Georgetown University
WASHINGTON, DC
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Georgetown vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - 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
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Champaign, Illinois
World rank · ARWU#55
Acceptance42.37%
Median SAT1470
Graduation rate85.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$81K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Georgetown University University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#501-600 World rank · ARWU #55
- Rank · THE #46
13.5% Acceptance rate 42.37%
1480 Median SAT 1470
94.8% Graduation rate 85.1%
19,905 Enrollment 59,238

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

13.5% Acceptance rate 42.37%
43.9% Yield rate 28.8%
1480 Median SAT 1470
- Avg. GPA -
26,822 Number of applications 73,742
14.4% Int'l students 14.9%
$103K Median earnings · 10 yrs $81K
$67K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $55K
$168K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
94.8% Graduation rate 85.1%
96.3% Retention rate 94.8%
$15,500 Median debt $19,500
$74,732 Tuition · year $38,400
$63,415 Avg. aid package $23,217
100% % of need met 0.8%
$33,272 Avg. graduate debt $22,395
$75 Application fee $50
$75,050 Avg. int'l aid $5,836
At a glance
Georgetown leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics
% of need100% vs 0.8%
Acceptance13.5% vs 42.37%
Aid$63,415 vs $23,217

The verdict, from the data

Georgetown admits 13.5% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits 42.4%.

Average aid for an international student is $75,050 (Georgetown) and $5,836 (Illinois Urbana-Champaign).

On paper the cheaper option is Illinois Urbana-Champaign: $38,400 against $74,732, which is $36,332 less a year.

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Georgetown: $103K against $81K.

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 42.37% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #55). Georgetown graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($103K vs $81K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 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, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.

Choose Illinois Urbana-Champaign for: a higher world ranking, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Georgetown is more selective (13.5% vs 42.37% acceptance); Georgetown has a higher median SAT (1480 vs 1470).

Graduate outcomes

Georgetown graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($103K vs $81K); Georgetown has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.8% vs 85.1%).

Cost and aid

Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $74,732); Georgetown offers a larger average aid package ($63,415 vs $23,217).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Georgetown Illinois Urbana-Champaign
World rank · ARWU#501-600#55
Rank · THE-#46
Acceptance rate13.5%42.37%
Yield rate43.9%28.8%
Median SAT14801470
Avg. GPA--
Number of applications26,82273,742
International students14.4%14.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$103K$81K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$67K$55K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$168K$117K
Graduation rate94.8%85.1%
Retention rate96.3%94.8%
Median debt$15,500$19,500
Tuition · year$74,732$38,400
Avg. aid package$63,415$23,217
% of need met100%0.8%
Avg. graduate debt$33,272$22,395
Application fee$75$50
Enrollment19,90559,238

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Georgetown or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

It's harder to get into Georgetown. Georgetown accepts 13.5% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.

Do Georgetown or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?

Georgetown graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $103K vs $81K.

How much is tuition at Georgetown vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Sticker-price tuition is $74,732 per year at Georgetown and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

What SAT score do you need for Georgetown or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

The median admitted SAT score is 1480 at Georgetown and 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Georgetown or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Georgetown vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Which university offers more financial aid - Georgetown or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

The average aid package is $63,415 at Georgetown and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Compare Georgetown with
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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.