federally chartered universities in the United States — GW was established to fulfill George Washington’s vision of a national institution of higher learning in the seat of American government. Today, that founding mission endures across ten undergraduate and graduate schools offering more than 70 programs of study to approximately 11,700 undergraduates and 13,700 graduate students drawn from all 50 states and over 130 countries. The university’s Foggy Bottom campus sits just blocks from the White House, the State Department, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund, providing students with an unparalleled environment in which to connect academic theory to real-world policy, diplomacy, and innovation. Within this dynamic urban setting, leadership is forged through access to over 12,000 internship opportunities in the D.C. area and a culture that treats the city itself as an extension of the lecture hall.

Experiential learning is the hallmark of a GW education, where the university’s location transforms every discipline — from international affairs and political science to engineering, public health, and business — into a laboratory for applied knowledge. A 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio supports close mentorship and collaborative research across a major R1 research institution classified for “very high research activity.” GW competes in NCAA Division I athletics within the Atlantic 10 Conference and fosters a vibrant campus life through hundreds of student organizations, Greek life, and cultural programming. For international applicants, GW automatically considers all admitted students for merit-based scholarships, though need-based financial aid is available only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Through this blend of academic rigor, political proximity, and global outlook, GW graduates emerge prepared to lead in government, business, medicine, law, and every arena where ideas shape the future of public life.