George Washington vs. Rutgers

Deciding between George Washington University and Rutgers University New Brunswick? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

George Washington University
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • George Washington Washington, DC
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • George Washington Large City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • George Washington 25,374
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • George Washington Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • George Washington #82
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • George Washington -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • George Washington Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • George Washington
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • George Washington $67,710
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • George Washington $67,710
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • George Washington $16,920
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • George Washington $46,485
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • George Washington $37,500
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • George Washington 78%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • George Washington 27,016
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • George Washington 12,723
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • George Washington 47.1%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • George Washington 19.3%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • George Washington 1430
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • George Washington 32
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • George Washington 3.81
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • George Washington A-
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • George Washington Exceptional
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • George Washington Low
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • George Washington 31/34
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • George Washington 1350/1500
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • George Washington Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • George Washington Jan 5, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • George Washington 13:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • George Washington
    • Social Sciences (34%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (4%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • George Washington 81%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • George Washington $80,500
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • George Washington 82%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • George Washington $24,962
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • George Washington $258
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • George Washington 38%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • George Washington 62%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • George Washington High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • George Washington No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • George Washington 56%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • George Washington 10%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • George Washington 6%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • George Washington 8%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • George Washington 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • George Washington 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • George Washington 4%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • George Washington 10%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • George Washington 5%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • George Washington 2%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • George Washington 89%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • George Washington Yes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • George Washington No
  • Rutgers No
  • Meal Plan
  • George Washington Yes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • George Washington No
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • George Washington No
  • Rutgers Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare George Washington University in Washington, DC with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than George Washington based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 25,374 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • George Washington University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • George Washington University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: George Washington University 13:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

George Washington vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, George Washington or Rutgers? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than George Washington ($20,522 vs. $46,485).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 7.1% lower than at George Washington University ($15,714 vs. $16,920).
  • George Washington University is 277.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $49,781 more per year; $67,710.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 80.8% higher at George Washington than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $30,269 more per year; $67,710.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Washington University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (78% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Washington University students is 124% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($37,500 vs. $16,742).

George Washington vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, George Washington or Rutgers? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Rutgers and George Washington.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Washington University (1430) is 20 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming George Washington students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Washington University 1350/1500; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Washington University 31/34; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: George Washington - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: George Washington Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman George Washington students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than George Washington (47.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.3% at George Washington vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

George Washington vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for George Washington and Rutgers? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • George Washington University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from George Washington University earn a median of about $14,300 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,500 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $2,747 lower median loan debt than George Washington graduates ($22,215 vs. $24,962).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than George Washington graduates ($229 vs. $258).
  • More George Washington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.