George Washington University
#4 Highest-Paying Online MBA Programs- Graduation Rate
- 85% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $90,873 A+
- Top 2% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $36,586 F
- 114% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 47% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.9 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Highest-Paying Online MBA Programs.
Every $1 spent returns $16.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,329,909.
What The Data Says
-
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 123% more than the national college median.
-
A 85% graduation rate — 48% above the national average.
-
A top feeder school for 8 major employers.
-
Social mobility rate of 2.16% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.4%
- Top 53%
- Patents
- 68
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #95
- Times Higher Education
- Employer Pipelines
- 8
- Top feeder programs
- Patent Citations
- 125
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 43/100
- Times Higher Education
Why George Washington University Matters
George Washington University is a private research university in Washington, DC ranked #95 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 2% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 11,182
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology
Why students choose George Washington University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 47% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1350–1500. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $36,586 a year after grants and scholarships — 114% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $90,873 ten years after enrolling — 123% above the typical college, against $20,449 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 24% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.84 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
George Washington University reports a striking graduation rate of 85%. This figure reflects the university's commitment to student success and its supportive academic environment. With a significant portion of students completing their degrees, GWU stands out for those seeking reliable pathways to graduation.
The earnings potential for graduates is compelling. Alumni earn an average of $90,873 within ten years of graduation. This income level positions graduates well within the job market, contributing to long-term financial stability. Although specific mobility data is not available, the high graduation rate suggests that many students are likely to improve their economic circumstances through their education at GWU.
The net price for attending George Washington University is $36,586, with a median debt of $20,449. This balance makes it an appealing choice for students who can manage costs while aiming for solid post-graduate earnings. GWU attracts those interested in fields like social sciences, health professions, and business, where graduates find ample opportunities to thrive in Washington, D.C.'s dynamic job market.
Rankings
- #4 Highest-Paying Online MBA Programs
- #4 Best MBA Programs for Real Estate Finance
- #8 Best Online MBA Programs for Finance
- #9 Highest-Paying Colleges for Communications
- #10 Best Online MBA Programs for Entrepreneurship
- #11 Best Online MBA Programs
- #11 Best Online MBA Programs for Social Mobility
- #11 Best Online MBA Programs for Marketing
Can I Get In?
How selective George Washington University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into George Washington University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Washington, District of Columbia, George Washington University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 47%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,433. The graduation rate is roughly 85%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Retention Rate
- 92%
- SAT Average
- 1433
- ACT Midpoint
- 32
- SAT Range
- 1350–1500
- ACT Range
- 31–34
- Full-Time Faculty
- 49%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $16,784
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.71
- First-Gen Students
- 16%
- Applicants
- 27,266
- Admitted
- 13,354
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard George Washington University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 19% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 19%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 37%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 14%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 50% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend George Washington University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at George Washington University is $67,710, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $36,586. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,440 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,449 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $67,710
- Out-of-State
- $67,710
- Avg Net Price
- $36,586
- Median Debt
- $20,449
- Pell Grant Rate
- 16%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 32%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,440
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,292
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $22,080
- Family Income $110K+
- $55,337
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at George Washington University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is George Washington University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of George Washington University earn a median of $90,873, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $71,607
- 8 Years
- $78,974
- 10 Years
- $90,873
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.23x
- Earning > $25K
- 82%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,899)
- 79%
- 100% (1,899)
- 79%
- 100% (1,899)
- 79%
- 100% (1,899)
- 79%
Where Grads Go
George Washington University is a top feeder for:
Rank among programs feeding each employer.
Top employers of George Washington University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
- Adobe ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2016
- Amazon ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2016
- American Airlines ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2016
- Dell ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2016
- Deloitte ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2016
- Delta ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2016
- Dupont ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2016
- EY ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2016
- Gallup ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2016
- IBM ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2016
- IFC ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2016
- JP Morgan Chase ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2016
- Marriott International ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2016
- PepsiCo ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2016
How George Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is George Washington University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, George Washington University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $36,586/year ($146,344 total). Graduates earn $90,873 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,476,253 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,329,909 (16.9× your investment). The median debt is $20,449, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 85% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $146,344
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,476,253
- Net Return
- $2,329,909
- ROI Multiple
- 16.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $36,586
- Median Debt
- $20,449
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 85%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does George Washington University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
George Washington University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.16%, among the highest in the country. About 5.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 42.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $137,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.16%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 42.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $186,543
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is George Washington University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places George Washington University at #95 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 43/100, teaching at 61/100, and citation impact of 70/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #95
- Teaching
- 60.6
- Research
- 43.1
- Citations
- 70.2
- International
- 39.6
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
George Washington University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 68 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 43/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.42%
- Top 53% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 68
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 125
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 43/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 70/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.20%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-20,025,000
Top Programs
The fields George Washington University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 33% $67,812 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14% $85,804 early-career
- Health Professions 13% $81,837 early-career
- Psychology 6% $47,608 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $43,523 early-career
- Communications 4% $61,913 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 4% $88,126 early-career
- Engineering 4% $88,611 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for George Washington University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into George Washington University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Washington, District of Columbia, George Washington University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 47%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,433. The graduation rate is roughly 85%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend George Washington University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at George Washington University is $67,710, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $36,586. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,440 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,449 in federal student loans.
Is George Washington University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of George Washington University earn a median of $90,873, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does George Washington University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
George Washington University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.16%, among the highest in the country. About 5.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 42.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $137,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is George Washington University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at George Washington University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is George Washington University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places George Washington University at #95 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 43/100, teaching at 61/100, and citation impact of 70/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Is George Washington University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 50% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at George Washington University (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at George Washington University?
About 19% of admitted students choose to enroll at George Washington University — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to George Washington University.
- Fordham UniversityBronx, NY · Close peer81% grad $85,569 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY · Close peer82% grad $79,164 earn 46% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA · Close peer83% grad $86,522 earn 52% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OH · Close peer87% grad $87,989 earn 37% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth, TX · Close peer86% grad $68,424 earn 44% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Union CollegeSchenectady, NY · Close peer83% grad $88,604 earn 44% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is George Washington University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at George Washington University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note