Georgetown Fast Facts

As the nation’s oldest Catholic University, conveniently located in the District of Columbia, Georgetown University offers its students the dynamic combination of accessible and prominent faculty, an extensive curriculum, and an exciting and culturally appealing location. Opportunities to complement the on-campus experience through internships, study abroad programs, and community service abound.

Georgetown University is situated overlooking the Potomac River just a few minutes from downtown Washington. The majority of students live on campus in the numerous traditional residence halls, but some students choose to live in the townhouses and apartments surrounding campus. Student organizations on campus include religious groups, media outlets, and student government associations. The Georgetown Hoyas are part of NCAA’s Division I and are well known for their dominant men’s basketball team, which maintains a fierce rivalry with Syracuse and plays most home games at the Verizon Center, also home to the Washington Wizards. The popular chant “hoya saxa,” ancient Greek for “what rocks,” gained prominence in 1920 and—contrary to popular belief—has nothing to do with Georgetown’s mascot, Jack the Bulldog.

Georgetown comprises four undergraduate schools and three graduate and professional schools, including the highly ranked Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business, Law Center, School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Health Studies, and Public Policy Institute. Georgetown’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service also offers well-regarded graduate programs. The neighborhood of Georgetown surrounding the university’s campus houses high-end shopping, restaurants, and bars. Notable alumni include former U.S. President Bill Clinton, actor Bradley Cooper, journalist Maria Shriver, and Hall of Fame basketball player Patrick Ewing. The famous “Exorcist steps” used in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist are located just below Georgetown’s campus.