Top Ranked Programs
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.