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Georgetown University

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95%
Graduation Rate
$103,494
Earnings (10yr)
$40,815
Net Price
13%
Acceptance Rate
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Why Georgetown University Matters

Georgetown University is a private research university in Washington, DC ranked #164 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity, a top-tier research enterprise, and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 1% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Research University
Carnegie Class
R1 · Very High Research
Enrollment
7,569
Setting
Urban
Designations
30
Primary Strengths
Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Legal Studies, Biology & Biomedical

Why students choose Georgetown University

Top-tier research university
R1 — undergraduates work alongside leading researchers
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Highly selective peer group
Surrounded by exceptionally high-achieving students
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 1% of colleges

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B-
Top 29% overall
A+
Earnings
$103,494 median
C
Value
2.5× net price
F
Affordability
$40,815/yr net
A+
Graduation
95% graduate
B-
Social Mobility
1.9% climb Q1→Q5
A+
Selectivity
13% admit rate
A-
Diversity
0.74 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Georgetown University has a remarkable graduation rate of 95%, signaling strong student retention and success. This high rate indicates a supportive academic environment where most students complete their degrees on time, an essential factor for those considering their future careers.

According to Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, specific mobility metrics are not available for Georgetown. However, the university's strong academic reputation suggests that graduates may have favorable outcomes in terms of career advancement and income, contributing positively to social mobility over time.

The net price of attendance at Georgetown is $40,815, with a median debt of $15,500 upon graduation. Graduates can expect to earn an average of $103,494 within ten years of completing their degree. Students who thrive here often pursue careers in social sciences, business, law, or health professions, benefiting from the university's strategic location in Washington, DC, which offers ample internship and job opportunities.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective Georgetown University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Georgetown University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Washington, District of Columbia, Georgetown University keeps a competitive admissions bar, accepting about 13% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,487. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 95%.

Acceptance Rate 13%
Retention Rate 97%
SAT Average 1487
ACT Midpoint 34
SAT Range 1390–1550
ACT Range 31–35
Full-Time Faculty 48%
Faculty Salary (mo) $18,098
Student–Faculty Ratio 11:1
Diversity Index 0.74
First-Gen Students 16%
Applicants 26,638
Admitted 3,257
2

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Georgetown University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending Georgetown University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $68,017 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $40,815 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,064 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $15,500.

$68,017
In-State Tuition
$68,017
Out-of-State
$40,815
Avg Net Price
$15,500
Median Debt
10%
Pell Grant Rate
18%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$5,064
Family Income $0–$30K
$12,155
Family Income $30K–$48K
$18,329
Family Income $48K–$75K
$57,403
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Georgetown University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Georgetown University earn a median of $103,494 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.

$83,222
6 Years After Entry
$88,766
8 Years
$103,494
10 Years
0.15x
Debt-to-Earnings
87%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$83,222 6yr $88,766 8yr $103,494 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

90%
100% (1,423)
90%
100% (1,423)
90%
100% (1,423)
90%
100% (1,423)

Where Grads Go

Georgetown University is a top feeder for:

Rank among programs feeding each employer.

Top employers of Georgetown University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.

How Georgetown Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation95%Earnings 10yr$103KNet Price$41KRetention97%Median Debt$16KPell Grant Rate10%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$5K$0-30K$12K$30-48K$18K$48-75K$57K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%3.2%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%61.0%MOBILITY1.95%

College ROI Calculator

Is Georgetown University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Georgetown University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $40,815/year ($163,260 total). Graduates earn $103,494 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,732,869 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,569,609 (16.7× your investment). The median debt is $15,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 95% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

$163,260
Total Cost (4yr)
$2,732,869
Projected 20yr Earnings
$2,569,609
Net Return
16.7×
ROI Multiple
$40,815
Cost Per Year
$15,500
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
95%
Graduation Rate
4

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Georgetown University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Georgetown University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.95%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower — only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 61% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $195,100, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

1.95%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
61.0%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
3.2%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$195,100
Parent Median Income

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Georgetown University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Georgetown University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.88 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.88
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
0.00
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
10.3%
Volunteering Rate
1.00
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Research & Teaching

Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings

How Research-Intensive Is Georgetown University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations

On the global stage, Times Higher Education places Georgetown University at #164 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 45/100, teaching at 65/100, and citation impact of 45/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.

#164
World Rank
65.1
Teaching
44.7
Research
45
Citations
24.7
International

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

45/100
Research Score
Times Higher Ed
45/100
Academic Influence
Citation impact (THE)

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
Total Expenses
Federal Grants
$-106,954,000
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Georgetown University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Georgetown University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

As a private institution in Washington, District of Columbia, Georgetown University keeps a competitive admissions bar, accepting about 13% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,487. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 95%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Georgetown University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Georgetown University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $68,017 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $40,815 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,064 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $15,500.

Is Georgetown University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Georgetown University earn a median of $103,494 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.

Does Georgetown University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +

Georgetown University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.95%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower — only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 61% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $195,100, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Georgetown University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Georgetown University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.88 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

How Research-Intensive Is Georgetown University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations +

On the global stage, Times Higher Education places Georgetown University at #164 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 45/100, teaching at 65/100, and citation impact of 45/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.

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