The George Washington University is ranked 66 out of 381 national universities, according to a new list released by U.S. News & World Report. This represents a four-point improvement from the university’s rank last year.
“Rankings are one way among many for students and families to determine whether a university is the best fit for them, and they change from year to year based on the choices made by the organization publishing the list,” said GW Provost M. Brian Blake. “We will continue to provide a world-class education for our students and remain committed to advancing our teaching and research mission.”
Several factors contributed to GW’s ranking this year, Dr. Blake said.
GW improved, relative to other institutions, in the academic reputation category with a five-point increase. This category is based on peer assessments provided by presidents, provosts, admissions deans and vice presidents at other universities.
The category with the heaviest weight in the rankings, graduation and retention rates, remained the same as last year. Additionally, although GW’s student selectivity rank decreased slightly, the category “has become less representative of student excellence, now that GW is test-optional and high schools are increasingly refraining from reporting class rank on transcripts,” Dr. Blake noted.
Two other categories, including one measuring student debt and another based on the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants and their graduation rates, “suggest a value shift in the rankings equation,” Dr. Blake said. They reinforce the importance of the university’s ongoing commitment to enhancing student financial assistance, he added.