Which is better for economics, University of Maryland or Georgetown University?

Georgetown has the edge for undergraduate economics. Its economics program is especially well positioned for students interested in policy, international economics, finance, and research connected to Washington, and the school’s location translates into unusually easy access to internships during the academic year.

One big differentiator is the internship pipeline. Georgetown students can realistically combine classes with internships in DC throughout the semester, which matters a lot in economics because so many relevant opportunities are tied to government, consulting, public policy, and global institutions. Maryland is also close to DC, but Georgetown’s campus sits much more directly inside that ecosystem, so the connections are typically more immediate and easier to use regularly.

Another difference is academic environment and program style. Georgetown’s economics department is known for strong integration with international affairs, political economy, business-adjacent fields, and public policy, which can be especially valuable if your interests go beyond pure theory. Maryland has a solid economics department and is a serious research university, so it can absolutely prepare students well, especially if you want a larger public-university setting with more scale and potentially lower cost.

For grad school, both can work, but Georgetown often gives undergrads a cleaner path into research-adjacent internships, faculty connections in policy economics, and recognizable placement in DC-based institutions. Maryland becomes very compelling if cost is significantly lower or if you want the resources of a large flagship, but on overall undergraduate economics strength plus internship access, Georgetown comes out ahead.