Is Georgetown or UVA better for financial aid?

For a Virginia resident, UVA is likely to provide the more affordable outcome because its in-state tuition is substantially lower. For an out-of-state student, neither school is automatically better: both Georgetown and UVA say they meet full demonstrated need for admitted undergraduates, but their calculations and resulting family contributions can differ.

Georgetown’s need-based aid is institutional and can be substantial, but its overall cost of attendance is higher than UVA’s in-state cost. Georgetown typically builds need-based packages from grants and scholarships along with possible work-study and student loans, depending on the student’s demonstrated need.

UVA’s resident versus nonresident distinction matters more than almost any other factor in this comparison. A Virginia student with similar aid eligibility may find that UVA’s lower starting price leaves less need to cover. An out-of-state student should compare the actual net-price estimates carefully, including whether either school expects parent loans, student loans, work-study earnings, or a larger family contribution.

Use each college’s net price calculator with the same current income, assets, household size, and number of children in college. Once official offers arrive, compare grants separately from loans and work-study rather than comparing only the total aid figure.