GW: the complete school report for parents
GW puts the most weight on course rigor and GPA. The academic record does most of the work. It does not consider the interview and class rank, so there is no interview to prepare for. GW admits between a quarter and half of applicants, and scores are optional but help when they are strong. Major matters more than the name on the diploma here: five years out, Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates earn a median $140,173 against $33,758 for Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
GW is officially George Washington University. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-09-20.
Is GW a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places GW against the figures above. No account needed.
What does GW actually weigh in admissions?
GW rates 2 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA. It does not consider 4 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is GW's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How GW rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Considered |
| the essay | Important |
| extracurricular activities | Important |
| recommendations | Important |
| personal qualities | Considered |
| talent | Important |
| class rank | Not Considered |
| demonstrated interest | Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Considered |
| state residency | Not Considered |
| volunteer work | Important |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does GW consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does GW consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does GW consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does GW consider the application essay?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does GW consider extracurricular activities?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does GW consider recommendation letters?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does GW consider character and personal qualities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does GW consider a special talent or ability?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does GW consider class rank?
No. GW does not consider it. A school that does not rank its students is not a disadvantage.
Does GW consider demonstrated interest?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does GW consider an interview?
No. GW does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does GW consider legacy status?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. It can act as a tiebreaker but will not carry a weak application.
Does GW consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does GW consider where we live?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does GW consider state residency?
No. GW does not consider it.
Does GW consider volunteer work?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does GW consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does GW consider religious affiliation?
No. GW does not consider it.
What is the GW waitlist really like?
GW offered a place on its waiting list to 6,084 applicants and 2,858 accepted one. 616 were ultimately admitted. That is 21.6% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
GW admitted 60.1% of 2,229 transfer applicants, against 47.1% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
GW reports its early rounds below.
| Regular application deadline | January 5 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | April 1 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | Yes |
| Early Decision deadline | November 1 |
| Early Decision II offered | Yes |
| Early Decision II deadline | January 5 |
| Early Action offered | No |
| Application fee | Not reported |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | Yes |
What will GW actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $36,586 a year at GW after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $72,000. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 91% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 617 merit awards averaging $25,357 to first-years with no demonstrated need.
32% of GW graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $34,685 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $217 a month in repayment. GW’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from GW pay off?
Graduates earn a median $90,873 ten years after entering, and $71,607 at six years. 89% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 80% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
$140,173 to $33,758, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at GW:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $140,173 | 28 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $131,971 | 119 |
| International Business | $128,997 | 79 |
| Computer Science | $124,419 | 71 |
| Economics | $104,484 | 145 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $101,290 | 41 |
| Marketing | $101,221 | 72 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $98,321 | 45 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $94,843 | 50 |
| Biology, General | $66,734 | 76 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $40,801 | 32 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $33,758 | 1 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
91% of first-years return for a second year. 73% graduate within four years and 83% within six (Fall 2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 82.1% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 81.0% of everyone else, a gap of -1.1 points.
How big are the classes?
52% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 2% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 13:1, and 49% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
What is life at GW like?
11,495 undergraduates, 97.4% of first-years from out of state. 95.14% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 58.16% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 10.94% of men join a fraternity and 15.03% of women a sorority. 16% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $85,677.
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
- The waitlist is live but thin: 616 of 2,858 who waited were admitted, about 22%.
- Its highest-earning major returns $140,173 five years out against $33,758 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about GW
Does the GW waitlist move?
2,858 students accepted a place on the GW waiting list and 616 were admitted in the 2025-2026 cycle.
What do GW graduates earn?
GW graduates earn a median $90,873 ten years after entering, and 89% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with GW
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: GW’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-09-20. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.