George Washington University

Washington, DC · founded 1821 · 27,000 students · private research university · Atlantic 10

Known for: Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., GW is famous for its unparalleled access to government, policy, and international affairs internships and careers, often described as being 'in and of the city.'

Rankings

U.S. News national: #67
QS World: #456
Times Higher Education: #301
Forbes: #112

Top programmes

International Affairs
Political Science
Public Policy
Law
Medicine
Engineering

Notable alumni

Colin Powell — Former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis — Former First Lady of the United States
J. Edgar Hoover — First Director of the FBI
Kerry Washington — Award-winning actress
Eric Cantor — Former U.S. House Majority Leader
Alec Baldwin — Actor and producer
Elizabeth Dole — Former U.S. Senator and Secretary of Transportation
Mark Warner — U.S. Senator from Virginia

Traditions

Colonial Inauguration (new student orientation)
Midnight Breakfast during finals
GW's Birthday Celebration
Taste of DC food festival

If George Washington University were…

As a food: a power lunch salad at the Hay-Adams — Expensive, polished, consumed quickly between meetings, and designed to impress—just like GW's entire ethos. It's not about the taste; it's about being seen eating it in the right room.
As an athlete: LeBron James — Supremely talented and politically outspoken, leveraging proximity to power and media savvy to build an empire beyond the game. GW students are the LeBrons of undergrad—always networking, always aware of the cameras.
As a person alive today: Pete Buttigieg — Polished, ambitious, fluent in policy-speak, and perpetually angling for the next opportunity. GW produces a conveyor belt of Pete Buttigiegs—smart, networked, and ready to pivot from McKinsey to the Cabinet.
As a historical figure: Alexander Hamilton — Scrappy, ambitious, obsessed with being in the room where it happens, and willing to work 20-hour days to get there. Hamilton would have double-majored in poli-sci and econ at GW and interned for three senators simultane
As a movie or TV show: The West Wing — Fast-talking, idealistic, perpetually caffeinated people walking briskly through marble hallways discussing policy. GW students live this show, except with more student debt and fewer Emmy-worthy monologues.
As a US president: Bill Clinton — Charismatic, ambitious, deeply political, and always working the room. GW is where future Bill Clintons go to master the art of the handshake and the policy brief.
As a city: Brussels — Not the most glamorous capital, but it's where the real policy work happens—bureaucratic, international, and full of ambitious strivers in sensible shoes. GW is America's Brussels.
As an element: Mercury — Liquid at room temperature, highly mobile, and used in thermometers and barometers—constantly measuring pressure and temperature. GW students are mercurial, always moving, always gauging the political climate.
As a car: 2019 Audi A4 — Sleek, ambitious, and engineered for the Beltway fast lane—German precision meets American political ambition. GW's high-sticker tuition buys you internships on Capitol Hill, a Foggy Bottom address, and a network that ru

Campus life

Campus life is deeply integrated with the urban environment of Foggy Bottom and downtown D.C., offering a fast-paced, politically charged atmosphere. Students are heavily involved in internships, advocacy, and networking, with a social scene that blends campus events with the city's offerings.