Boston University
BOSTON, MA
Georgetown University
WASHINGTON, DC
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Boston University vs Georgetown - US university comparison

Boston University
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Boston, MA
World rank · ARWU#101-150
Acceptance12.83%
Median SAT1470
Graduation rate88.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K
Georgetown University
GEORGETOWN
Washington, DC
World rank · ARWU#501-600
Acceptance13.5%
Median SAT1480
Graduation rate94.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$103K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Boston University Georgetown University
#101-150 World rank · ARWU #501-600
#75 Rank · THE -
12.83% Acceptance rate 13.5%
1470 Median SAT 1480
88.7% Graduation rate 94.8%
36,977 Enrollment 19,905

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

12.83% Acceptance rate 13.5%
35% Yield rate 43.9%
1470 Median SAT 1480
3.86 Avg. GPA -
76,776 Number of applications 26,822
20.1% Int'l students 14.4%
$83K Median earnings · 10 yrs $103K
$57K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $67K
$122K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $168K
88.7% Graduation rate 94.8%
94.2% Retention rate 96.3%
$23,250 Median debt $15,500
$71,372 Tuition · year $74,732
$69,396 Avg. aid package $63,415
92% % of need met 100%
$36,774 Avg. graduate debt $33,272
$80 Application fee $75
$56,639 Avg. int'l aid $75,050
At a glance
Georgetown leads in 8 of 11 measured metrics
Debt$23,250 vs $15,500
Yield35% vs 43.9%
Earnings$83K vs $103K

The verdict, from the data

The more international environment is at Boston University (20.1% international students) than Georgetown (14.4%).

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Georgetown awards international students $75,050 on average, Boston University awards $56,639.

The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Georgetown: $103K against $83K.

The SAT profile is practically identical (1470 against 1480), so a test score will not tip the balance either way.

These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.

Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.

EXPERT TAKE

Boston University is the more selective of the two (12.83% vs 13.5% acceptance). Boston University ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #501-600). Georgetown graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($103K vs $83K). Boston University has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,372 vs $74,732 per year).

Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.

Choose Boston University for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, lower tuition.

Choose Georgetown for: higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Boston University is more selective (12.83% vs 13.5% acceptance); Georgetown has a higher median SAT (1480 vs 1470).

Graduate outcomes

Georgetown graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($103K vs $83K); Georgetown has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.8% vs 88.7%).

Cost and aid

Boston University has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,372 vs $74,732); Boston University offers a larger average aid package ($69,396 vs $63,415).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kBoston UniversityGeorgetown TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Boston University and Georgetown highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Boston University Georgetown
World rank · ARWU#101-150#501-600
Rank · THE#75-
Acceptance rate12.83%13.5%
Yield rate35%43.9%
Median SAT14701480
Avg. GPA3.86-
Number of applications76,77626,822
International students20.1%14.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K$103K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$57K$67K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$122K$168K
Graduation rate88.7%94.8%
Retention rate94.2%96.3%
Median debt$23,250$15,500
Tuition · year$71,372$74,732
Avg. aid package$69,396$63,415
% of need met92%100%
Avg. graduate debt$36,774$33,272
Application fee$80$75
Enrollment36,97719,905

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Boston University or Georgetown?

It's harder to get into Boston University. Boston University accepts 12.83% of applicants, while Georgetown accepts 13.5%.

Do Boston University or Georgetown graduates earn more?

Georgetown graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $103K vs $83K.

How much is tuition at Boston University vs Georgetown?

Sticker-price tuition is $71,372 per year at Boston University and $74,732 per year at Georgetown.

What SAT score do you need for Boston University or Georgetown?

The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Boston University and 1480 at Georgetown; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Boston University or Georgetown?

Boston University ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Boston University vs #501-600 for Georgetown.

Which university offers more financial aid - Boston University or Georgetown?

The average aid package is $69,396 at Boston University and $63,415 at Georgetown.

Compare Boston University with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts Institute of Technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns Hopkins Washington University Northwestern
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) - admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "-" = not yet in canonical.