Georgetown vs. Harvard

Deciding between Georgetown University and Harvard 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
Harvard University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Georgetown Washington, DC
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Georgetown Large City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Georgetown 20,031
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Georgetown Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Georgetown #29
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Georgetown Roman Catholic
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • Georgetown Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Georgetown
  • Harvard
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Georgetown $68,017
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Georgetown $68,017
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • Georgetown $20,596
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • Georgetown $39,083
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Georgetown $49,658
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Georgetown 33%
  • Harvard 56%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Georgetown 26,131
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Georgetown 3,374
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Georgetown 12.9%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Georgetown 46.7%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Georgetown 1470
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Georgetown 33
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Georgetown 3.89
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Georgetown A
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Georgetown Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Georgetown Very High
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Georgetown 31/35
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Georgetown 1390/1550
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Georgetown Required
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Georgetown
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Georgetown 11:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Georgetown
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Business (26%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Georgetown 94%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Georgetown $118,900
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Georgetown 87%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Georgetown $15,500
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Georgetown $160
  • Harvard $67
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Georgetown 44%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • Georgetown 56%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Georgetown High
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • Georgetown No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • Georgetown 58%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • Georgetown 10%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • Georgetown 6%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Georgetown 8%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • Georgetown 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Georgetown 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Georgetown 5%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • Georgetown 12%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Georgetown 2%
  • Harvard 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Georgetown 2%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Georgetown 87%
  • Harvard 68%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Georgetown based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 20,031 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Georgetown University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Georgetown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Georgetown University 11:1; Harvard University 7:1.

Georgetown vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Georgetown or Harvard? 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 Harvard University than Georgetown ($17,525 vs. $39,083).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Georgetown University are 2.8% lower than at Harvard University ($20,596 vs. $21,190).
  • Georgetown University is 10.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $6,341 more per year; $68,017.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.3% higher at Georgetown than at Harvard University (about $6,341 more per year; $68,017.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Georgetown University (56% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 37% larger than aid received by Georgetown University students ($68,015 vs. $49,658).

Georgetown vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 80 points higher than at Georgetown (1470).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 33 at Georgetown).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Georgetown University 1390/1550; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Georgetown University 31/35; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Georgetown - Required; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Georgetown (3.89).
  • Georgetown has a higher acceptance rate (12.9%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.7% at Georgetown vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

Georgetown vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Georgetown and Harvard? 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Georgetown University's (94%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $17,800 more per year than Georgetown graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $118,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $9,000 lower median loan debt than Georgetown graduates ($6,500 vs. $15,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Georgetown graduates ($67 vs. $160).
  • More Georgetown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 70%)

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.