Georgetown vs Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Georgetown: 13.5% against 16.8% (Virginia).
The share of international students differs sharply: 14.4% (Georgetown) against 4.9% (Virginia).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Georgetown reports aid for international students ($75,050 on average), Virginia does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Georgetown starts at $97,736 against $80,859 and ends at $34,321 against $43,736 (Virginia).
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 16.81% acceptance). Virginia 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 $87K). Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 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 larger aid package.
Choose Virginia for: a higher world ranking, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Georgetown is more selective (13.5% vs 16.81% acceptance); Georgetown has a higher median SAT (1480 vs 1470).
Georgetown graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($103K vs $87K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 94.8%).
Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 vs $74,732); Georgetown offers a larger average aid package ($63,415 vs $37,123).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Georgetown | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 13.5% | 16.81% |
| Yield rate | 43.9% | 40% |
| Median SAT | 1480 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 26,822 | 58,951 |
| International students | 14.4% | 4.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $103K | $87K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $67K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $168K | $130K |
| Graduation rate | 94.8% | 95.6% |
| Retention rate | 96.3% | 97.9% |
| Median debt | $15,500 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $74,732 | $62,923 |
| Avg. aid package | $63,415 | $37,123 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $33,272 | $25,137 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 19,905 | 26,470 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Georgetown or Virginia?
It's harder to get into Georgetown. Georgetown accepts 13.5% of applicants, while Virginia accepts 16.81%.
Do Georgetown or Virginia graduates earn more?
Georgetown graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $103K vs $87K.
How much is tuition at Georgetown vs Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $74,732 per year at Georgetown and $62,923 per year at Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Georgetown or Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1480 at Georgetown and 1470 at Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Georgetown or Virginia?
Virginia ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Georgetown vs #201-300 for Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Georgetown or Virginia?
The average aid package is $63,415 at Georgetown and $37,123 at Virginia.
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