Colonial Inauguration

The George Washington University

Former names	Columbian College Columbian University
Motto	Latin: Deus Nobis Fiducia
Motto in English	God is Our Trust
Type	Private
Established	February 9, 1821
Academic affiliations	CUWMA — NAICU — ORAU — SURA
Endowment	$1.73 billion (2017)
President	Thomas LeBlanc
Provost	Forrest Maltzman
Academic staff	2,663
Students	27,159 (2016)
Undergraduates	11,244 (2016)
Postgraduates	15,486 (2016)
Other students	429 (2016)
Location	Washington, D.C., United States
Campus	Urban (Foggy Bottom) Suburban (Mount Vernon and Virginia campuses)
Colors	Buff and Blue
Nickname	Colonials
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I – A-10
Mascot	George Washington The Colonial
Website	www.gwu.edu

The George Washington University (GW, GWU, or George Washington) is a private research university in Washington, D.C. Charted by an act of the United States Congress in 1821, GWU was founded on the basis of the wishes of George Washington, 1st President of the United States, for a national university within the nation's capital. George Washington is consistently ranked as one of the most expensive universities in the United States.

The university is organized into 14 colleges and schools, including the Elliott School of International Affairs (ranked 7th best globally), the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (ranked 7th in the U.S.), the School of Media & Public Affairs (ranked 10th best in the U.S.), the Trachtenberg School of Public Management (ranked 11th best in the U.S.),GW Law School (ranked 24th in the U.S.), the School of Business (ranked 51st best in the U.S.), and the School of Medicine & Health Services (ranked 5th lowest acceptance rate in the U.S.). George Washington's main Foggy Bottom Campus is located in the heart of Washington, D.C., with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank located on campus and the White House and the U.S. Department of State within blocks of campus. GWU hosts numerous research centers and institutes, including the National Security Archive and the Institute for International Economic Policy. GWU has two satellite campuses: the Mount Vernon Campus, located in D.C.'s Foxhall neighborhood and the Virginia Science and Technology Campus in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is the second oldest and the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia, as well as the largest private landowner in D.C., only behind the U.S. Federal Government.