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

Georgetown vs Boston University - US university comparison

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

KEY DATA

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

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

13.5% Acceptance rate 12.83%
43.9% Yield rate 35%
1480 Median SAT 1470
- Avg. GPA 3.86
26,822 Number of applications 76,776
14.4% Int'l students 20.1%
$103K Median earnings · 10 yrs $83K
$67K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $57K
$168K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $122K
94.8% Graduation rate 88.7%
96.3% Retention rate 94.2%
$15,500 Median debt $23,250
$74,732 Tuition · year $71,372
$63,415 Avg. aid package $69,396
100% % of need met 92%
$33,272 Avg. graduate debt $36,774
$75 Application fee $80
$75,050 Avg. int'l aid $56,639
At a glance
Georgetown leads in 8 of 11 measured metrics
Debt$15,500 vs $23,250
Yield43.9% vs 35%
Earnings$103K vs $83K

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 (1480 against 1470), 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 (#501-600 vs #101-150). 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 Georgetown for: higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.

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

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$83kGeorgetownBoston University TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Georgetown and Boston University highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Georgetown Boston University
World rank · ARWU#501-600#101-150
Rank · THE-#75
Acceptance rate13.5%12.83%
Yield rate43.9%35%
Median SAT14801470
Avg. GPA-3.86
Number of applications26,82276,776
International students14.4%20.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$103K$83K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$67K$57K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$168K$122K
Graduation rate94.8%88.7%
Retention rate96.3%94.2%
Median debt$15,500$23,250
Tuition · year$74,732$71,372
Avg. aid package$63,415$69,396
% of need met100%92%
Avg. graduate debt$33,272$36,774
Application fee$75$80
Enrollment19,90536,977

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Georgetown or Boston University?

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

Do Georgetown or Boston University graduates earn more?

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

How much is tuition at Georgetown vs Boston University?

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

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

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

Which university ranks higher - Georgetown or Boston University?

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

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

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

Compare Georgetown 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.