Let $n$ be a positive integer and let $X\_n$ be an $n\times n$ random matrix whose entries are iid standard gaussian random variables. I am interested in the distribution of the average singular value of $\frac1{\sqrt{n}}X\_n$.


Let $\alpha\_n$ be the expected value of the average of the singular values of $\frac1{\sqrt{n}}X\_n$. $\alpha\_1$ is easy to compute and is equal to $\sqrt{\frac2\pi}$. It is also easy to understand the $n\to\infty$ limit of this distribution because $W\_n = \frac1n X\_nX\_n^T$ is a Wishart Matrix whose eigenvalues will follow, in the limit, the Marchenko-Pastur distribution. Howerever, I am interested in finite $n$ results.


Computer Simulations suggest that $\alpha\_n$ increases with $n$. I suspect this might be a known fact that I can't seem to find in the literature, I would really appreciate if someone could point me to the right reference!



Non-asymptotic results for bulk of random Wishart matrix
You ask for the average of the singular values of the Wishart matrix. I'm pretty sure there is no closed form expression valid for any $n$. If instead you would ask for the average of *the square* of the singular value, then the answer is very simple, this is just unity independent of $n$.


More generally, if $X\_{n}$ has dimension $p\times n$, with $p\leq n$, and $w\_k$ is an eigenvalue of $W\_n=n^{-1}X\_nX\_n^T$, then 


$$E\left(p^{-1}\sum\_{k=1}^{p}w\_k\right)=1,$$


regardless of the value of $p$ or $n$.
This follows directly from equation 17.8.2 in Mehta's book on [Random-Matrix Theory,](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0120884097) 
applied to the Wishart-Laguerre probability distribution of the $w\_k$'s. 


Similar closed form expressions exist for the integer moments $E(p^{-1}\sum\_k w\_k^m)$, see this [paper](http://arxiv.org/abs/1103.2638) by Livan and Vivo. The singular values are a fractional moment ($m=1/2$). In principle these are given by an integral over Laguerre polynomials, but I do not think this integral can be carried out in closed form.


