Georgetown University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Washington, District of Columbia · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2025-2026
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Georgetown University is a private nonprofit university in Washington, District of Columbia that admits about 13% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $40,815 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Political Science and Government, International Relations and National Security Studies and Finance and Financial Management Services, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 94% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 7.4 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Georgetown University is a private institution located in Washington, District of Columbia and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Georgetown University admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 13%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1480 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $40,815 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about Georgetown University right now
Georgetown University is a Jesuit Catholic research university in Washington, D.C., enrolling 20,031 students as of fall 2024, with 7,833 undergraduates. For the Class of 2029, Georgetown admitted roughly 12 percent of 26,800 applicants, with about 11.1 percent admitted Early Action and 12.3 percent in Regular Decision. Selectivity varies meaningfully by school: the McDonough School of Business admitted only 9.1 percent, while the College of Arts and Sciences admitted about 10.9 percent and the School of Health admitted about 15 percent. Georgetown is need-blind for domestic applicants and meets 100 percent of demonstrated need, with over 55 percent of undergraduates receiving aid and roughly 70 percent of aid distributed as grants and scholarships. Distinctive programs include the Walsh School of Foreign Service, one of the country's leading international affairs programs, and a unique application that requires students to apply directly to one of four undergraduate schools rather than a single college. In January 2025, Georgetown launched Georgetown SFS Asia-Pacific in Jakarta, Indonesia, expanding its global footprint for both degree and executive programs. Families should note the religiously diverse student body, where about 41 percent of undergraduates identify as Catholic, and the university's $3.95 billion endowment as of 2025. Georgetown does not accept the Common Application; students apply through Georgetown's own platform with a separate timeline.
What GPA does my child need for Georgetown University?
Most admitted students at Georgetown University present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What does Georgetown University weight in admissions?
Georgetown University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
SAT and ACT scores Georgetown University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 690–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 735. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1405 |
| 50th percentile | 1480 |
| 75th percentile | 1530 |
| % submitting SAT | 78% |
| 25th percentile | 32 |
| 50th percentile | 34 |
| 75th percentile | 35 |
| % submitting ACT | 32% |
- • Tests required: Standardized test scores are part of the standard application package.
- • Policy detail: Required
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 87% |
| Top 25% of class | 97% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| % submitting class rank | 49% |
How much does Georgetown University actually cost?
Published tuition is $68,017 for in-state students and $68,017 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $20,596 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $40,815 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 10% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | $23,004 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $40,815 |
| Application fee | $75 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Georgetown University
| Regular deadline | 1/10 |
| Notification date | 4/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes (Restrictive) |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Georgetown University?
These predict outcomes at Georgetown University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Georgetown University
The most popular undergraduate programs at Georgetown University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Political Science and Government, International Relations and National Security Studies and Finance and Financial Management Services. Across all programs, Georgetown University confers roughly 1,306 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Political Science and Government program report a median income of about $86,431 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government | 270 | $86,431 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 268 | $80,731 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 214 | $152,931 |
| Economics | 181 | — |
| Psychology, General | 106 | $70,574 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 104 | — |
| Science, Technology and Society | 84 | $115,200 |
| International Business | 79 | $114,222 |
Is Georgetown University safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Georgetown University disclosed 56 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 7.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 1 violent offenses and 20 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Georgetown University?
About 68% of undergraduates at Georgetown University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
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Next steps for Georgetown University
Common questions parents ask about Georgetown University
What GPA do I need for Georgetown University?
Most admitted students at Georgetown University present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What SAT or ACT score does Georgetown University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 690–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 735. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–35.
How much does Georgetown University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Georgetown University after grants and scholarships is $40,815 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $68,017. Budget against the net figure.
Is Georgetown University realistic for my child?
Georgetown University admits 13% of applicants, so 690–780 SAT Math is target range and below 690 is a reach. Then check the $40,815 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Georgetown University?
Georgetown University accepts about 13% of applicants out of roughly 26,822 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is Georgetown University test-optional?
No. Georgetown University requires SAT or ACT scores as part of a standard application.
What is the graduation rate at Georgetown University?
About 94% of students at Georgetown University graduate within six years. 96% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Georgetown University look for in applicants?
Georgetown University rates course rigor, GPA, talent and ability and character and personal qualities as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Georgetown University a public or private school, and where is it located?
Georgetown University is a private nonprofit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia.
What are the most popular majors at Georgetown University?
The largest undergraduate majors at Georgetown University by annual graduates are Political Science and Government, International Relations and National Security Studies and Finance and Financial Management Services. The school awards about 1,306 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Georgetown University safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Georgetown University reported 56 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 7.4 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Georgetown University?
At Georgetown University, 68% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Georgetown University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers