Where does GW outspend competitors? Not in academics or research, but student services

Media Credit: Samuel Klein | Photo Editor

The University spent about $4,200 per student in 2012 on services that included the nearly 200,000 square foot Lerner Health and Wellness.

Walk through Colonial Crossroads on the Marvin Center's fifth floor and youll pass dozens of cubicles belonging to the staff of GWs residential life office, career center and community service programs.

Across the street in Rice Hall, youll see a half-dozen offices for the dean of students staff, and a few blocks over, you'll find a two-story multicultural center, a freshly updated international student office and a pristine gym. Soon, brand-new health and counseling centers will move to H Street after a multimillion dollar renovation.

Its easy to notice GWs big spending on student programming and services, though administrators have remained tight-lipped about most costs. But recent data from the Department of Education reveals a glimpse of GWs overall spending on student life, which increased about 40 percent between 2006 and 2012.

The University spent about $4,200 per student on services that included 4-Ride, Lerner Health and Wellness and Student Health Service in 2012, the latest data available.

Thats about $900 more than the average per-student spending at GWs 14 peer universities. Its the only category for which GW outspent those institutions, which include Northwestern, New York and Vanderbilt universities.

GW's spending on other areas like instruction, research and academic support have also seen double-digit increases over the last six years, but competitor schools still put much more money into those areas. For example, while GW spends $18,577 per student on instruction, its peers averaged $28,488 per student.

Dean of Student Affairs Peter Konwerski said the University has invested heavily to enrich students campus experiences, which is now an expectation for nearly all prospective students. He said the biggest cost is staff pay, which has become crucial to give students more personal attention and employ people experienced in higher education.

Students and parents are consumers and they're looking at the best value of their education, Konwerski said. We want to have a really compelling opportunity for students to come find their place, get support, be successful."

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Where does GW outspend competitors? Not in academics or research, but student services