Georgetown vs Boston College - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The data does not settle this one; the gaps on the axes that matter are too small to build anything on.
The share of international students differs sharply: 14.4% (Georgetown) against 6.6% (Boston College).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Georgetown awards international students $75,050 on average, Boston College awards $39,634.
Tuition is practically the same ($74,732 against $73,508), so financial aid, not the sticker price, will decide the cost.
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
Georgetown is the more selective of the two (13.5% vs 16.19% acceptance). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($103K vs $104K). Boston College has lower sticker-price tuition ($73,508 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 Georgetown for: higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.
Choose Boston College for: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Georgetown is more selective (13.5% vs 16.19% acceptance); Boston College has a higher median SAT (1500 vs 1480).
Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $103K); Georgetown has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.8% vs 90.8%).
Boston College has lower sticker-price tuition ($73,508 vs $74,732); Georgetown offers a larger average aid package ($63,415 vs $61,753).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Georgetown | Boston College |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 13.5% | 16.19% |
| Yield rate | 43.9% | 42.5% |
| Median SAT | 1480 | 1500 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 26,822 | 34,779 |
| International students | 14.4% | 6.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $103K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $67K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $168K | $162K |
| Graduation rate | 94.8% | 90.8% |
| Retention rate | 96.3% | 96% |
| Median debt | $15,500 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $74,732 | $73,508 |
| Avg. aid package | $63,415 | $61,753 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $33,272 | $24,892 |
| Application fee | $75 | - |
| Enrollment | 19,905 | 14,726 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Georgetown or Boston College?
It's harder to get into Georgetown. Georgetown accepts 13.5% of applicants, while Boston College accepts 16.19%.
Do Georgetown or Boston College graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $103K at Georgetown and $104K at Boston College.
How much is tuition at Georgetown vs Boston College?
Sticker-price tuition is $74,732 per year at Georgetown and $73,508 per year at Boston College.
What SAT score do you need for Georgetown or Boston College?
The median admitted SAT score is 1480 at Georgetown and 1500 at Boston College; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university offers more financial aid - Georgetown or Boston College?
The average aid package is $63,415 at Georgetown and $61,753 at Boston College.
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