The George Washington University

Yes, GWU is an online school, and it offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs students can complete entirely remotely. Most of GWU's online programming is at the graduate level, helping students advance their careers and develop advanced expertise. NCES data shows 5% of undergraduates and 32% of graduate students participate in GWU's online-only education. 

An example of GWU's online programming includes an extensive selection of nursing and medicine/health science degrees and certificates. Full-time students can complete GWU's online RN-BSN nursing program in as few as 15 months or online master's degrees in family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, or midwifery, to name a few options. Medicine and health science degrees include online bachelor's degrees in biomedical informatics and global leadership in disaster response and online master's degrees in clinical operations and healthcare management and healthcare quality.

GWU is an excellent school. According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, GWU has a graduation rate of 82%, which is significantly higher than the 58% national average. GWU has state-of-the-art research facilities and an R1 Carnegie Classification for very high research activity. 

It has also made nine of our rankings lists, including #1 for Best Online Master's Degrees in Homeland Security, #3 for Best Online Biology Master's Degree Programs, and #4 for Best Online Master's Degrees in Secondary Education. 

GWU also has a favorable accreditation status. To provide the most trustworthy results, OnlineU only includes accredited online institutions on its site. 

GWU is accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE is a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency. GWU receives its MSCHE accreditation because its accounting practices are sound and its educational programming meets federal quality standards.

GWU is not an Ivy League school. However, it is still prestigious and highly reputable. 

GWU is known for its long history of providing high-caliber programming since 1821. Its unique Washington, D.C. locale allows students to learn from industry experts and engage with a diverse student body representing over 130 countries. Its location also provides access to an extensive network of government agencies, embassies, media companies, cultural centers, and multinational corporations. These entities provide students with opportunities for international engagement while learning in the classroom.

GWU is also known for its distinguished alumni. Graduates include former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Senator and military veteran Tammy Duckworth, award-winning poet and best-selling author Elizabeth Acevedo, engineering executive Sidney Oliver Dewberry, and television journalist and political director Chuck Todd.

According to College Scorecard, GWU's bachelor's degrees in computer and information sciences, international business, finance, biomedical/medical engineering, and mechanical engineering provide the highest earnings on average. Graduates working in these fields have median annual salaries between $92,000 and $113,000.

Additionally, OnlineU's proprietary Salary Score ranks colleges by how much their alumni earn compared to graduates with the same degree nationwide. GWU has a bachelor's salary score of 89, 77 for its master's, and 65 for its doctoral degrees. Its online master's degree in homeland security has a perfect salary score of 100.

Getting into GWU is difficult. According to College Scorecard data, it only accepts 50% of applicants. However, the university takes a holistic approach to the application review process and has no minimum GPA or entrance exam requirements. Admitted students who chose to submit their entrance exam scores typically have combined SAT scores between 1310 and 1490 and ACT scores between 30 and 34.

GWU's admission requirements for its first-year applicants generally include the following:

• An application
• An $80 application fee
• Official high school transcripts
• Official college transcripts, if transferring credits
• Official military transcripts, if applicable
• Letters of recommendation from both a high school counselor and at least one academic teacher through the Common Application's Teacher Evaluation form

Optional documentation includes standardized test scores, such as the SAT/ACT, and a college essay. Individual degree programs may have additional requirements, such as a portfolio of work or a writing sample. An admission advisor can help you with the application process.

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