Georgetown University
Complete Guide for Indian Students 2026
At the center of U.S. federal government, international embassies, World Bank, IMF, and global policy institutions. Georgetown is about access — access to power, policy, and global leadership.
Georgetown at a Glance
Elite Private
Type
Washington, DC
Location
#1 Global
IR / SFS
~20,000
Students
1789
Founded
~12%
Accept Rate
What Georgetown Really Is
Georgetown is politically connected, DC-integrated, Jesuit and values-driven, and globally respected in policy circles. It is a power center for policy, diplomacy, and global leadership — not a tech university, not engineering-dominant, not Silicon Valley-driven. It is about influence, not coding.
DC Location = Access
Steps from the White House, Capitol Hill, embassies, World Bank, IMF. Internships happen in real-time, not just summer.
SFS — #1 IR Globally
The School of Foreign Service is arguably the strongest undergraduate IR program in the world. Diplomats, policymakers, and global leaders are SFS alumni.
Jesuit Values-Driven
Georgetown's Jesuit tradition emphasizes service, ethics, and global responsibility. This is not a corporate-only culture.
McDonough MBA
Strong for globally-minded business. Consulting + policy-linked sectors. Not Wharton-tier for finance, but strategically powerful in DC and global markets.
Policy Pipeline
Graduates enter U.S. government, State Department, CIA, World Bank, IMF, McKinsey, and global NGOs at exceptionally high rates.
Consulting Strength
McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte — strong consulting placement from both SFS and McDonough. Policy + business combination is unique.
Georgetown's Schools — Know Where the Power Is
School of Foreign Service (SFS) — The Crown Jewel
Strengths: International Relations, Global Economics, Security Studies, Diplomacy, Regional Studies
Arguably the strongest undergraduate IR program in the world. SFS graduates fill the State Department, CIA, World Bank, IMF, and top consulting firms. Admissions are highly competitive — Georgetown wants globally aware, intellectually serious students.
McCourt School of Public Policy
Strengths: Public Policy, Public Administration, Data-Driven Governance
Elite for policy careers. Strong pipeline into DC government roles, think tanks (Brookings, CSIS, Carnegie), and data-driven policy positions.
McDonough School of Business
Strengths: Global Business, Consulting, International Finance, ESG, MBA
Not Wharton-tier for pure finance. But strategically powerful for DC-based consulting, global business, and policy-linked sectors. MBA is strong for globally-minded candidates.
College of Arts & Sciences
Strengths: Government, Economics, Political Science, International Affairs, Pre-Med
Very serious academic culture. Strong for students who want policy/government but through an economics or political science lens rather than SFS.
Admission Requirements for Indian Students
Undergraduate
Master's / Policy Programs
MBA (McDonough)
Costs & Budget — DC Is Expensive
| Level | Tuition | Living (DC) | Total Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $65,000-$68,000/yr | $24,000-$36,000/yr | ~$90,000-$105,000/yr |
| Master's Programs | $50,000-$70,000/yr | $24,000-$36,000/yr | ~$75,000-$105,000/yr |
| MBA (McDonough) | $165,000-$175,000 total | $48,000-$72,000 total | ~$190,000-$220,000 total |
Washington DC is expensive — housing drives costs. International merit scholarships are limited. Premium-tier pricing applies.
Georgetown vs Peers
vs Johns Hopkins
Georgetown: Policy & diplomacy, DC integration
Other: Research & medicine, academic intensity
Compare →vs Duke
Georgetown: Policy & DC dominance, globally focused
Other: Broader academic prestige, Southern campus energy
Compare →vs LSE (London)
Georgetown: DC-based global policy access, U.S. government
Other: Economics-heavy, UK/European policy access
Compare →KGC Student at Georgetown
Shraddha Chougule
Georgetown University — Read full story
Career Outcomes After Georgetown
U.S. Government & Foreign Service
State Department, CIA, NSA, USAID — SFS alumni are heavily represented across U.S. government and diplomacy.
International Organizations
World Bank, IMF, UN agencies, WHO — Georgetown's DC location provides unmatched access.
Consulting
McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte — strong placement from SFS and McDonough. Policy + business combination is unique.
Think Tanks & NGOs
Brookings, CSIS, Carnegie, CFR — Georgetown alumni staff DC's most influential policy institutions.
Law Schools
Strong pipeline to Georgetown Law (top 15), Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia law schools.
Global Finance
Strong in international finance and ESG — McDonough's global focus gives an edge for DC-based and international roles.
Who Should Apply to Georgetown
- Globally aware and care about geopolitics
- Want government, policy, or diplomacy careers
- Want DC networking power and institutional access
- Are intellectually serious about global affairs
- Want consulting with a policy edge
Think Carefully If You...
- Want strong engineering or tech dominance
- Are chasing brand prestige without policy interest
- Want heavy finance pipelines like Wharton or NYU
- Are not interested in global affairs or service
- Need Silicon Valley tech culture access
Dr. Karan Gupta's Strategic Advice
Georgetown is one of the most underestimated universities among Indian applicants. Its strength is not flashy — it is access. Access to power, access to policy, access to global institutions.
For the right student, Georgetown can be transformational. For the wrong student, it may feel too policy-heavy. Career alignment is critical — if your future involves global policy, diplomacy, or consulting, Georgetown is a serious choice.
Watch: Study Abroad Insights
Study Abroad Success
KGC Student Testimonials
Dr. Karan Gupta
TEDx Talk — Education & Careers
FAQs: Georgetown for Indian Students
Is Georgetown Ivy League?
Is SFS the best IR program in the U.S.?
Is McDonough MBA Tier-1?
Is Georgetown better than Johns Hopkins for policy?
Is it worth $100K per year?
Does Georgetown give merit scholarships to international students?
Should I choose Georgetown or LSE for International Relations?
Does Georgetown use the Common App?
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Thinking About Georgetown?
Dr. Karan Gupta has 27+ years of experience guiding Indian students. Georgetown demands global awareness and intellectual maturity — get expert guidance on whether it's the right fit.