MA International Education at GWU: Fees 2026 Dates & Requirements

George Washington University (GWU) Master of Arts in International Education is a 30-credit, full-time, on-campus graduate degree at the Foggy Bottom campus in Washington, DC. The programme takes an average 1.5 years to complete. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree, and Spring 2027 applications are open until 01 October 2026; calculated tuition is US$60,000 (INR 57.34 Lakhs) before additional fees.

The curriculum combines comparative education, research methods, focus-area study, international experiences or internships and a two-part capstone. That structure suits applicants targeting policy, global development, international higher education, K-12 education, training or research, but the programme publishes no salary outcome.

• The 30-credit plan includes 12 required credits, 6 focus-area credits, 9 cross-stream credits and 3 elective credits.
• Students can tailor their study toward education and development, global education or international higher education.
• Late-afternoon and evening classes can help applicants maintain professional commitments while studying on campus.

Also Check: GWU graduate admission overview

GWU International Education Fees and Living Costs 2027

The FY27 tuition schedule covers Summer 2026, Fall 2026 and Spring 2027, so it is the verified rate for Spring 2027 entry.

The programme page states US$2,000 (INR 1.91 Lakhs) per credit, while the Student Accounts page lists additional charges and a conflicting application-fee entry.

Target-cycle fee context: The figures below apply to the full-time International Education programme on the main campus and use the official FY27 schedule.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.5699 as of 15 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

Source: George Washington University International Education programme page and FY27 Student Accounts schedule.

The calculated tuition total is US$60,000 (INR 57.34 Lakhs) because the degree requires 30 credits at the published per-credit rate.

The programme page says no application fee, but the FY27 Student Accounts schedule lists US$80 (INR 7,646). Applicants should retain the programme statement and verify the amount shown in the live application workflow.

The student association, matriculation and international student charges are separate from tuition. Their timing matters because the international fee recurs in Fall and Spring, while the matriculation fee applies when entering.

Cost of Living in Washington, DC for International Education Students

The university’s graduate cost example gives US$25,200 (INR 24.08 Lakhs) per year for living expenses.

This is a combined university planning allowance rather than a rent-only quote. The monthly figure below is calculated from the official annual amount, so applicants should use their housing choice to test the budget.

Official living-cost context: The university example is an annual graduate estimate and does not replace the separate visa financial-proof requirement.

Source: George Washington University graduate cost-of-attendance estimate.

Using the programme’s average 1.5-year duration, the calculated planning baseline is US$60,000 (INR 57.34 Lakhs) tuition plus US$37,800 (INR 36.13 Lakhs) living.

The resulting total is US$97,800 (INR 93.47 Lakhs) before variable fees.

The baseline excludes the listed semester charges, the US$350 (INR 33,449) matriculation fee and the disputed application fee because billing depends on registration and entry status.

Read More: USA cost of living planning guide

Key insight: The 1.5-year planning baseline reaches US$97,800 (INR 93.47 Lakhs) before variable charges, so Indian applicants should secure funding for tuition and living costs separately.

GWU International Education Admission 2027

The Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD) requires a bachelor’s degree, a focused statement, two recommendations, transcripts and a resume. GSEHD administers the programme and evaluates the complete application.

The current programme page does not publish a minimum GPA (grade point average), so selection depends on the complete application and the evidence of academic and professional preparation.

Academic Eligibility and Application Evidence

Applicants with international education need a detailed course-by-course evaluation from a NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) member.

This evaluation must show course titles, credit hours, grades, GPA, degree equivalency and the degree-conferral date. The university makes the formal equivalency decision after reviewing the submitted evaluation.

Academic requirement context: The table separates stated requirements from preferred preparation, which helps Indian applicants decide what to strengthen before submission.

Source: George Washington University Bulletin and Graduate School of Education and Human Development admissions guidance.

The course does not require a published work-experience minimum, but the preferred two-year background can make the applied curriculum easier to use.

No programme-specific International Education ranking was verified, so a ranking section is omitted.

English Language Proficiency and Test Scores

English language proficiency (ELP) evidence is required for applicants whose prior degree was not taught in a country where English is the sole language of instruction.

ELP means the test evidence used to show readiness for graduate study in English. A waiver is not automatic for Indian applicants and should be confirmed against the applicant’s degree history.

Accepted routes include IELTS (International English Language Testing System), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and PTE (Pearson Test of English). The scores below reproduce the university’s published scales without converting them between tests.

Current ELP thresholds: The table separates programme admission from assistantship standards.

Source: George Washington University international applicant requirements.

The current page still states TOEFL scores on the older paper and internet scales after 21 January 2026. Applicants should verify the accepted score format in the official international admissions guidance before sending results.

• IELTS 6.5 overall is the clearest published baseline for applicants who want one widely available test route.
• Applicants seeking assistantships need the higher English threshold because funding consideration uses separate score standards.
• Indian applicants should test early enough to repeat a score or address a component requirement before the programme deadline.

Tip for Indian students: The absence of a published GPA cutoff does not remove the need for evidence. Use the statement and recommendations to connect your preparation with international education work.

GWU International Education Application 2027

Spring 2027 and Fall 2027 applications are listed in the live graduate application portal with international deadlines of 01 October 2026 and 01 November 2026.

The portal does not publish decision dates, cutoff times or a timezone beside these dates. Indian applicants should treat the displayed calendar date as the controlling deadline and submit before it rather than relying on a late-day conversion.

International Deadlines and Intake Choice

Deadline context: The table includes every intake shown for this programme and separates the programme’s Summer listing from international availability.

Source: George Washington University graduate application portal and international applicant guidance.

Spring is the earlier applicant-accessible deadline, while Fall offers one additional month for documents and test preparation.

The portal currently gives no reliable time or timezone for either date, so an exact IST conversion cannot be stated. Applicants should confirm the submission timestamp shown inside the portal before payment or final submission.

• Choose Spring 2027 only when the transcript evaluation, English result and references can be completed before 01 October 2026.
• Choose Fall 2027 when the extra month materially improves the statement, evaluation or recommendation quality.
• Request international transcript evaluation early because the application requires detailed course, grade and degree-equivalency information.

Application Materials and Selection Strategy

The application requires a resume, transcripts, a 250 to 500 word statement of purpose and two recommendations.

The strongest file should connect previous study or work with the programme’s focus areas, research training and applied capstone. A professional referee can explain implementation experience, while a faculty referee can address academic readiness.

Submission checklist: Prepare the following evidence before starting the final portal review.

Source: George Washington University International Education programme admissions requirements.

The course’s cross-stream work and capstone make a project-based statement more useful than a general interest essay.

Describe one education or development problem you want to investigate, the evidence you bring and the role you expect the degree to play after graduation.

Also Check: GWU course listing

Application tip: The one-month difference between the Spring and Fall deadlines matters when it improves missing evidence. Select the intake that allows a complete file by its published date.

GWU International Education Scholarships 2027

Incoming students are considered for limited GSEHD scholarships through the admission application, but the current funding page does not publish a target-cycle award amount.

The available funding is competitive, often partial and usually limited to one nonrenewable year. Indian applicants should treat awards as a reduction in tuition exposure rather than as a complete funding plan.

Named Funding Routes for International Applicants

Funding context: The routes below are the current published options that can apply to incoming master’s applicants or require a separate eligibility check.

Source: George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development funding guidance.

The Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Scholarship is the clearest published percentage award.

MSI status depends on the approved institution list rather than nationality. Indian applicants must verify whether their previous institution qualifies before treating the 20% discount as available.

Graduate assistantships and graduate research assistantships are work-linked routes, not guaranteed scholarships. International students are typically limited to 20 hours per week, and some roles may require United States citizenship or permanent residence.

• Submit the full admission application because GSEHD uses it to consider incoming scholarship candidates.
• Verify MSI eligibility with the approved institution list before reducing the tuition budget by 20%.
• State a specific research or professional contribution when requesting assistantship consideration.
• Keep the full tuition and living baseline available until an award appears in the acceptance letter.

Cycle Checks and Scholarship Timing

The International Education endowment named for Dr. Dorothy A. Moore is programme-specific and merit-based, but its published 16 February 2026 deadline was closed before this research date.

That date is prior-cycle context rather than a target-cycle award deadline. Monitor the funding page for a new announcement and do not treat the prior deadline as a Spring or Fall 2027 application route.

Read More: USA scholarships for international students

Scholarship reality: The published MSI discount can reduce tuition only after institutional eligibility is confirmed. The general GSEHD pool has no target-cycle amount, so funding should not be assumed before admission.

GWU International Education Salary 2027

The latest programme outcome evidence says more than 80% of graduates secured full-time positions while in the programme or within six months of graduation.

The figure comes from the 2021 Alumni Survey and reports that most respondents worked in education. It does not publish salary, offer rate, employer counts or a current cohort breakdown.

Course-Level Employment Evidence

Outcome scope: These figures describe reported programme alumni outcomes, not a guaranteed placement rate or a salary result.

Source: George Washington University International Education programme career outlook and 2021 Alumni Survey statement.

The programme lists pathways such as study abroad coordination, international student advising, policy analysis, programme management, monitoring and evaluation, training and development and research.

Those pathways match the curriculum’s focus areas and capstone, but applicants should request current role and salary information before treating the 2021 survey as present-day evidence.

External US Job-Market Benchmarks

The following figures are external national medians from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, not GWU graduate outcomes.

They are useful for testing career direction because the programme names related occupations, but they cannot predict an individual offer or account for Washington, DC taxes.

Source: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2024 national medians.

The instructional coordinator benchmark is drawn from the official occupational profile, while the other figures use the same national source.

Return on Investment for Indian Applicants

The calculated 1.5-year cost baseline is US$97,800 (INR 93.47 Lakhs) before variable fees, so return on investment depends on funding, role access and work authorisation.

• The programme reports more than 80% full-time employment in the 2021 survey, so request newer role-level evidence before treating that result as current.
• The US$74,720 (INR 71.41 Lakhs) instructional coordinator median is gross national pay, so test taxes, housing and the target occupation before budgeting.
• The general scholarship amount is unpublished, so calculate the full US$97,800 (INR 93.47 Lakhs) baseline until written funding reduces it.
• The standard post-study work baseline is 12 months, so check the programme’s current field classification and employer sponsorship prospects before relying on a longer stay.
• United States salary medians do not establish India-return earnings, so compare the degree’s policy and international-development value with verified roles available in India.

Gross salary medians are not take-home pay because federal, state and local deductions vary by residence and filing status. Use a current tax calculator to test the net amount against the cost baseline.

ROI reality: The programme offers a reported employment signal but no salary outcome. The financial case depends on verified funding, a realistic 12-month work window and a specific target occupation.

United States Visa for GWU International Education Students 2027

International students normally need an F-1 (academic student) visa after receiving GW’s immigration document.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee is US$350 (INR 33,449), while the visa application fee is US$185 (INR 17,680).

The State Department permits entry up to 30 days before the programme start date. Applicants should verify current processing rules on the official student visa page before paying.

• The university’s pages differ on financial proof: GSEHD cites one academic year, while general guidance cites two years, so follow the visa-form request.
• Standard OPT (Optional Practical Training) provides up to 12 months, while a 24-month extension requires STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) designation that this programme does not identify.
• The H-1B (specialty-occupation work visa) route has no single course-specific salary threshold, because employers must satisfy the higher actual or prevailing wage.
• F-2 status may cover a spouse and unmarried minor children, while permanent residence has no fixed course-linked timeline and needs separate employer sponsorship.

Also Check: US student visa process for Indian students

Visa reality: The standard post-study work window is 12 months, so confirm the programme’s current classification and employer route before using post-study work to justify the cost.