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Note: Georgetown’s need-blind admission policy covers US citizens and permanent residents only. Its own Office of Undergraduate Admissions confirms international financial aid is “extremely limited” and reviewed on a need-aware basis — and Georgetown enforces an unusually strict rule: if you don’t receive a scholarship in your first year, you will not be offered one in any later year.
Georgetown meets the full demonstrated need of every eligible US citizen and permanent resident, but treats international undergraduates differently. Admitted international applicants who requested aid are considered for a limited number of need-based scholarship awards — not a guaranteed, full-need policy the way Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, or Amherst operate.
What the aid actually covers
- Georgetown offers no merit or academic scholarships at all — every dollar of institutional aid, for domestic or international students, is awarded strictly on demonstrated financial need.
- For 2026–2027, undergraduate tuition alone is $74,520, a 4.75% increase over the prior year — Georgetown’s fifth consecutive annual tuition increase.
- The university is dedicating a record $278 million to financial aid for undergraduate and graduate students combined for the 2025–2026 cycle.
- International students who don’t qualify for Georgetown’s limited scholarship pool may need to pursue private education loans, which typically require a creditworthy US citizen or eligible non-citizen co-signer.
The catch: one shot, first year only
Georgetown’s financial aid office states this rule in plain terms: “If you do not receive a scholarship in your first year, you will not be offered a scholarship in future years.” There is no way to apply for the first time as a sophomore, junior, or senior after being admitted without aid — international applicants who might need assistance at any point during their four years must request it at the point of admission, not later. If you do receive aid in year one, you must reapply every subsequent year and will be re-evaluated based on updated financial information each time.
How to apply: step by step
- Apply for undergraduate admission through the Georgetown Application or the Common Application.
- Indicate your intent to apply for financial aid on that application — this is what places your file into need-aware review for aid purposes.
- Submit the CSS Financial Aid Profile. Georgetown does not require the FAFSA from international applicants, since it’s limited to US citizens and permanent residents.
- Wait for your admission and aid decision together. Because review is need-aware, your requested aid amount can be a factor in whether you’re admitted at all.
- If not offered aid in year one, plan your finances around full cost for all four years — Georgetown will not add a scholarship later, regardless of changed circumstances.
Free tools for this
- Budget Breakdown by Destination — separate what a US university actually locks in from what you’re estimating
- Scholarship Eligibility Checker — other fully funded options if you want a backup plan
- How to Verify a Scholarship Is Real — the red flags that separate real funders from scams
Frequently asked questions
Is Georgetown need-blind for international students?
No. Georgetown’s need-blind policy is explicitly limited to US citizens and permanent residents. International applicants are reviewed need-aware, and financial aid for internationals is described by Georgetown’s own office as “extremely limited.”
What happens if I don’t request aid as a first-year applicant?
You permanently lose the option at Georgetown. Unlike most peer schools, Georgetown will not consider a first-time aid request from an international student after their first year — the decision has to be made at the point of admission.
Are there merit scholarships at Georgetown?
No. Georgetown offers no academic or merit-based scholarships for any student, domestic or international. All institutional aid is need-based.
Can I use a private loan to cover the gap?
Yes — Georgetown notes international students may pursue private education loans, though lenders typically require a creditworthy co-signer who is a US citizen or eligible non-citizen.
Verify details on the official site: Georgetown Office of Student Financial Aid — International Students and Georgetown Undergraduate Admissions — Financial Aid. Tuition figures and aid policy can change; always confirm the current numbers before applying.
Explore more options on our Scholarships hub, including Harvard’s, Princeton’s, and Amherst’s fully need-blind policies, and Duke’s, Northwestern’s, Wellesley’s, Williams’s, Vanderbilt’s, and UChicago’s similarly need-aware international aid programs.
