<p>In terms of academic reputation and prestige, there is no question that in DC, Georgetown rules, followed by GW, and then AU. In terms of AU vs. GW, they are comparable in terms of academic strength and student body quality but different in terms of campus atmosphere. AU has a dedicated, traditional college campus located in a nice residential area of the city. GW does not (I don’t count the Mt. Vernon Campus, as most at GW do not spend significant time there)–it is completed mixed into downtown DC, much like NYU, and you would have difficulty distinguishing GW from the office buildings, apartments/condo buildings in Foggy Bottom if it weren’t for the GW banners. Neither school has much traditional school spirit, and both student bodies are fairly cosmopolitan. For years many people have described GW as standing for “Georgetown Waitlist,” and until recently, AU had the reputation as being a school for people who did not get in to GW or Georgetown. AU is catching up to GW, and many students will choose between the two simply based on their campus preference.</p>