Georgetown vs. BU

Deciding between Georgetown University and Boston 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.

Georgetown University
Boston University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Georgetown Washington, DC
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Georgetown Large City
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Georgetown 20,031
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • Georgetown Private 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Georgetown #29
  • BU #73
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Georgetown Roman Catholic
  • BU -
  • Status
  • Georgetown Non-profit
  • BU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Georgetown
  • BU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Georgetown $68,017
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Georgetown $68,017
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & Board
  • Georgetown $20,596
  • BU $19,020
  • Average Net Price
  • Georgetown $39,083
  • BU $24,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Georgetown $49,658
  • BU $61,848
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Georgetown 33%
  • BU 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Georgetown 26,131
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • Georgetown 3,374
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Georgetown 12.9%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Georgetown 46.7%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Georgetown 1470
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Georgetown 33
  • BU 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Georgetown 3.89
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Georgetown A
  • BU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Georgetown Elite
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Georgetown Very High
  • BU Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Georgetown 31/35
  • BU 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Georgetown 1390/1550
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Georgetown Required
  • BU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Georgetown
  • BU Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Georgetown 11:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Georgetown
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Business (26%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Georgetown 94%
  • BU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Georgetown $118,900
  • BU $72,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Georgetown 87%
  • BU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Georgetown $15,500
  • BU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Georgetown $160
  • BU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Georgetown 44%
  • BU 42%
  • % Women
  • Georgetown 56%
  • BU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Georgetown High
  • BU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Georgetown No
  • BU No
  • % White
  • Georgetown 58%
  • BU 43%
  • % Asian
  • Georgetown 10%
  • BU 14%
  • % Black
  • Georgetown 6%
  • BU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Georgetown 8%
  • BU 11%
  • % Native American
  • Georgetown 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Georgetown 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Georgetown 5%
  • BU 4%
  • % International
  • Georgetown 12%
  • BU 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Georgetown 2%
  • BU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Georgetown 2%
  • BU 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Georgetown 87%
  • BU 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Georgetown based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 20,031 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Georgetown vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Georgetown or BU? 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 Boston University than Georgetown ($24,420 vs. $39,083).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 7.7% lower than at Georgetown University ($19,020 vs. $20,596).
  • Boston University is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Georgetown (about $85 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $68,017.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at BU than at Georgetown University (about $85 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $68,017.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Boston University than at Georgetown University (49% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 24.5% larger than aid received by Georgetown University students ($61,848 vs. $49,658).

Georgetown vs. BU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Georgetown or BU? 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 BU and Georgetown.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 10 points higher than at Georgetown (1470).
  • Incoming Georgetown students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 33) as students at BU (33).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Georgetown University 1390/1550; Boston University 1420/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Georgetown University 31/35; Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Georgetown - Required; BU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Georgetown students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at BU (3.79).
  • Georgetown has a higher acceptance rate (12.9%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.7% at Georgetown vs. 37.4% at BU.

Georgetown vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Georgetown and BU? 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 Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Georgetown University earn a median of about $46,900 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,900 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Georgetown University graduates have a $11,500 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($15,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Georgetown graduates have an estimated $119 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($160 vs. $279).
  • More Georgetown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

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.