Columbian College started with three faculty members, one tutor, and 30 students. In the Civil War’s aftermath, the college began to offer evening classes for advanced students and added new courses of study. In 1825, it added a medical school, and, in 1826, a law school. In 1904, the institution changed its name to The George Washington University to reflect President Washington’s dream.
Today, the University’s enrollment totals more than 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students in nine schools. GW is the largest institution of higher education in the nation’s capital. The University offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business, and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 130 countries. More than 90 percent of faculty members hold doctoral degrees. The University has more than 220,000 alumni living across the United States and around the world.
Most of the University’s undergraduate and graduate studies are conducted on its 43-acre campus, which is situated just a few blocks from the White House and the National Mall. Neighbors of this campus include the U.S. State Department, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Watergate complex, Organization of American States, United States Institute of Peace, American Red Cross, The World Bank, and International Monetary Fund, and various embassies and offices.
GW’s Mount Vernon Campus, also in Washington, D.C., offers students an additional academic, residential, recreational, and social environment. It features new science labs, dance and art studios, athletic facilities, playing fields, tennis courts, and a seasonal pool. Shuttle buses transport students, faculty, and staff between the Mount Vernon and Foggy Bottom campuses. The three-mile ride seamlessly links the two campuses for a connected community.
GW’s Virginia Campus in Loudoun County is a center for innovative research, graduate education, and advanced partnerships. As the University’s 90-acre research and technology campus, it offers graduate education in education and business leadership, information technology and telecommunications, engineering and transportation safety, and the health sciences.
The George Washington University works constructively with the community of its roots—Washington, D.C. GW students, faculty, staff, and alumni contribute their talent, knowledge, and time to improve the quality of life in the city. In 2007 alone, GW students dedicated more than 55,000 hours to community service.
The George Washington University values a dynamic, student-focused community stimulated by cultural and intellectual diversity and built upon a foundation of integrity, creativity, and openness to the exploration of new ideas.