Georgetown University was founded in 1789 by John Carroll, a Jesuit appointed as America’s first Catholic bishop under Pope Pius VI. Congressman William Gaston was the first pupil when instruction begin in 1791. After the Civil War, enrollment spiked thanks to changes made by the 29th president, Patrick Francis Healy. Georgetown University became a founding member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) to carry on Ignatius of Loyola’s traditions. Today, Georgetown is a prestigious private, non-profit Catholic research institution. More than 7,600 undergraduates and 10,200 post-graduates enroll in Georgetown’s nine academic colleges. Georgetown University has a 104-acre urban campus in northwest Washington, DC, along the Potomac River just two miles from the White House.

According to the U.S. News, Georgetown University is the 21st best national college, 28th top value school, and 16th best college for veterans in the United States. With a financial grade of “B,” Georgetown is ranked the 15th best private university and 30th top research institute nationally by Forbes. The Princeton Review included Georgetown within its “Colleges That Pay You Back” and “Best 380 Colleges” lists. Georgetown was noted for America’s 18th most popular study abroad program. Washington Monthly crowned Georgetown University the 42nd most affordable elite college and 102nd top school for civic engagement. Times Higher Education has also placed Georgetown as the 94th best university worldwide.

Georgetown University Accreditation Details

Continuously since 1921, Georgetown University has been institutionally reviewed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). This regional accreditation is recognized for all bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs by the U.S. Department of Education. In particular, management degrees are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Legal programs meet the standards of the American Bar Association (ABA). Healthcare degrees also are approved through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). But keep in mind that the B.A./B.S. in Computer Science isn’t accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of the ABET.

Georgetown University Application Requirements

Getting into Georgetown University is a tough feat given the highly selective acceptance rate of 17 percent. Aspiring computer science majors must be graduating from a licensed secondary school with a diploma or earning GED certificate. Finishing a college-prep curriculum with four years of mathematics and at least three years of natural sciences is required. Passing AP exams with a “3” or higher, especially in computer science, statistics, and calculus, is preferred. On average, Georgetown freshmen accomplish a high school GPA of 3.75. The mean SAT composite for admitted students is 1405 out of 1600 (excluding writing). Other admissions factors are extra-curricular achievements, community service, motivation, and resiliency.

Transferring to Georgetown for a B.A. or B.S. in Computer Science is possible if you’ve already attended another regionally accredited college or university. Undergraduate transfers must have completed at least one full-time collegiate semester after their high school diploma. Only 12 to 60 credits can be carried over by incoming transfers. Unless they’re over 21 years old, transfers must provide satisfactory SAT or ACT exam scores. To stand out among the other 2,000 transfer applications, having a minimum collegiate GPA of 3.0 is encouraged. Computer science majors should have completed introductory courses in calculus, mathematics, and computing. International learners must score at least 550 (paper-based) or 80 (Internet-based) on the TOEFL exam.

Before the Early Action deadline on November 1st or Regular Decision deadline on January 10th, undergraduates can apply to Georgetown University by sending:

• Georgetown application form
• Non-refundable $75 application fee
• Results from the SAT or ACT test
• Official high school/collegiate transcripts
• At least one teacher’s recommendation
• Secondary school report from counselor
• Brief personal statement of intent

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduates enrolling full-time at Georgetown University can expect to pay $49,968 annually for tuition regardless of state residence. Students are responsible for covering the $420 Yates fee, $180 class fee, $159 activity fee, and $237 orientation fee. Part-time learners can pay $2,082 per credit hour instead. It’s estimated that residential undergraduates are charged $14,962 each year for room and board. Board allowance for students living with parents is expected to be $2,614. Georgetown suggests budgeting $1,200 for textbooks, $1,954 for personal expenses, $650 for traveling, and $40 for loan fees. Total cost of attendance for full-time undergrads is $69,770 annually.

The NCES reports that 51 percent of beginning, full-time Georgetown students receive tuition assistance. The average financial aid package is worth $36,393. Over $108 million is provided in institutional awards, including the Baker Trust Scholarships, John Carroll Scholarships, President’s Scholarships, Athletic Grants-in-Aid, and GU Incentive Awards. Low-income students could qualify for the Federal Pell Grant or FSEOG Grant. Computer science majors could benefit from AFCEA, Intel, Microsoft, and AACE scholarships. District of Columbia residents may receive the DC Tuition Assistance Grant or DC College Access Program Last Dollar Awards. Federal Work-Study (FWS) is given for 10 to 15 hours of part-time employment. If needed, students can also borrow Federal Direct, Parent PLUS, Perkins, or private loans.

Bachelor’s Degrees in Computer Science

Georgetown University currently offers two undergraduate degrees within its Department of Computer Science. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Computer Science is a broad, flexible program rooted in the liberal arts and humanities. This option is ideal for students wishing to combine computing expertise with other disciplines, such as government, linguistics, or even psychology. B.A. students have freedom to select more external electives for building on their computer programming and algorithm classes. There’s an Honors Program for students with a minimum 3.67 GPA to complete a senior thesis project with a faculty advisor. GU has research groups in algorithmic theory, data mining, machine learning, information retrieval, and security.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) is Georgetown’s most technical degree in computer science for undergraduates seeking scientific-rich industry preparation. Students are trained for computing professions and advanced graduate study with a rigorous 120-credit curriculum. The four-year course sequence covers mathematical modeling, calculus, data structures, programming, hardware, linear algebra, statistics, algorithms, operating systems, and symbolic logic. Honors students can also complete a senior thesis with one of 18 full-time faculty members. B.S. majors are encouraged to join the CS&E Club or Programming Team. It’s also possible to pursue a five-year Accelerated B.S./M.S. in Computer Science from Georgetown University.

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