Georgetown University campus
#1 International RelationsDC Policy PowerSince 1789

Georgetown University

Washington, DC

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.

Undergraduate (SFS) ApplicantsMaster's / Policy ApplicantsMBA (McDonough) ApplicantsParents & Families

Georgetown University at a Glance

Elite Private

Type

Washington, DC

Location

#1 Global

IR / SFS

~20,000

Students

1789

Founded

~12%

Accept Rate

Why Georgetown University Is a Strong Choice

{item.title}

{item.desc}

Programs at Georgetown University

School of Foreign Service (SFS) — The Crown Jewel

International Relations, Global Economics, Security Studies, Diplomacy, Regional Studies

McCourt School of Public Policy

Public Policy, Public Administration, Data-Driven Governance

McDonough School of Business

Global Business, Consulting, International Finance, ESG, MBA

College of Arts & Sciences

Government, Economics, Political Science, International Affairs, Pre-Med

Costs & ROI

LevelTuitionLivingTotal
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

Career & Industry

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.

Georgetown University vs Peers

{comp.vs}

Georgetown University: Georgetown: {comp.self}

Other:

Our Students at Georgetown University

S

Shraddha Chougule

Georgetown University

Many friends and websites advised not taking up consultancy services. But I really feel that Karan Gupta Consulting did a great job and helped me get into my dream university. I would certainly recommend KGC to all aspiring juniors.

Watch: Study Abroad Insights

Study Abroad Success

Dr. Karan Gupta

Dr. Karan Gupta

Dr. Karan Gupta's 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.

FAQs: Georgetown University for Indian Students

Is Georgetown Ivy League?
No — but Georgetown is extremely respected in policy and diplomacy circles. In International Relations and Public Policy, it often surpasses most Ivy League schools. The School of Foreign Service (SFS) is widely considered the strongest undergraduate IR program in the world.
Is SFS the best IR program in the U.S.?
Yes — widely considered the strongest. SFS competes with SAIS (Johns Hopkins) and Fletcher (Tufts) at the graduate level, but for undergraduate IR, SFS is in a class of its own. Its DC location gives unmatched access to government, embassies, and global policy institutions.
Is McDonough MBA Tier-1?
Strong and respected, especially for DC-based consulting, global business, and policy-linked sectors. Not Wharton/Booth tier for pure finance, but strategically powerful for globally-minded candidates who want to combine business with policy impact.
Is Georgetown better than Johns Hopkins for policy?
Yes — for DC access and diplomacy, Georgetown is stronger. Hopkins SAIS is elite for academic IR, but Georgetown SFS has the strongest undergraduate program and deeper integration with DC's political ecosystem.
Is it worth $100K per year?
Only if your career path aligns with global policy, consulting, diplomacy, or international leadership. If you want Silicon Valley tech or Wall Street finance, other schools offer better ROI for those paths.
Does Georgetown give merit scholarships to international students?
Limited. Georgetown's financial aid for international students is need-based and competitive. Many international students pay close to full tuition.
Should I choose Georgetown or LSE for International Relations?
Depends on career geography. Georgetown gives DC access (U.S. government, World Bank, IMF). LSE gives London access (UK government, European policy, global finance). Both are elite for IR — choose based on where you want to build your career.
Does Georgetown use the Common App?
Georgetown has its own application process — it does not use the Common App in the standard way. The application is more structured with Georgetown-specific essays. This is intentional — they want to see genuine fit.

Want to Study at Georgetown University?

Get expert guidance from Dr. Karan Gupta — Harvard alumnus, 27+ years of global admissions experience guiding 160,000+ students worldwide.

AI Assistant

Ask me anything about studying abroad!