The following fees and financial regulations were adopted for the academic year 2024–2025. Information on tuition and fees for the 2024 summer sessions is available on the Summer and Special Programs website.

Tuition and Fees

Payment of Tuition and Fees

Withdrawals and Refunds

Tuition and Fees

The University reserves the right, with or without prior notice, to change requirements, rules, programs, policies, tuition, and fees whenever, in the University’s judgment, such changes are warranted. This includes, but is not limited to, changes to the form, location, and mode of instruction and changes to the academic calendar. Such changes shall go into force at the time specified by the University, and the University will provide advance notice of such changes when practicable. The University assumes no liability for any changes it determines are warranted. The University may, in its sole discretion, refund tuition or fees in whole or part, on account of any changes the University determines are warranted, but it is not required to make any such refunds. For complete financial information and regulations, please refer to The George Washington University Bulletin. The University separately provides detailed disclosures on its website and students should refer to them when a question arises.

Tuition

For undergraduates entering George Washington University (GW) in or after academic year 2020-21, tuition for full-time1 undergraduate study for students entering the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, GW School of Business, Elliott School of International Affairs, Milken Institute School of Public Health, and School of Engineering and Applied Science is $67,420.

The fixed-rate tuition remains in effect as previously stated for undergraduates in the schools listed above for those who entered GW in Spring 2020 ($56,845).

Non-degree students and part-time undergraduate students are charged $2,170 per credit starting summer 2024.

Tuition stated here excludes undergraduate programs in professional studies, nursing, and health sciences. Applicable rates for the College of Professional Studies, School of Nursing, and health sciences programs in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences are available on the Student Accounts Office website.

Tuition for students admitted to the BA/MD program is indicated in the letter of admission.

The schedule of tuition and fees adopted for graduate programs for the academic year 2024-2025 appears on the Student Accounts Office website.

1

A full-time program is defined as 12 to 18 credits per semester. Undergraduates taking more than 18 credits per semester are charged at the rate of 1 credit for each credit exceeding that limit, except for students in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, who are not charged for the 19th credit if it is required by their program.

Student Association Fee

All students are assessed a nonrefundable student association fee of $3 per credit to a maximum of $45 per semester.

U•Pass Fee

Undergraduate students enrolled in on-campus classes within the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Elliott School of International Affairs, GW School of Business, Milken Institute School of Public Health, and School of Engineering and Applied Science are assessed a $100 mandatory U•Pass fee, regardless of the number of credit hours for which the student is enrolled. This program allows students unlimited access to Metrorail and Metrobus during the semester. Other eligible full-time graduate and undergraduate students can voluntarily participate in the program on a semester basis.

Housing and Dining

The fee structures for University housing and dining plans can be found on the Campus Living and Residential Education and GW Campus Dining websites.

Continuing Research

All master's and doctoral students who have completed their required number of credits (including coursework and thesis or dissertation research) must register each subsequent fall and spring semester for 1 credit of Continuing Research as specified by the regulations of the school concerned. 

Payment of tuition for thesis or dissertation research entitles the candidate, during the period of registration, to the advice and direction of the member of the faculty under whom the thesis or dissertation is to be written. Accepted dissertations and theses are submitted electronically; the student pays a processing fee directly to ProQuest.

Additional Course Fees

Some courses carry additional fees, such as a laboratory or material fee, which are charged by semester. The amount appears in the Schedule of Classes.

Special Fees and Deposits (non-refundable)2

Application fee $80
Advance deposit, charged each entering or readmitted full-time undergraduate student $800
Matriculation fee, charged each entering full-time undergraduate (matriculation and enrollment fees for graduate students are provided on the Student Accounts Office website) $350
International student fee, charged each fall and spring semester to students on F-1 or J-1 visas entering in or after 2016-17 $50
Off-campus and/or online registration $35
First time late payment fee (see Past Due Accounts, below) $75
Late authorization fee for third-party payment (see Third-Party Payment, below) $100
Returned payment fee, charged a student whose payment is improperly drafted, incomplete, or returned by the bank for any reason $35
Mailed transcript fee (additional fees may apply for mail services) $8
Replacement of lost or stolen picture identification card $25
Replacement of diploma $50
2

Fees are subject to change. Last updated for the 2024-2025 Bulletin.

Study Abroad Fees3

Direct enroll tier fee $2,900
GW exchange tier fee $1,925
GW study program tier fee $6,775
GW signature programs tier fee $7,300
Provider programs (housing-only) tier fee $7,875
Provider programs (housing and meals) tier fee $8,770
Withdrawal or deferral fee $575
Summer exchange tier fee $3,200
Supplemental fee for programs including housing $500
Supplemental fee for programs including housing and meals $750
Supplemental programming fee (DIS and IES) $2,500
Supplemental programming fee (APA) $1,700
3

See the Office of Study Abroad withdrawal policy for more details.

Payment of Tuition and Fees

Students who register for courses in any semester incur a financial obligation to the University. Tuition and fees are due and must be paid in full by the first day of the University semester as indicated on the Academic Calendar; students on the monthly payment plan are exempt from this regulation. The University reserves the right to revoke the registration, effective to the beginning of the semester, of any student who fails to make full payment; however, failure to attend classes does not exempt students from their financial obligation. Students whose registration privileges have been disallowed for failure to make timely payments are not permitted to attend classes and may not occupy University housing.

Department of Veteran Affairs Pending Payments

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679e, GW students who are eligible to receive benefits from the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) under Chapter 31 Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E), Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill®, Chapter 35 Dependents’ and Survivors’ Education Benefits, and/or Chapter 1606 Montgomery Gi Bill® Selected Reserve must submit an online request for certification via the GWeb information system for each semester or summer session in which they elect to receive funding. The request for certification should be submitted prior to the first Friday of the University semester. Once the request for certification and the certificate of eligibility has been received, GW will not impose any penalty, inclu­ding but not limited to, assessing late fees, denying access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or requiring students to borrow additional funds to cover past due balances caused by delayed payments for educational assistance under Chapter 31, 33, 35, or 1606, unless the student is less than 100% covered. Students may attend courses beginning when the student provides a certificate of eligibility until the earlier date the VA provides payment to the school or 90 days after the school certifies tuition and fees, whichever comes first.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website.

Monthly Payment Plan

This payment plan is open to all students and is available on a semester basis, with four-month plans for the fall and spring semesters and summer session. To participate in the plan, students must be registered for classes and enroll in the plan before the start of the applicable semester. Upon enrollment in the plan, students pay a non-refundable payment plan set up fee. The monthly payment plan for the fall semester begins in August and ends in November, the spring semester plan begins in December and ends in March, and the summer session plan begins in April and ends in July. Under the plan, all payments are due on the tenth day of each month; if payments are received by that date, no interest or late fees will be incurred. Students who enroll in the plan after the first month of scheduled payments must make up all payments retroactive to the first month of scheduled payments as a down payment on the plan. No additional fees will be charged while the student is actively participating in the plan; missed payments will result in the deactivation of a student’s plan and the accrual of late fees. After the first day of the semester, all plans will be updated to reflect the student’s actual remaining balance, less pending financial aid. Any balance remaining at the conclusion of the payment plan is subject to late fees. For more information, see the monthly payment plan page.

Third-Party Payment

The University accepts employer vouchers or purchase orders that are not contingent upon receipt of grades. Under all circumstances, the charges for tuition and fees remain the responsibility of the student. Authorization from a sponsor to be billed for a student’s charges must be received in the Student Accounts Office by the end of the first week of the fall or spring semester. A late authorization fee may be incurred for responses received after the deadline. Bills are mailed to sponsors in October for the fall semester and in February for the spring semester. Should a sponsor fail to remit payment to the University, the University will contact the student for payment. Students whose employers or sponsors reimburse them for tuition and fees after receipt of grades must pay in full before the first day of the semester or at the time of registration to avoid interest, late fees, holds, and/or cancellation of registration. Students whose tuition and fees are paid in full or in part by a third party must pay any remaining balance by the stated due date to avoid interest, late fees, holds, and/or cancellation of registration.

Past Due Accounts

Accounts that are past due are encumbered by the University. A student whose account is encumbered while registered or any balance amount remaining without a future registration) may not register for future semesters, or access grades, housing assignments, diplomas, or other University services. Starting fall 2023, late payment fees may be assessed based on the schedule laid out in the University’s Payment Disclosure Statement. Accounts that are more than 90 days past due are eligible for collections activity, including referral to a collection agency and/or attorney. Students whose registration privileges have been disallowed for failure to make timely payments are not permitted to attend classes and may not occupy University housing.

Disputes must be submitted in writing to the Student Accounts office within 60 days of the charge being applied. If the University deems the disputed amounts to be correct, the student is liable for any interest and late fees accrued during the review period.

Dishonored/Returned Payments

A student whose payment is returned unpaid by the bank for any reason will be charged a returned payment fee and will be responsible for any associated costs and/or attorney’s fees incurred by the University should a civil lawsuit or other collection effort be instituted to collect on such dishonored payment. This fee will also be charged to students who initiate a successful chargeback, in addition to the processing fee. An account hold will be in place for 10 days after subsequent payment is made. If multiple payments are returned, the University may require all future payments to be made with certified funds. In any case where the University has reason to believe that a student presented a dishonored payment in bad faith, the University may, in addition to any collection efforts, refer the matter to the proper authorities for criminal prosecution.

Withdrawals and Refunds

Applications for withdrawal from the University or from a course after the registration period must be made in accordance with procedures outlined under University Regulations in the sections Complete Withdrawal from the University and Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses, respectively. Financial aid recipients must notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance in writing. The tuition deposit required of entering students will not be refunded.

In the case of authorized withdrawals and changes in registration schedule, cancellations of semester tuition charges and fees will be made in accordance with the following schedule:*

Fall, Spring, and Summer Semesters

1. Effective Spring 2021, courses dropped prior to the start of the semester (before the first day of classes) will have 100% of the tuition charges canceled. Courses dropped beginning the first day of classes are subject to the university refund schedule, which governs the prorated cancellation of semester tuition charges in cases of program adjustment or withdrawal4. For refunds calculated by week, the period is considered to be Monday to Sunday.

12- to 16-Week Semesters
Week Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6
Percentage 100% 100% 60% 40% 20% 0%
8-to 11-week Semesters
Week Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Weeks 4 through 8
Percentage returned 100% 70% 59% 0%
4- to 7-Week Semesters
Calendar Days Days 1 through 5 Days 6 through 10 Days 11 through 14 Days 15 through 49
Percentage Returned 100% 70% 50% 0%
4

Select programs are offered on a different schedule with different refund rates for dropped classes. Visit the Law School, Public Health Online, and SEAS online and off-campus doctoral and master's program websites to view the withdrawal and refund policies specific to those programs.

2. Partial withdrawal: If the change in workload results in a lower tuition charge, the refund schedule above applies to the dropped course(s).

3. Regulations governing student withdrawals as they relate to University housing and dining services charges are contained in the specific lease arrangements.

4. Federal regulations require that financial aid recipients use refunds to repay financial aid received for that semester’s attendance. This policy applies to institutional aid as well.

If a recipient of federal financial aid withdraws from the University or reduces their workload, federal regulations require that the University reevaluate the student’s eligibility to determine the amount of aid the student is allowed to retain. If there is a credit balance on the student’s account after the federal funds have been adjusted, institutional funds will be recovered from that amount.

See the University's complete Return of Title IV funds policy.

In no case will tuition be reduced or refunded because of the student’s absence from classes. Authorization to withdraw and certification for work done will not be provided to a student whose account is not in good standing.