George Washington University (GWU) vs Vanderbilt
When it comes to higher education, George Washington University (GWU) and Vanderbilt University (VU) stand out as two prestigious institutions with distinct offerings. GWU, located in the heart of Washington, D.C., boasts a vibrant urban campus and strong connections to government and international affairs. VU, nestled in Nashville, Tennessee, offers a beautiful campus, a renowned medical center, and a focus on interdisciplinary learning. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() George Washington University |
![]() Vanderbilt University |
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Overview |
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Location | Washington, District of Columbia | Nashville, Tennessee |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 97.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 49.7% | 7.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$80
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Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$95
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SAT range | 1310 - 1490 | 1480 - 1570 |
ACT range | 30 - 34 | 34 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 29.0% | 25.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 18.0% | 32.0% |
Total number of applicants | 27,236 | 47,152 |
Total number of admissions given out | 13,539 | 3,368 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,571 | 1,626 |
Yield rate | 19.0% | 48.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $78,335 | $79,538 |
Average net price | $31,240 | $27,553 |
Tuition | $59,780 | $54,840 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$15,260
Meal plan:
$3,240
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Room/dormitory:
$12,000
Meal plan:
$6,376
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
74.0%
Average amount $31,678 |
64.0%
Average amount $49,730 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
30.0%
Average amount $5,150 |
10.0%
Average amount $4,979 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $25,366 |
2.0%
Average amount $27,798 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
11,502
Men 36.3% Women 63.7% |
7,111
Men 48.9% Women 51.1% |
Graduate students |
14,955
Men 38.1% Women 61.9% |
6,685
Men 39.5% Women 60.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 98.7% | 89.5% |
International students | 11.6% | 11.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 6,693 | 5,598 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York New Jersey Virginia California Pennsylvania | Tennessee California New York Florida Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 83.7% | 93.4% |
Dropout rate | 16.1% | 6.4% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Systems Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Public Health (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
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Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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