George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a private research university in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1821 by an Act of Congress and named for President George Washington, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia with 26,000 students and ten schools and colleges. It offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 200 fields of study, from accounting and finance to theatre and dance.
Located four blocks from the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, GW has been ranked by The Princeton Review as one of the “Best Colleges” for more than 20 years. The university has also been ranked among the top 50 “Most Innovative Schools” by U.S. News & World Report for each of the past five years – an honor shared only with MIT, Stanford University, USC, Carnegie Mellon University, and Georgia Institute of Technology.
A world-class faculty supports rigorous academics at GW. Ninety percent of our full-time faculty members hold terminal degrees in their field – the highest proportion among D.C.-area universities. They are engaged scholars who contribute to their disciplines through research, writing and teaching; many also work closely with government agencies or serve as consultants to businesses throughout the region. Their expertise enriches our classrooms and enhances student learning experiences both inside and outside of them.
The school that would become George Washington University was founded on February 9th 1821 when The Columbian College received its charter from an act passed by Congress during President James Monroe’s administration (the act was entitled “An act to incorporate a seminary of learning near the seat of government”). Prior to this time there were no institutions of higher education within the federal city other than small academies such as those run by churches– Georgetown being one example–and private tutors.” At first Columbian College had a rough start due largely because “its primary purpose was not immediately popular either with parents seeking advanced degrees for their sons or with young men eager to gain admission into professions.” In spite of these early difficulties however “by 1830 it had recovered sufficiently…to take advantage when Maryland chartered a new university which included within its boundaries what was then Alexandria County Virginia [now Arlington].” This new school would eventually be known as Georgetown University but before it could open its doors it needed approval from Virginia’s General Assembly who initially refused permission out “fear that admitting another college might lead to having two competing institutions within close proximity.” However they relented after pressure form prominent citizens including future president John Tyler who argued that since there were already two successful colleges in Maryland–one Protestant (John Hopkins) and one Catholic (Georgetown)–there should be one in Virginia as well.” With this approval Georgetown opened in 1837 while Columbian changed its name shortly thereafter to George Washington University in order “to avoid confusion arising between itself