George Washington University tuition, cost & net price

The sticker price at George Washington University is $83,856 a year. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $36,586 on average, and what your family pays depends mostly on income. Choose yours below.

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What your family pays
$36,586 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $83,856. College Scorecard.

Net price by family income

Average after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard, latest reported year

Sticker price, line by line

Per year, living on campusAll students
Tuition & fees$67,710
Housing & meals$16,300
Books & supplies$1,400
Personal & travel$1,625
Living-at-home adjustment−$3,179
Total cost of attendance$83,856

Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two.

Debt after graduation

Median federal loan debt$19,500
Loan default rate1.3%3-year rate, 2017 repayment cohort
Debt as a share of earnings 10 years out21%

College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal

Who gets aid

Students with Pell Grants16%Federal grants for lower-income students
Grants for the average aided student$47,270Sticker price minus average net price

College Scorecard

GWU net price compared with other District of Columbia colleges

GWU has the 5th-lowest average net price of 8 District of Columbia colleges we cover. Schools around it:

RankCollegeAvg. net priceGraduationEarnings, 10 yrs
1Trinity Washington University$9,30249%$53,804
2University of the District of Columbia$10,64833%$44,236
3Gallaudet University$15,84547%$43,101
4The Catholic University of America$29,56179%$73,250
5George Washington University$36,58684%$90,873
6Georgetown University$40,81595%$103,494
7American University$41,94375%$77,370
8Howard University$50,53970%$63,066

College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All District of Columbia colleges →

Why GWU costs more or less than similar schools

SchoolAcceptanceYou'd payGraduationEarnings, 10 yrsPrice gap
George Washington University47%$36,58684%$90,873This school
Howard University41%$50,53970%$63,066
American University62%$41,94375%$77,370
Georgetown University13%$40,81595%$103,494
The Catholic University of America83%$29,56179%$73,250

College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.

Why the price is different

George Washington University would cost you $13,953 less per year than Howard University, on average.

  • Higher sticker price at George Washington University, mostly from higher tuition & fees (+$31,900).
  • George Washington University gives aided families $43,179 more in grants, on average.
Per year, District of Columbia residentGWUHUDifference
Tuition & fees$67,710$35,810+$31,900
Books & supplies$1,400$1,360+$40
Housing & meals$16,300$16,474−$174
Personal & travel$1,625$3,452−$1,827
Living-at-home adjustment−$3,179−$2,466−$713
Sticker price$83,856$54,630+$29,226
Average grants−$47,270−$4,091−$43,179
You pay$36,586$50,539−$13,953

“+” means GWU costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.

GWU cost questions

How much is tuition at GWU?

Tuition and fees are $67,710 a year.

What is the total cost of attending GWU?

The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $83,856 a year.

What do families actually pay at GWU?

After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $36,586 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $17,440; $48–75k pay $22,080; $110k+ pay $55,337.

How much debt do GWU graduates have?

The median federal loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and 1.3% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).

Is GWU the right fit for your family?

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to George Washington University overview