<p>AU is not similar to either GW or Georgetown, and if they weren’t in the same town, they wouldn’t be compared. GW has a student body about twice that of AU, but more than half the students are in the liberal arts (many in the sciences), and, together with the engineering school, the two make up about two-thirds of the student body. They have only about half the number of international relations students as AU (with many fewer course offerings and options), and much lower-ranked undergraduate business program. AU also has far more IR students than Georgetown. Put SIS, the Business School, School of Communication, and School of Public Afffairs together, and you’ve got about 2/3rds of AU undergrads.</p>
<p>The respective wealth of the student bodies varies widely as well - 69% of AU’s student body receives financial aid, 42% of GW’s (according to the last Common Data Set I can find), and 38% of Georgetown’s.</p>
<p>They are just very different places. What they share in common is DC (and hence students’ love of politics.)</p>