Georgetown vs Northeastern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Northeastern: 5.2% against 13.5% (Georgetown).
Real money goes to international students at Georgetown ($75,050 on average), while Northeastern stops at $24,539.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Georgetown starts at $97,736 against $92,337 and ends at $34,321 against $45,782 (Northeastern).
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Georgetown: $103K against $93K.
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
Northeastern is the more selective of the two (5.2% vs 13.5% acceptance). Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #201-300). Georgetown graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($103K vs $93K). Northeastern has lower sticker-price tuition ($69,289 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, a larger aid package.
Choose Northeastern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher retention.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northeastern is more selective (5.2% vs 13.5% acceptance); Northeastern has a higher median SAT (1490 vs 1480).
Georgetown graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($103K vs $93K); Georgetown has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.8% vs 90.5%).
Northeastern has lower sticker-price tuition ($69,289 vs $74,732); Georgetown offers a larger average aid package ($63,415 vs $46,555).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Georgetown | Northeastern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 13.5% | 5.2% |
| Yield rate | 43.9% | 53.8% |
| Median SAT | 1480 | 1490 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 26,822 | 98,425 |
| International students | 14.4% | 13.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $103K | $93K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $67K | $62K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $168K | $135K |
| Graduation rate | 94.8% | 90.5% |
| Retention rate | 96.3% | 96.9% |
| Median debt | $15,500 | $24,250 |
| Tuition · year | $74,732 | $69,289 |
| Avg. aid package | $63,415 | $46,555 |
| % of need met | 100% | 86.7% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $33,272 | $32,461 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 19,905 | 39,774 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Georgetown or Northeastern?
It's harder to get into Northeastern. Georgetown accepts 13.5% of applicants, while Northeastern accepts 5.2%.
Do Georgetown or Northeastern graduates earn more?
Georgetown graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $103K vs $93K.
How much is tuition at Georgetown vs Northeastern?
Sticker-price tuition is $74,732 per year at Georgetown and $69,289 per year at Northeastern.
What SAT score do you need for Georgetown or Northeastern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1480 at Georgetown and 1490 at Northeastern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Georgetown or Northeastern?
Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Georgetown vs #201-300 for Northeastern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Georgetown or Northeastern?
The average aid package is $63,415 at Georgetown and $46,555 at Northeastern.
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