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George Washington University

The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a private federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Originally named Columbian College, it was chartered in 1821 by the United States Congress and was the first university founded in the national capital. It is one of nation's six federally chartered universities.[7][8]

Former names

Columbian College (1821–1873)
Columbian University (1873–1904)

Latin: Deus Nobis Fiducia

"God is Our Trust"[1]

February 9, 1821 (1821-02-09)

$2.8 billion (2024)[2]

2,663

26,457 (2021)[3]

11,502 (2021)[3]

14,955 (2021)[3]

Large city, 43 acres (17 ha)[4]

Buff and blue[5]
   

George[6]

The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity."[9] It is the only member of the Association of American Universities in Washington, D.C.[10] The university offers degree programs in seventy-one disciplines, enrolling around 11,500 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students.[11] The school's athletic teams, the George Washington Revolutionaries, play in the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. GW also annually hosts numerous political events, including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's Annual Meetings.[12]


Several notable individuals have served as trustees, including two presidents, John Quincy Adams and Ulysses S. Grant, and Alexander Graham Bell.[13] Notable alumni, faculty, and affiliates include 16 foreign heads of state or government, 28 United States senators, 27 United States governors, 18 U.S. Cabinet members, five Nobel laureates, two Olympic medalists, two Academy Award winners, and a Golden Globe winner.[14] GW has over 1,100 active alumni in the U.S. Foreign Service and is one of the largest feeder schools for the diplomatic corps.[15]

Notable George Washington University alumni include:

William Greenleaf Eliot, founder of Washington University in St. Louis; Columbian College, 1831

William Greenleaf Eliot, founder of Washington University in St. Louis; Columbian College, 1831

Hsu Mo, founding judge of the International Court of Justice; Law School

Hsu Mo, founding judge of the International Court of Justice; Law School

Belva Ann Lockwood, first woman to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court; Law School

Belva Ann Lockwood, first woman to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court; Law School

Syngman Rhee, first president of South Korea; Columbian College, '07

Syngman Rhee, first president of South Korea; Columbian College, '07

J. Edgar Hoover, first FBI Director; Law School, '16

J. Edgar Hoover, first FBI Director; Law School, '16

John Foster Dulles, 52nd U.S. Secretary of State and U.S. Senator from New York; Law School

John Foster Dulles, 52nd U.S. Secretary of State and U.S. Senator from New York; Law School

L. Ron Hubbard, Church of Scientology founder; Columbian College

L. Ron Hubbard, Church of Scientology founder; Columbian College

J. William Fulbright, U.S. Senator from Arkansas and founder of the Fulbright Program; Law School, '34

J. William Fulbright, U.S. Senator from Arkansas and founder of the Fulbright Program; Law School, '34

Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts; Columbian College

Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts; Columbian College

James E. Webb, 2nd Administrator of NASA and namesake of the James Webb Space Telescope; Law School

James E. Webb, 2nd Administrator of NASA and namesake of the James Webb Space Telescope; Law School

Kun-Hee Lee, Chairman of Samsung; School of Business, '66

Kun-Hee Lee, Chairman of Samsung; School of Business, '66

William Barr, 77th and 85th U.S. Attorney General; Law School

William Barr, 77th and 85th U.S. Attorney General; Law School

Harry Reid, U.S. Senate Majority Leader from Nevada; Law School

Colin Powell, 65th U.S. Secretary of State; School of Business, '71

Colin Powell, 65th U.S. Secretary of State; School of Business, '71

Mark Esper, 27th U.S. Secretary of Defense; Trachtenberg School, '08

Mark Esper, 27th U.S. Secretary of Defense; Trachtenberg School, '08

Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senator from Illinois; Elliott School, '92

Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senator from Illinois; Elliott School, '92

Mark Warner, U.S. Senator from Virginia; Columbian College, '77

Mark Warner, U.S. Senator from Virginia; Columbian College, '77

Michael Coats, astronaut and Space Shuttle Commander; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, '77

Michael Coats, astronaut and Space Shuttle Commander; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, '77

Glenn Greenwald, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist; Columbian College, '90

Glenn Greenwald, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist; Columbian College, '90

Chuck Todd, television journalist and moderator of Meet The Press; School of Media and Public Affairs

Chuck Todd, television journalist and moderator of Meet The Press; School of Media and Public Affairs

Bob Woodward, Pulitzer Prize-winning editor for the Washington Post

Kerry Washington, actress; Columbian College, '98

Kerry Washington, actress; Columbian College, '98

Alec Baldwin, actor; Corcoran School

Alec Baldwin, actor; Corcoran School

Jared Leto, actor; Corcoran School

Jared Leto, actor; Corcoran School

David Lynch, filmmaker, visual artist, and musician; Corcoran School, '64

David Lynch, filmmaker, visual artist, and musician; Corcoran School, '64

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Official website

GW Athletics website