How to Get Into George Washington University (GW): Acceptance Rate and Strategies

August 1, 2024

George Washington University, commonly referred to as GW or GWU, is a popular option for students interested in politics, government, or international affairs but also has strengths in business, engineering, and nursing. While GW has become more selective in the 21st century, it still sports acceptance rates four to five times higher than nearby Georgetown University. Unlike many schools of its ilk, the acceptance rates at GW bounce around a bit from year to year (versus a straight downward trajectory), but have generally hovered in the 40-50% range in recent memory.

Given that George Washington is now a very selective institution, we will touch on the following topics:

George Washington University’s Class of 2027 acceptance rate
George Washington University’s ED acceptance rate
SAT, ACT, and class rank of accepted George Washington University students
Admissions trends at GW
The demographics of current George Washington University undergraduates
George Washington University’s yield rate
How George Washington University’s admissions officers evaluate candidates
Tips for applying to George Washington University
How to assess whether applying to George Washington University is even worth the $80 application fee (for you)

Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.

George Washington University’s Overall Acceptance Rate – Class of 2027

GW received 27,094 applications for a place in the Class of 2027 and went on to enroll 2,539 first-year students. Ultimately, they accepted 44% of the overall pool.

Historical George Washington acceptance rates are as follows:

	Applicants	Admits	Acceptance Rate
Class of 2026	27,266	13,354	49%
Class of 2025	27,236	13,359	49%
Class of 2024	26,405	11,366	43%

George Washington University Early Decision Acceptance Rate

According to recently released ED numbers for the Class of 2027, ED applicants were accepted at a 64% clip, much higher than the regular round. 765 of the 1,196 ED applicants were admitted.

There are two rounds of Early Decision at GW. The ED I deadline is November 1 and the ED II deadline is January 5.

What class rank do you need to get accepted to GW?

Among enrolled 2023-24 first-year students, 48% hailed from the top 10%, while 84% earned a place in the top quartile. Nearly everyone—98%—was in the top half.

What is the minimum SAT or ACT score for George Washington?

Only 42% of enrolled students submitted test scores alongside their application. Within that group, the mid-50% SAT range for enrolled freshmen was 1360-1480; the mid-50% ACT score was 31-34.

Admissions Trends & Notes

8% of the 10,800 current (degree-seeking) undergraduates are international students.
In past years, the average high school GPA of incoming freshmen is approximately 3.7.
14% of incoming freshmen were first-generation students.
Of students who accepted a place on the waitlist, less than 1% were ultimately accepted.

Who Gets Into George Washington University?

Let’s look at the demographics of current George Washington University undergraduates:

Students represent all 50 states.
They come from 130+ countries around the world.

As at any selective university, competition is toughest among those hailing from states with endless streams of qualified applicants (the entire Northeast & the West Coast). If you hail from a less populated state like Idaho, Wyoming, or Alaska, your location is more likely to provide a boost to your admissions chances.

Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of the Class of 2027 was as follows:

Asian American: 16%
Hispanic: 14%
Black or African American: 7%
White: 48%
Two or more races: 5%

The breakdown by gender of the Class of 2027 is notably split in favor of women:

Male: 37%
Female: 63%

With the percentage of male students being so low, one would assume that it is easier to get into the school as a male applicant. Yet, for the Class of 2027, the male acceptance rate was 45%—almost identical to the female acceptance rate of 43%.

International students make up 8% of the degree-seeking population at GW. Historically, the greatest number of students hail from the following countries:

China
South Korea
India
Saudi Arabia
Canada
Brazil

Yield Rate

George Washington University’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted—was only 21.5% last year. This is due, in part, to the fact that GW is competing with the same pool of students as many elite institutions in the Northeast. For comparison, other private institutions have the following yield rates: New York University (54%), Georgetown (48%), and Boston University (36%).

How George Washington University Rates Applicants

George Washington University ranks only two factors as being “very important” to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record and GPA. There are five additional factors that George Washington considers “important” to their evaluation: the application essay, recommendations, talent/ability, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work.

Straight from the George Washington University admissions staff:

“We are looking for students who have the academic preparation, personal qualities, and motivation to thrive in GW’s dynamic environment.”
“The best indication of whether a student will be successful at GW is their performance in high school—the grades they earn and the rigor of their coursework. This has always been the most important part of the application process at GW and this will not change, regardless of whether you choose to submit scores.”

Additional Tips for Applying to George Washington University

If you plan on joining the 27,000+ GW applicants in the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

George Washington University has been test-optional since 2015, so that policy will continue indefinitely.
All applicants are required to select a primary GW school or college on the application for admission. First-year applicants are encouraged to select an alternate GW school or college.
George Washington University does consider “demonstrated interest” in the admissions process. Therefore, you will be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit, contacted an admissions officer, follow them on social media, etc.
A teacher recommendation is required. For tips on requesting a letter of recommendation, check out this blog.
Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the optional supplemental essay required by GW. In the 2023-24 cycle, students were invited to choose one of two prompts (500 words):

Essay Prompt 1
At the George Washington University, our students frequently interact with policymakers and world leaders. These experiences and those of our alumni can shape the future of global affairs. If you had the power to change the course of history in your community or the world, what would you do and why?

Essay Prompt 2
The George Washington University encourages students to think critically and to challenge the status quo. Thus, civil discourse is a key characteristic of our community. Describe a time when you engaged others in meaningful dialogue around an issue that was important to you. Did this exchange create change, new perspectives, or deeper relationships?

Should I Apply to George Washington University?

GW is a selective school but as a genuinely test-optional institution, students with strong grades but poor test scores can still have a solid chance to gain acceptance. Regardless, unless you have stats that will blow away the admissions committee, make sure to also have a rock-solid backup plan.

George Washington University Acceptance Rate — Final Thoughts

All applicants to GW need to make sure that they formulate an appropriate college list, containing a complement of “target” and “safety” schools. You’ll definitely want to do this in conjunction with an admissions professional.

Ready to begin crafting your college applications? Consider reviewing the following:

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Application Strategies

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).