AU vs. Georgetown

Deciding between American University and Georgetown University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
Georgetown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Georgetown Washington, DC
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Georgetown Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Georgetown 20,031
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Georgetown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Georgetown #29
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Georgetown Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Georgetown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Georgetown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Georgetown $68,017
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Georgetown $68,017
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Georgetown $20,596
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Georgetown $39,083
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Georgetown $49,658
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Georgetown 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Georgetown 26,131
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Georgetown 3,374
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Georgetown 12.9%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Georgetown 46.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Georgetown 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Georgetown 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Georgetown 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Georgetown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Georgetown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Georgetown Very High
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Georgetown 31/35
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Georgetown 1390/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Georgetown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Georgetown

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Georgetown 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Georgetown
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Business (26%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Georgetown 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Georgetown $118,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Georgetown 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Georgetown $15,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Georgetown $160

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Georgetown 44%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Georgetown 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Georgetown High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Georgetown No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Georgetown 58%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Georgetown 10%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Georgetown 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Georgetown 8%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Georgetown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Georgetown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Georgetown 5%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Georgetown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Georgetown 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Georgetown 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Georgetown 87%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • Georgetown Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • Georgetown Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • Georgetown Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • Georgetown No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • Georgetown No

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Georgetown University in Washington, DC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Georgetown University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (20,031 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Georgetown University is in Washington, DC (Large City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Georgetown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Georgetown University 11:1.

AU vs. Georgetown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Georgetown? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Georgetown University than AU ($39,083 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 12.7% lower than at Georgetown University ($17,982 vs. $20,596).
  • Georgetown University is 15.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $9,246 more per year; $68,017.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.7% higher at Georgetown than at American University (about $9,246 more per year; $68,017.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at Georgetown University (67% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Georgetown University students is 36.6% larger than aid received by American University students ($49,658 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. Georgetown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Georgetown? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Georgetown and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Georgetown University (1470) is 100 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming Georgetown students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Georgetown University 1390/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Georgetown University 31/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Georgetown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Georgetown students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Georgetown (12.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 46.7% at Georgetown.

AU vs. Georgetown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Georgetown? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Georgetown University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Georgetown University earn a median of about $54,100 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,900 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Georgetown University graduates have a $8,750 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($15,500 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Georgetown graduates have an estimated $90 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($160 vs. $250).
  • More Georgetown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.