Georgetown University
Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C., is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher learning in the United States, founded in 1789.
Blending a strong liberal arts tradition with a commitment to social justice and global engagement, Georgetown offers a dynamic academic experience across its renowned schools, including the Walsh School of Foreign Service, McDonough School of Business, and Georgetown College.
The university’s prime location in the nation’s capital provides students with unparalleled access to internships, policy institutions, and international organizations. With a diverse and intellectually curious student body, a deep-rooted sense of service, and a strong emphasis on ethical leadership, Georgetown cultivates graduates prepared to shape the world across public service, law, business, medicine, and more.
Its historic campus, spirited traditions, and Jesuit values foster a close-knit, purpose-driven community in the heart of a global city.
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Alumni Nickname: The Hoyas
- Mascot: Jack the Bulldog
2025 Rankings
by U.S. News & World Report
by QS World University Rankings
by Times Higher Education
Undergraduate Admissions Process Summary
Application Deadlines
Early Decision: November 1
Regular Decision: January 10
Application Portal
Georgetown application
QuestBridge Application
Standardized Tests
SAT or ACT
Recommendation Letters
Teacher’s Recommendation 1 Required
Counselor -1 Required
On Campus Residence for Freshmen
Required
International Students
English Proficiency
TOEFL: minimum score 100
IELTS: minimum score 7.0
Interview
Strongly Encouraged
University Specific Requests
None
Application Fee
$75
-
Finance and Business Administration 16%
-
International Relations 13%
-
Government and Political Science 11%
-
General, Biological, and Biomedical Sciences 9%
-
Economics 7%
-
Liberal Arts 5%
Popular
Majors
12%
Acceptance Rate
26,800 applications to the undergraduate Class of 2029
3,200 undergraduate students admitted
50% of the Class of 2028 received need-based scholarship or grant aid
$3.7 billion endowment
2,807 of Faculty Members
134 nations represented
64% of all undergraduate classes have fewer than 20 students
Total Students
-
White 43%
-
Asian American 26%
-
Hispanic 12%
-
Black 9%
-
Native American 1%
-
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 1%
-
International 8%
Campus
Georgetown University has four campuses in Washington, D.C.: the main undergraduate campus in the Georgetown neighborhood, the Medical Center, the Law Center located on Capitol Hill, and the School of Continuing Studies in Chinatown.
The main campus, built on a rise above the Potomac River, spans 104 acres and includes fifty-four buildings, student residences, and athletic facilities. It is known for its collegiate Gothic and Georgian architecture, with landmarks like Healy Hall, a National Historic Landmark.
The campus is home to a variety of green spaces and buildings designed with sustainability in mind. The Law Center campus, situated near Union Station, houses several buildings, including the Gewirz Student Center, and serves as the home of Georgetown’s law school.
The School of Continuing Studies, located in downtown D.C. in a modern building, offers graduate programs in various fields. Georgetown also has international campuses in Qatar, Indonesia, and Italy, with various villas and study centers across the globe.
Cost of Attendance
-
Tuition $68,016
-
Housing $13,236–$14,324
-
Food $6,460–$7,360
-
Books and Supplies $1,000
-
Transportation $780–$1,600
-
Personal Expenses $2,132–$2,322
-
Loan Fees $40
-
Total $80,149 - $94,212
At Georgetown, 14% of undergraduates qualified for the Pell Grant
Notable Affiliations
Georgetown University has produced numerous influential alumni, including Bill Clinton, the 42nd U.S. President and a 1968 graduate of the School of Foreign Service. Prominent figures in U.S. government include former Secretary of State Alexander Haig, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and former CIA Director George Tenet, as well as Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Edward Douglass White.
Additionally, Georgetown alumni have played key roles in historic events, such as Jan Karski, a World War II resistance fighter who exposed the Holocaust, and Edmund A. Walsh, a Jesuit diplomat involved in the Nuremberg trials.
The university has also produced U.S. Congress leaders like Hakeem Jeffries and Dick Durbin, and alumni who have served as state governors, including Terry McAuliffe and Pat Quinn.
In the military, Georgetown’s Army ROTC program has produced many top officers, including General Joseph Dunford.
The university has educated twelve foreign heads of state, such as King Felipe VI of Spain and President Iván Duque of Colombia. In business, notable alumni include billionaires like Frank McCourt and Ted Leonsis, along with influential figures like Mary Callahan Erdoes and Ann Sarnoff.
Georgetown alumni in journalism have won prestigious awards like the Pulitzer Prize, while those in the arts include Oscar nominees Bradley Cooper and Jonathan Nolan, and Tony Award winners John Guare and Jack Hofsiss.
Georgetown is located in the historic Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., overlooking the Potomac River and just minutes from the heart of the U.S. government.
Georgetown is especially known for its Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown Law, McDonough School of Business, and strong programs in political science, international relations, and public policy.
Yes, Georgetown is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the U.S., but it welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds. Its Jesuit values emphasize ethics, service, and education for the whole person.
Georgetown has a student-to-faculty ratio of about 11:1, allowing for small class sizes and close ieraction between students and professors.
Yes, Georgetown offers over 100 study abroad programs in more than 40 countries, often tied to global policy, language study, or international internships—reflecting its commitment to global education.
Yes—kind of! Georgetown has a network of old maintenance tunnels beneath campus. Though mostly off-limits today, these tunnels have inspired decades of myths, including tales of escape routes and ghost stories.
Not usually—those steep, narrow steps made famous by The Exorcist movie are more likely to be climbed than slid down. But they are a rite of passage for selfies, spooky tours, and Halloween photo ops.
It’s a long-running prank tradition! Stealing the hands from the iconic Healy Hall clock tower has been a notorious (and difficult) stunt pulled off by clever students for decades. The university doesn’t encourage it—but the stories live on.
While you can’t officially major in happiness, Georgetown does offer courses in positive psychology, ethics, and philosophy that explore well-being, meaning, and purpose—very Jesuit, very Georgetown.