How does Howard University admissions difficulty compare to Georgetown University admissions difficulty?

Georgetown is harder to get into than Howard by a clear margin. In practice, Georgetown is viewed as one of the more selective private universities in the country, while Howard is selective and well respected but not in the same admissions tier overall. Applicants typically need a more exceptional academic profile, extracurricular record, and overall application strength to be competitive at Georgetown.

One concrete difference is the applicant pool each school draws. Georgetown attracts a very large national and international pool of students, especially for programs tied to politics, international relations, business, and pre-law, which pushes competition higher across the board. Howard also has strong national recognition and attracts many applicants, but its pool is not usually as intensely competitive in the same way.

Another differentiator is how admissions offices tend to evaluate the top end of the pool. At Georgetown, many applicants already have near-top grades, rigorous coursework, and substantial leadership or service, so standing out becomes especially difficult. At Howard, strong academics and involvement still matter a lot, but the level of saturation among ultra-high-achieving applicants is usually lower than at Georgetown.

The schools also carry different admissions reputations. Georgetown is commonly grouped with highly selective institutions where even very qualified students can be denied. Howard is better understood as competitive but more accessible overall, especially for students with solid grades, a meaningful record of engagement, and a clear sense of fit with the university’s mission.