The average acceptance rate at GWU over the past 10 years is 44.30%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 47.09%. Compared to the previous year, it became slightly easier to gain admission to GWU in 2025.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 22.50%, and the 2025 yield is 19.33%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 31.20% from 2015 to 2025.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 47.09%, demonstrating consistent admission standards over the past decade. The stability of this rate suggests that GWU maintains a predictable and steady admissions environment for prospective students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 19.33%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at GWU. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, GWU received approximately 27,016 applications, admitted 12,723 students, and enrolled 2,459 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that GWU is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
GWU 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at GWU over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 44.30%, while the most recent rate stands at 47.09%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 47.09%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 43.84% and for women is 44.61%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at GWU have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 46.46% | 44.59% | 47.76% |
| 2016-17 | 40.21% -6.25% |
39.45% -5.14% |
40.70% -7.06% |
| 2017-18 | 40.98% 0.77% |
38.52% -0.93% |
42.53% 1.82% |
| 2018-19 | 41.87% 0.89% |
41.87% 3.35% |
41.87% -0.66% |
| 2019-20 | 40.84% -1.03% |
41.29% -0.58% |
40.58% -1.29% |
| 2020-21 | 43.04% 2.20% |
42.58% 1.28% |
43.31% 2.74% |
| 2021-22 | 50.00% 6.96% |
48.00% 5.42% |
51.00% 7.69% |
| 2022-23 | 48.98% -1.02% |
51.80% 3.81% |
47.48% -3.52% |
| 2023-24 | 43.54% -5.43% |
44.81% -7.00% |
42.84% -4.64% |
| 2024-25 | 47.09% 3.55% |
45.53% 0.72% |
47.97% 5.13% |
| Average | 44.30% | 43.84% | 44.61% |
GWU has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 28.09% in 2015 to 19.33% in 2025, representing a 31.20% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 22.50%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at GWU from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 31.20% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 28.09% | 27.70% | 28.35% |
| 2016-17 | 24.64% -3.46% |
25.55% -2.15% |
24.06% -4.29% |
| 2017-18 | 23.60% -1.04% |
23.39% -2.16% |
23.72% -0.34% |
| 2018-19 | 25.63% 2.03% |
25.14% 1.75% |
25.91% 2.20% |
| 2019-20 | 23.77% -1.86% |
23.87% -1.27% |
23.71% -2.21% |
| 2020-21 | 17.40% -6.37% |
16.83% -7.03% |
17.72% -5.98% |
| 2021-22 | 19.00% 1.59% |
20.01% 3.18% |
18.00% 0.28% |
| 2022-23 | 22.02% 3.03% |
22.55% 2.54% |
21.72% 3.72% |
| 2023-24 | 21.52% -0.50% |
21.73% -0.82% |
21.40% -0.32% |
| 2024-25 | 19.33% -2.19% |
19.02% -2.71% |
19.50% -1.90% |
| Average | 22.50% | 22.58% | 22.41% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 26,082, the average number of admitted is 11,550, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 2,569.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at George Washington University from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 19,837 | 9,216 | 2,589 |
| 2016-17 | 25,488 28.49% |
10,249 11.21% |
2,525 -2.47% |
| 2017-18 | 26,987 5.88% |
11,059 7.90% |
2,610 3.37% |
| 2018-19 | 26,512 -1.76% |
11,101 0.38% |
2,845 9.00% |
| 2019-20 | 26,978 1.76% |
11,019 -0.74% |
2,619 -7.94% |
| 2020-21 | 26,405 -2.12% |
11,366 3.15% |
1,978 -24.47% |
| 2021-22 | 27,236 3.15% |
13,618 19.81% |
2,587 30.79% |
| 2022-23 | 27,266 0.11% |
13,354 -1.94% |
2,941 13.68% |
| 2023-24 | 27,094 -0.63% |
11,798 -11.65% |
2,539 -13.67% |
| 2024-25 | 27,016 -0.29% |
12,723 7.84% |
2,459 -3.15% |
| Average | 26,082 | 11,550 | 2,569 |
The following table compares George Washington University' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington University | 43.54% | 47.09% | 8.15% |
| Fordham University | 59.31% | 56.28% | 5.38% |
| George Mason University | 87.48% | 88.83% | -1.52% |
| University of Dayton | 65.45% | 61.65% | 6.16% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | 88.83% | 86.39% | 2.82% |
| University of Richmond | 22.20% | 23.31% | -4.76% |
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