Information for Prospective Students

Please complete the Preliminary Application Form today. We will send you an Information Packet and Application Form and will put you on our e-mail list for notifications of information sessions, invitations to visit with our current cohorts, and deadline dates. For directions to the GW Virginia Campus, see Location and Map on the GWU Virginia Campus main page.  GWU's Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD) confers the degree for all Higher Education Administration programs; therefore, students applying to the accelerated doctoral program at the Virginia Campus must satisfy all program eligibility requirements for admission as set forth by GSEHD. 

1. APPLICATION

  • Application Form
  • Application Fee
    • When applying online, you may pay by credit card
  • Statement of Purpose
    • As a doctoral candidate you are expected to write a comprehensive essay (750 to 1200 words), stating your purpose in undertaking graduate study at The George Washington University
    • As part of your Statement of Purpose, in addition to describing your academic objectives and career plans, you should clearly indicate your intended primary and supporting fields of study and describe your research area
    • Also discuss your related qualifications, including collegiate, professional and community activities and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application form
  • Official Test Scores – either GRE or MAT
    • GRE (Graduate Record Exam) - score reporting code 7973
    • MAT ( Millers Analogy Test) - score reporting code 2343
    • Scores which are more than 5 years old will not be accepted for review
    • The standardized test is waived for applicants pursuing a second doctoral degree
  • Official Transcripts - 2 copies
    • These are required from all institutions of post-secondary education you have attended, whether or not a degree was obtained
  • Current Resume – 2 copies
  • Two Letters of Recommendation

Send All Application Materials to:
Higher Education Administration Doctoral Program
The George Washington University
44983 Knoll Square, Suite 390
Ashburn, VA 20147


2. FINANCIAL AID
Information on Financial Aid.


3. VETERANS ADMINISTRATION (VA) BENEFITS
Information on Education Benefits through the VA.


Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

  • The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test measures verbal, quantitative, and analytical skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study. The test consists of three scored sections: Verbal (30-minute section, 30 questions); Quantitative (45-minute section, 28 questions); and Analytical Writing (45 minutes, Issue task & 30 minutes, Argument task).
  • For test dates, fees, test center locations, online registration for the GRE, and information on test preparation, visit the GRE web site.

Miller Analogies Test

  • The Miller Analogies Test (MAT) is a high-level mental ability test requiring the solution of problems in the form of analogies. The examination consists of 100 partial analogies that are to be completed in 50 minutes. The MAT tests students' ability to reason out relationships in the areas of literature, philosophy, the English language, history, science, mathematics, and fine arts.
  • There are a number of test preparation books available at most bookstores or from online booksellers such as ecampus.com or amazon.com
  • The MAT is administered at a number of area universities.  However, unlike the GRE, there is no central registration site that lists test centers.  For a partial listing of testing sites in the following states, please click on a link below. If you are searching for additional locations in your state, you can view a list at Harcourt Assessment


MAT Test Locations in Nearby Surrounding Areas: