How to Get Into Georgetown: 2026 Admissions Guide

How to Get Into Georgetown University in 2026

Georgetown University is one of the most selective and distinctive schools in the country — a Jesuit university in the nation's capital with an acceptance rate around 12% and a values-driven admissions process. Georgetown's application stands apart: it has its own application platform, requires standardized testing, conducts alumni interviews, and evaluates applicants against its Jesuit mission of education, service, and care for the whole person. This guide covers everything. Use Counsely's college matcher to evaluate your fit.

Last Updated: March 2026

Georgetown at a Glance

| Factor | Detail | |--------|--------| | Acceptance Rate | ~12% | | Undergraduate Enrollment | ~7,500 | | Type | Private (Jesuit) | | Location | Washington, D.C. (Georgetown neighborhood) | | Tuition | ~$62,000/year | | Schools | Georgetown College, SFS, McDonough Business, Nursing | | Test Policy | Requires SAT or ACT | | Application | Georgetown's own application (verify Common App availability) |

Academic Profile

Georgetown's admitted students typically have:

GPA: Average unweighted ~3.9
SAT: Middle 50% approximately 1450-1560
ACT: Middle 50% approximately 33-35
Course Rigor: Extensive AP/IB coursework expected

Georgetown requires standardized testing — this is non-negotiable. Strong scores are a genuine asset.

What Georgetown Values

Georgetown's Jesuit identity shapes every aspect of its admissions:

Cura personalis — care for the whole person. Georgetown evaluates you holistically: academics, character, service, intellectual curiosity, and personal development.
Service and justice. Georgetown wants students who care about contributing to the common good.
Intellectual rigor. Deep curiosity, not just good grades. Georgetown wants thinkers.
Global perspective. Especially for SFS applicants, engagement with global issues matters.
Character. Integrity, empathy, and moral courage are explicitly evaluated.

You don't need to be Catholic. You need to demonstrate that Georgetown's values resonate with your own.

The Four Undergraduate Schools

Georgetown College: The main liberal arts college. Broadest range of majors. Students take theology and philosophy courses regardless of major.

Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS): One of the most prestigious international affairs programs in the world. Students study diplomacy, global economics, security, and international development. D.C. location provides unmatched access to government, think tanks, and international organizations.

McDonough School of Business: Emphasizes principled leadership and business with purpose. Strong finance and consulting placement.

School of Nursing and Health Studies: Focused on health sciences with Georgetown's Jesuit emphasis on ethics and care.

Each school has different admissions standards and essay expectations. Know which school you're applying to and tailor accordingly.

Essays

Georgetown's essays are distinctive — they engage with Jesuit values, intellectual curiosity, and service. See our complete Georgetown supplemental essays guide.

Critical takeaway: Engage with the Jesuit mission authentically. Students who ignore it miss one of the most important parts of their application.

The Alumni Interview

Georgetown conducts alumni interviews and takes them seriously. Interviewers assess your intellectual curiosity, communication skills, and genuine interest in Georgetown. Prepare by researching the university, knowing your activities, and being ready to discuss why Georgetown specifically.

See our college interview tips guide for comprehensive preparation strategies.

The D.C. Advantage

Georgetown sits in Washington, D.C. — this isn't just a nice location, it's an academic resource. SFS students intern at the State Department, World Bank, and think tanks. McDonough students access K Street firms and government agencies. All students benefit from D.C.'s cultural institutions, nonprofit sector, and political environment.

If D.C.-based opportunities matter to your goals, mention them specifically in your essays.

Early Action at Georgetown

Georgetown offers Restrictive Early Action (REA) — you apply early (November 1) and receive your decision in mid-December, but the decision is non-binding. However, REA means you cannot apply Early Decision or Early Action to other private universities simultaneously (you can still apply EA to public universities).

REA at Georgetown does not significantly boost acceptance rates like ED does at other schools, but it does demonstrate interest and gives you an earlier answer.

Counsely Tip: Georgetown is one of the few top schools that still requires standardized testing. If your SAT is 1450+ or ACT is 33+, Georgetown should be on your radar. If your scores are below these ranges, other factors need to be exceptionally strong.

College Matcher: See how your profile fits Georgetown with Counsely's free tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

How selective is Georgetown?

Georgetown admits roughly 12% of applicants, making it one of the most selective universities in the country. The applicant pool is strong — most applicants have high GPAs, competitive test scores, and extensive extracurriculars. What differentiates successful applicants is alignment with Georgetown's Jesuit values (service, intellectual curiosity, care for the whole person), genuine engagement with the essays, a strong interview performance, and clear fit with a specific school within Georgetown (College, SFS, McDonough, or Nursing). The Walsh School of Foreign Service is particularly competitive, often with a lower acceptance rate than Georgetown's overall figure.

Does Georgetown require the SAT or ACT?

Yes. Georgetown is one of the few highly selective universities that has maintained its standardized testing requirement. All applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores. Georgetown's middle 50% ranges are approximately 1450-1560 SAT and 33-35 ACT. This requirement means test preparation is especially important for Georgetown applicants. If your scores are within or above these ranges, they strengthen your application. If your scores are significantly below, Georgetown will be a reach regardless of other application strengths.

Is Georgetown only for Catholic students?

Absolutely not. Georgetown is a Jesuit university, founded by the Society of Jesus, but it welcomes students of all faiths and no faith. The student body is religiously diverse, and Georgetown's Jesuit values — intellectual inquiry, service, care for the whole person — are framed as humanistic principles rather than religious requirements. You don't need to be Catholic to thrive at Georgetown. You do need to engage honestly with Jesuit educational values and show how they resonate with your own approach to learning, service, and community. Many non-Catholic students describe Georgetown's values-driven environment as one of the things they appreciate most.

What makes the SFS application different?

The Walsh School of Foreign Service is Georgetown's most prestigious undergraduate program and is often more competitive than Georgetown overall. SFS applicants should demonstrate genuine engagement with international affairs, global issues, or diplomacy. Your essays should reflect knowledge of SFS-specific programs, faculty, and opportunities — not just "I'm interested in international relations." SFS admits students who show global awareness through their activities, reading, or experiences, and who can articulate why SFS's curriculum (which includes a specific core in economics, history, and government) fits their goals.

Check your fit for Georgetown with Counsely's free college matcher.

How to Get Into Georgetown: 2026 Admissions Guide | Counsely