George Washington University
#801
QS Rank
40%
Acceptance rate
18%
Intl. students
$72,000
Tuition/yr
26,000
Enrollment
About George Washington University
Private research university in Washington DC. Top business, engineering, and international affairs programs.
George Washington University (GWU) is a private research university founded in 1821 by an act of Congress in Washington, D.C. It enrolls approximately 25,400 students across ten schools and colleges, with a roughly equal split between undergraduate and graduate populations.
GWU is best known for the Elliott School of International Affairs, whose bachelor's and master's programs rank among the top ten in the United States. Other strong areas include political science, public policy, law, health sciences, and engineering through the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). The university's location in the U.S. capital gives students direct access to government agencies, international organisations, think tanks, and NGOs.
The main Foggy Bottom campus sits two blocks from the U.S. State Department and minutes from the World Bank and IMF headquarters. GWU also operates a second campus in Ashburn, Virginia, and maintains research facilities across the D.C. metro area. The university is ranked 201–250 globally by Times Higher Education (2026) and =381 in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
DC
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- GWU's Elliott School of International Affairs is a direct pipeline into development organisations, foreign policy bodies, and the UN system, career paths that attract many Nepali students pursuing international development or diplomacy.
- International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships during the admissions review; the 'You Are Welcome Here' scholarship offers two annual, renewable awards covering at least 50% of tuition to selected international students, making GWU somewhat more accessible than its sticker price of roughly $72,000 per year suggests.
- SEAS students, covering engineering, computer science, and data science, are eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12-month OPT, giving Nepali graduates up to three years of post-study work authorisation in the United States before needing H-1B sponsorship.
- With 18% international students and direct proximity to the World Bank, USAID, and the IMF in Washington, D.C., Nepali students in development, economics, or policy fields will find both a sizable international community and substantive internship opportunities on their doorstep.
Programs(1)
Data last verified from official sources · Disclaimer
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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