Georgetown vs George Washington University (GWU)
Georgetown University and George Washington University, two prestigious institutions located in the heart of Washington, D.C., offer distinct educational experiences. Georgetown, a Jesuit university, boasts a lower acceptance rate (14.1%) compared to GW's (49.6%), indicating a more selective admissions process. While both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, Georgetown excels in international relations, political science, and business, while GW shines in engineering, computer science, and public health. Georgetown's student body is slightly smaller and more international, with 7,538 undergraduates representing over 130 countries, while GW's 10,906 undergraduates come from all 50 states and over 135 countries. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with Georgetown at 94% and GW at 89%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and
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![]() George Washington University |
![]() Georgetown University |
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Overview |
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Location | Washington, District of Columbia | Washington, District of Columbia |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 98.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 49.7% | 12.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$80
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$90
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SAT range | 1310 - 1490 | 1410 - 1550 |
ACT range | 30 - 34 | 32 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 29.0% | 64.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 18.0% | 38.0% |
Total number of applicants | 27,236 | 27,629 |
Total number of admissions given out | 13,539 | 3,311 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,571 | 1,585 |
Yield rate | 19.0% | 47.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $78,335 | $81,515 |
Average net price | $31,240 | $23,049 |
Tuition | $59,780 | $59,784 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$15,260
Meal plan:
$3,240
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Room/dormitory:
$11,802
Meal plan:
$7,120
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
74.0%
Average amount $31,678 |
42.0%
Average amount $36,711 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
30.0%
Average amount $5,150 |
20.0%
Average amount $3,246 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $25,366 |
3.0%
Average amount $34,459 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
11,502
Men 36.3% Women 63.7% |
7,598
Men 42.8% Women 57.2% |
Graduate students |
14,955
Men 38.1% Women 61.9% |
13,337
Men 45.7% Women 54.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 98.7% | 97.4% |
International students | 11.6% | 16.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 6,693 | 5,571 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York New Jersey Virginia California Pennsylvania | New York California Maryland New Jersey Virginia |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 83.7% | 95.2% |
Dropout rate | 16.1% | 4.4% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Systems Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Public Health (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Statistics (Master's Degrees)
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