History
The George Washington University had its beginning in 1821 as The Columbian College in the District of Columbia. The name of the institution was changed in 1873 to Columbian University and in 1904 to The George Washington University.
Education
Housed in a city unlike any other, our students gain an education unlike any other. The whole city is our classroom, and our students emerge not just with a diploma, but with experiences that could only happen at George Washington University.
Research
GW’s unparalleled location and state-of-the-art facilities encourage students, faculty and staff to cultivate new collaborations and innovative solutions as they work with fellow researchers and policymakers alike.
If you’re destined to make a discovery, you’ll be right at home at GW. Here opportunities are endless and our partnerships with powerful institutions are longstanding.
Career
Our professional career coaches have extensive experience working with students in career development, employment advising, internship preparation, interview skills and document preparation.
Housing services
As a portion of the Center for Student Engagement, GW Housing, in conjunction with Residential Engagement, the Division of Operations, Facilities Services, GW Safety and Security, and GW Information Technology, supports the academic experience of residential students by providing safe, scholarly-oriented communities. GW Housing also manages all aspects of the university's three-year residency requirement and summer housing program. We strive to foster and inclusive residential environment where students have opportunities to grow and develop into leaders, value civility and respect, and thrive as members of the GW community.
Library services
The GW Libraries organization is made up of three library buildings. Access to all three buildings is available to all GW students, faculty, staff, alumni and some visitors in certain circumstances. Access to electronic resources is available to anyone in the library buildings and remotely only to GW students, faculty, and staff.
ICT services
The Division of Information Technology (IT) is the chief provider of technology infrastructure, services and applications at the George Washington University. The division partners with stakeholders across GW to equip students, staff and faculty with the technology know-how and tools necessary to achieve academic excellence.
Medical services
A healthy lifestyle is an important part of maintaining your grades, succeeding in your internship and growing at GW. We have plenty of resources to keep you healthy and active. Our Colonial Health Center offers confidential medical and mental health services, as well as health promotion and prevention services.
Campus life
GW’s location in the heart of Washington, D.C., provides for unparalleled access to leading international institutions, multinational corporations, global media outlets, and the governments of 177 countries via their resident embassies.
Sports facilities
We don’t just cheer for our 27 NCAA Division 1 teams, we Raise High the Buff and Blue! Colonials have won more than 100 team championships in 18 different sports — from basketball to tennis, gymnastics to golf. With a Colonial Army of fans loyal to GW, it’s no surprise our teams have thrived in the Atlantic-10 conference and across the country.
Student clubs
- the White House
- Bloomingdale's
- Discovery Communications
- PwC
- National Institutes of Health
- World Bank
Accreditation
The University is accredited by its regional accrediting agency, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and several international locations.
George Washington University Overview
George Washington University Rankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Top 3.6% United States
Top 4% Worldwide
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
World University Rankings
201
By Times Higher Education
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | 201 | 201 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
245
By U.S. News & World Report
Climbed 26 places compared to 2025
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 271 | 271 | 245 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Academic Ranking of World Universities
301
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | 301 | 301 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
QS World University Rankings
358
By TopUniversities
Climbed 13 places compared to 2025
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 340 | 371 | 358 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
George Washington University Campus Locations
#1 Main Campus
United States Country
Washington, D. C. City
George Washington University Student Reviews & Awards
4.2
Based on 41 reviews
- 5 Star 18 Reviews
- 4 Star 18 Reviews
- 3 Star 3 Reviews
- 2 Star 1 Review
- 1 Star 1 Review
How Students Rated This University
- Student Teacher Interaction 4.4
- Student Diversity 4.6
- Quality of Student Life 4.3
- Career Development 4.3
Rigorous online classes appreciated
I am an online student so I do not participate in many campus activities but so far classes and professors have been great. The online programs are rigorous and full of actual real life experience. Something I really appreciate
MY ACADEMIC JOURNEY THROUGH THE HEART OF GWU
I have already developed a strong love for a university I have yet to enroll in. This feeling stems mainly from how smooth my graduate application has been. I received several friendly, highly motivational emails from the University's admissions team. This creates a bigger picture of how welcoming the University's working team would be, and hence gives me much pleasure to be looking forward to studying at such a historic university.
My overall study experience was excellent .
My Experience at this university Studying at this university ,they provided me with a solid technical and practical foundation in mechanical and manufacturing engineering. I really appreciated the hands-on learning approach, where we combined theoretical studies with real workshop practice and industry internships. This method helped me develop strong problem-solving, teamwork, and project management skills that have been valuable in my professional life. What I liked most was the focus on practical training and innovation, which prepared students to meet real industrial needs. The instructors were knowledgeable and supportive, and the learning environment encouraged both discipline and creativity. However, one area that could be improved is access to more advanced laboratory equipment and updated software tools, to match current industry technologies. Increasing partnerships with industries could also give students more exposure to modern engineering systems and career opportunities.
Studied here? Share your experience
Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2025
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2025. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 7 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
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Student Teacher InteractionHow helpful were your teachers?
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Student DiversityHow diverse was the atmosphere at your university?
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Quality of Student LifeHow was your everyday life?
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Career DevelopmentDid the university provide support for your career development?