George Washington University Acceptance Rate
Washington, District of Columbia · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 27,094
- Admitted
- 11,798
- Yield
- 21.5%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, George Washington University's acceptance rate has held roughly steady at 43.5% (43.8% in 2014–15, 43.5% in 2023–24). Applications grew from 19,069 to 27,094 (+42%) over that period.
Its 43.5% rate makes George Washington University more selective than about 88% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 6 tracked District of Columbia schools, it is more selective than about 50%.
George Washington University has been test-optional since 2016–17. Of admitted students, 21.5% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 19,069 | 8,351 | 43.8% | 2,416 |
| 2015–16 | 19,837 | 9,216 | 46.5% | 2,589 |
| 2016–17 | 25,488 | 10,249 | 40.2% | 2,525 |
| 2017–18 | 26,987 | 11,059 | 41% | 2,610 |
| 2018–19 | 26,512 | 11,101 | 41.9% | 2,845 |
| 2019–20 | 26,978 | 11,019 | 40.8% | 2,619 |
| 2020–21 | 26,405 | 11,366 | 43% | 1,978 |
| 2021–22 | 27,236 | 13,539 | 49.7% | 2,571 |
| 2022–23 | 27,266 | 13,354 | 49% | 2,941 |
| 2023–24 | 27,094 | 11,798 | 43.5% | 2,539 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 17,419 | 7,463 | 42.8% |
| Men | 9,675 | 4,335 | 44.8% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 680–750 | 30% |
| SAT Math | 670–750 | |
| ACT Composite | 31–34 | 12% |
How George Washington University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is George Washington University's acceptance rate?
George Washington University's acceptance rate is 43.5% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (11,798 admitted of 27,094 applicants).
Is George Washington University test optional?
George Washington University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to George Washington University?
George Washington University received 27,094 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 11,798.
What SAT score do you need for George Washington University?
Admitted students at George Washington University typically scored 680–750 on SAT Reading/Writing and 670–750 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.gwu.edu/.