Ethan Walker
The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a private federally-chartered non-denominational university in Washington, D.C. While the university was founded as Columbian College in 1821, it was renamed Columbian University in 1873 and finally The George Washington University in 1904. The university has an active Newman Center that supports the growing Catholic student community on campus.
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What You'll Learn
George Washington University is a private, federally-chartered, research university
George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a private, federally-chartered, research university in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1821 as Columbian College, named after the District of Columbia, and was the first university founded under Washington, D.C.'s jurisdiction. It is one of six federally chartered universities in the nation. The university is named after George Washington, the first President of the United States, who long favoured the establishment of a university in a central part of the United States.
GW is a private institution with a current enrolment of around 25,400 students, of which about 11,200 are undergraduate students, 13,600 are graduate and professional students, and 570 are non-degree students. The university's students come from all 50 states and a variety of territories and countries. The student-faculty ratio is 12:1, and the university offers degree programs in seventy-one disciplines. The university's mission is to educate individuals in liberal arts, languages, sciences, learned professions, and other courses and subjects of study, and to conduct scholarly research and publish its findings.
The university has a strong reputation in political science, international affairs, and public policy. It is also a major athletic institution, with its teams, the George Washington Revolutionaries, playing at the NCAA Division I level. The university annually hosts numerous political events, including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's Annual Meetings.
The university has an active Newman Center that supports the growing Catholic student community on campus, as well as a large Hillel organization that serves over 3,000 Jewish students.
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It was founded in 1821 as Columbian College
George Washington University is a private federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1821 as Columbian College, the oldest unit of the university. The college was established as a non-denominational institution, and was the first university founded under Washington, D.C.'s jurisdiction. It was originally located on College Hill, a 46-acre tract between the present 14th and 15th Streets, extending from Florida Avenue to Columbia Road. The college was renamed Columbian University in 1873, and then The George Washington University in 1904.
The university was established following the vision of George Washington, the first President of the United States, who long favoured the establishment of a university in a central part of the United States. He advocated for this throughout his political career, and included a bequest of his shares in the Potomac Company to establish the university in his last will and testament. Following his death in 1799, his vision was supported by U.S. presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. However, the Potomac Company folded and the university did not come to fruition until a group of Baptist clergymen led by Reverend Luther Rice took up the cause. They raised funds for the purchase of a site and petitioned Congress for a charter.
In 1821, President James Monroe approved the congressional charter, creating Columbian College. The college was renamed Columbian University in 1873, and then The George Washington University in 1904. In 1912, the university moved its principal operations to the Foggy Bottom neighbourhood of Washington, D.C. Today, the university has three fully integrated campuses in the Washington, D.C. area: the Foggy Bottom campus, the Mount Vernon campus, and the Virginia Science and Technology campus. The Foggy Bottom Campus houses the vast majority of academic programming. The university owns much of the property in Foggy Bottom and leases it to various tenants, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The George Washington University is one of the nation's six federally chartered universities. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity" and is a member of the Association of American Universities. The university offers degree programs in seventy-one disciplines, enrolling around 11,500 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students. The school's athletic teams, the George Washington Revolutionaries, play in the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference.
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The university is non-denominational
The George Washington University is a private, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1821 as Columbian College, the oldest unit of the university, and was the first university founded under Washington, D.C.'s jurisdiction. It was established as a non-denominational university.
The university is named after the first President of the United States, George Washington, who long favoured the establishment of a university in a central part of the United States. He advocated for its establishment to the U.S. Congress throughout his political career. Washington envisioned that the university would educate the most promising students from across the country while reaping the benefits of its location in the nation's capital. He hoped that students would gain first-hand knowledge of the practice and theory of republican government while being instructed in the arts and sciences.
Despite Washington's intentions, the university did not take shape until a group of Baptist clergymen led by Reverend Luther Rice took up the cause. They raised funds for the purchase of a site and petitioned Congress for a charter. On February 9, 1821, President James Monroe approved the congressional charter, creating the non-denominational Columbian College. The name of the institution was changed in 1873 to Columbian University and in 1904 to The George Washington University.
Today, the university has over 25,000 students and is one of the largest feeder schools for the U.S. diplomatic corps. It offers degree programs in seventy-one disciplines and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity". The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. While George Washington University is non-denominational, it has an active Newman Center that supports the growing Catholic student community on campus.
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It has an active Newman Centre for Catholic students
George Washington University is a private, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1821 as Columbian College, the oldest unit of the university, and was the first university founded under Washington, D.C.'s jurisdiction. It is one of six federally chartered universities in the nation. The university is named after the first President of the United States, George Washington, who advocated for the establishment of a university in the central part of the United States during his political career.
The university is not a Catholic university, but it does have an active Newman Centre that supports the Catholic student community on campus. The Newman Centre is likely a reference to the Newman Centre movement, which is a Catholic campus ministry named after John Henry Newman, a Catholic theologian and cardinal. The movement aims to provide a space for Catholic students to gather and engage in their faith within a university setting.
George Washington University's Newman Centre is an example of how the university supports its diverse student body. The university also has a large Jewish student community served by GW Hillel, one of the largest campus Hillel International organizations in the United States. The university's commitment to fostering a sense of community and supporting the religious needs of its students is evident through these initiatives.
The Newman Centre at George Washington University provides a dedicated space for Catholic students to connect with each other and engage in their faith. It offers a range of activities and services to enhance the spiritual lives of Catholic students on campus. This may include regular Mass, prayer groups, religious discussions, social events, and opportunities for community service or outreach. By having an active Newman Centre, the university ensures that Catholic students can actively practice their faith and find a sense of belonging within the larger university community.
The presence of the Newman Centre demonstrates the university's inclusivity and recognition of the importance of spiritual well-being. It provides a home away from home for Catholic students, fostering a sense of community and encouraging them to integrate their faith into their daily lives. The centre likely plays a significant role in attracting Catholic students to the university, offering them a supportive environment where they can explore and deepen their faith alongside their academic pursuits.
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The university ranks #63 in National Universities
George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a private federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1821 as Columbian College, the first university founded under Washington, D.C.'s jurisdiction. The university is named after George Washington, the first President of the United States, who long favoured the establishment of a university in a central part of the United States.
GW is ranked #63 in National Universities in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges. It is also ranked #44 in Lowest Acceptance Rates, with a total undergraduate enrollment of 11,387 (as of Fall 2023) and a campus size of 43 acres. The student-faculty ratio is 12:1, and the university utilizes a semester-based academic calendar.
GW offers degree programs in seventy-one disciplines, enrolling around 11,500 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students. The university's total enrollment is approximately 25,400 students, including non-degree students. The university's mission is to educate individuals in liberal arts, languages, sciences, learned professions, and other courses and subjects of study, and to conduct scholarly research and publish its findings.
GW has a strong reputation in political science, international affairs, and public policy, and is one of the largest feeder schools for the U.S. diplomatic corps. The university's athletic teams, the George Washington Revolutionaries, play in the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. The official university colours are buff and blue, taken from the colours of George Washington's uniform during the Revolutionary War.
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Frequently asked questions
No, George Washington University is a private federally-chartered, non-denominational university.
George Washington University does not have a religious affiliation. It is a secular university.
Yes, George Washington University has an active Newman Center that supports the growing Catholic student community on campus.
