Georgetown University

georgetown.md

Georgetown University

Admissions (Class of 2029 / Fall 2025)

• Total applicants: 26,000
• Overall acceptance rate: 12.0%
• Early round: Early Action (non-binding, non-restrictive) — 12.9% vs 13.0% RD
• Class size: 1,600
• Yield: 79%

Academics

• SAT middle 50%: 1400–1540
• ACT middle 50%: 32–35
• Avg unweighted GPA: 3.9
• Top 10% of HS class: 91%
• Testing policy: Required

Demographics

• Women: N/A%, Asian: N/A%, Black: N/A%, Hispanic: N/A%, White: N/A%, International: N/A%

Financial Aid / Net Cost

Athletics

151 varsity athletes (~2.6% of undergrads). NCAA Division I, Big East Conference.

Notable

Jesuit Catholic university in Washington D.C. Highest yield (79%) in its tier — students who are accepted overwhelmingly enroll. EA provides minimal advantage over RD.

Community Insights (Reddit/Forums)

Admissions Strategy

• EA provides essentially no advantage (12.9% EA vs 13.0% RD) — one of the only elite schools where early application doesn't help. Georgetown does not offer ED.
• Georgetown is one of few top schools that still REQUIRES standardized tests (no test-optional). Forums widely note this filters the applicant pool.
• Yield is exceptionally high (79%) — highest in its tier. Forum interpretation: students who apply to Georgetown genuinely want to attend, creating a self-selected pool. This eliminates yield protection concerns entirely.
• Demonstrated interest is listed as "considered" on CDS. Campus visits, interviews, and attending information sessions are recommended on forums.
• School-specific application (not Common App) signals institutional independence and may deter casual applicants.

Campus Culture & Fit

• Jesuit Catholic identity shapes curriculum (theology/philosophy requirements) but campus is described as more politically diverse than most elite schools — D.C. location attracts students across the political spectrum.
• Government, policy, and international affairs are signature strengths. SFS (School of Foreign Service) has separate, more competitive admissions.
• Greek life exists but is not dominant. Social scene centers on D.C. nightlife and political engagement.
• Students describe a "preppy, politically engaged" culture. Proximity to Capitol Hill and K Street provides unmatched internship access.

Financial Aid Reputation

• Need-based only — no merit scholarships (except limited athletic scholarships). Meets full demonstrated need.
• Forum reputation: somewhat less generous than HYPSM peers. Families above $110K face $46K+ net cost — higher than comparable schools.
• Bogleheads and CC forums note Georgetown's financial aid packages sometimes include more loans than peer institutions.
• 1789 Scholars (donor-funded) graduate with ~$7K debt vs ~$19K for typical aided students.

Simulation-Relevant Takeaways

• No early round advantage to model — EA and RD rates are nearly identical. This is unusual and should be reflected in simulation.
• Extremely high yield (79%) means virtually no yield protection. Self-selection is the dominant mechanism.
• Test-required policy filters applicant pool differently from test-optional peers — model should account for this.

Sources

• Georgetown University Common Data Set 2024–2025
• research_colleges.json simulation data
• BestColleges: Is Yield Protection Real? (bestcolleges.com)
• Bogleheads Forum: Georgetown financial aid discussion (bogleheads.org)
• College Confidential: Georgetown merit aid thread (talk.collegeconfidential.com)
• The Hoya: Groves Talks Admissions, Diversity, Financial Aid (thehoya.com)