George Washington University

George Washington University's published cost of attendance is $83,856, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $17,440 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $22,080, and higher-income families pay approximately $55,337.

Azimuth ranks George Washington University #1270 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each group pay more and some less than the figures shown.

GW participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The gap between sticker price and net price is meaningful for lower-income families, though the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is worth understanding: published cost figures rarely reflect what most families actually pay, and the income-band breakdown above is the more useful planning anchor.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,449, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,881; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $95,967, median federal debt of $20,449 projects to a monthly payment of about $231 under standard ten-year repayment.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of George Washington University earn median earnings of $95,967 four years after enrollment, placing George Washington University in the 93.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $95,739 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).

Graduates earn about $13,283 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing George Washington University in the 90.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks George Washington University #81 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The degree mix at George Washington University leans toward Social Sciences, which accounts for 32% of graduates, followed by Business at 16% and Engineering at 4%. International Relations and National Security Studies combines large cohort scale with strong pay, anchoring the institution's aggregate return profile.

Among the highest-earning subfields, Azimuth ranks International Relations and National Security Studies #10 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 537 graduates earning median earnings of $76,751 — 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Nursing program graduates 311 students with median earnings of $96,741, and Azimuth ranks Political Science #35 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 310 graduates earning median earnings of $79,692.

Research Psychology and Economics round out the top programs, graduating 154 and 145 students respectively, with four-year median earnings of $72,325 and $99,406.

George Washington University's program mix is anchored in policy, international affairs, and applied social-science fields — a signature shaped by the university's location in Washington, D.C., and its proximity to federal agencies, international organizations, and policy institutions. International Relations and National Security Studies is the largest program with 537 graduates annually, followed by Nursing, Political Science, Research Psychology, and Economics.

Social Sciences accounts for 32% of degree output, with Business at 16% and Engineering at 4% rounding out the core portfolio. Across 64 programs serving roughly 3,436 students annually, 42 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold.

The strongest earnings come from quantitative and finance-adjacent fields. Azimuth ranks Finance #13 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 119 graduates earning $126,638.

Azimuth ranks Economics #61 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $99,406. Azimuth ranks International Business #8 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 79 graduates earning $99,018.

Among the largest programs, Azimuth ranks International Relations and National Security Studies #10 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $76,751, and Azimuth ranks Nursing #70 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $96,741. Several of George Washington University's dominant programs are grad-school-dependent pathways — notably International Relations and National Security Studies, Political Science, and Research Psychology — where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to law school, graduate programs in public policy, or doctoral study.

Finance and Economics, by contrast, are high-mobility programs where graduates enter the workforce directly and four-year earnings reflect labor-market outcomes. The supply-demand map provides context for how these fields align with national wage trends.