Georgetown Law Requirements 2026

Reading the Georgetown numerical profile

Georgetown's 171 LSAT median is one point below the elite T14 cluster and one point above Berkeley. The 25th percentile of 168 is the most permissive 25th percentile in the T14. This reflects a deliberate admissions strategy: Georgetown admits across a wider numerical band than peer T14 schools, partly because of the larger class size (560) and partly because the part-time program admits students with somewhat different numerical profiles than the full-time pool.

The 3.89 GPA median with a 25th percentile of 3.69 makes Georgetown the most splitter-friendly T14 school. A 3.65 GPA with a 172 LSAT is competitive at Georgetown; the same profile is rarely admitted at Columbia, Harvard, or Yale where the 25th percentile floor sits at 3.81 or higher. Georgetown also reads professional credentials seriously: federal agency experience, congressional staff backgrounds, military service, and prior consulting work all carry meaningful weight in the file.

The 19.5% acceptance rate is mid-T14 and reflects both the large class size and the substantial applicant pool that Georgetown attracts from the DC-targeted applicant population. For applicants at or above both medians, admit rate is closer to 45%. For applicants below both medians, it drops to 7-10%. Georgetown's wide numerical band gives more applicants a realistic chance at the same overall acceptance rate.

The DC pipeline and government employment

Georgetown's geographic advantage in the DC legal market is the single most important institutional fact about the school. Georgetown is one block from the Department of Justice, four blocks from the U.S. Capitol, two miles from the White House, and within walking distance of more than 30 federal agencies including the SEC, FTC, Treasury Department, DOL, EPA, and the Federal Reserve. No peer school has the same proximity to federal practice.

Federal honors program placement is Georgetown's signature employment statistic. Approximately 100 Georgetown graduates per year receive federal honors program offers across the major agencies (DOJ Honors, FTC, SEC, HUD, EPA, IRS, and others). Honors programs are the standard entry-level pathway for federal lawyers and the most prestigious early-career federal positions. Georgetown's placement rate dwarfs any peer school by absolute numbers and by share of class.

BigLaw placement runs about 60% of the full-time class, with DC firms (Williams & Connolly, Wilmer Hale, Covington, Arnold & Porter, Hogan Lovells, Latham, Kirkland) hiring the largest share. NY BigLaw also recruits at Georgetown but at lower volumes than at Columbia or NYU. For applicants whose practice intent is DC BigLaw with a federal practice or regulatory focus, Georgetown is the strongest single T14 school.

The part-time JD program: who it serves

Georgetown's part-time evening JD program is the only such program in the T14. The program runs four years instead of three, with classes Monday through Thursday evenings and some Saturday options. Part-time students typically work full-time in DC government, nonprofit, or private-sector positions. The same JD is awarded; the same faculty teach; the same career office serves both programs. Bar passage rates and BigLaw placement are comparable to the full-time program adjusted for student demographics.

The part-time program admits a different applicant pool. Median LSAT runs around 165, median GPA around 3.55. The pool skews older (median age 28-32) with substantial professional experience. Federal agency staff, congressional aides, military officers, consultants, and journalists are common part-time admit profiles. The application emphasizes professional credentials, demonstrated commitment to legal practice, and a clear narrative for why a part-time JD serves the applicant's career trajectory.

For working professionals in DC who cannot suspend a federal career to attend law school full-time, the Georgetown part-time program is the dominant choice. For applicants who can attend full-time, the full-time program is the standard pathway with the typical T14 outcomes.

Cost, aid, and the Public Interest Law Scholars program

Georgetown's tuition of $77,310 for 2024-2025 is in the middle of the T14 distribution. Total cost of attendance with DC living expenses runs about $113,000 to $116,000 per year, or roughly $340,000 over three years for the full-time program. DC living costs are high but moderate compared to New York or San Francisco. The total sticker is competitive with peer T14 schools.

Georgetown offers both need-based grants and merit scholarships. The Public Interest Law Scholars Program (PILS) is the flagship merit scholarship for committed public-interest applicants: substantial multi-year aid plus integration into a structured public-interest curriculum and career development track. PILS scholars are selected from approximately 200 applicants annually with 25-30 named per year. The Blume Scholarship and Dean's Scholarship serve the broader merit aid pool.

The Georgetown Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) covers monthly loan payments for graduates in qualifying public-interest and government employment up to approximately $85,000 income. LRAP coverage extends for 10 years post-graduation. Combined with federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness, the LRAP-eligible Georgetown graduate's effective debt service is materially below the sticker debt.

Application timeline and the Early Decision strategy

The Georgetown application opens September 1, 2026 and closes March 1, 2027 for fall 2027 entry. Georgetown offers Early Action (non-binding) with a November 30 deadline and Early Decision (binding) with a December 1 deadline. Both early plans receive earlier decisions; ED admits commit to enroll. Early Action is a meaningful option for applicants who want to signal interest without making a binding commitment.

Components for both full-time and part-time programs: LSAC Credential Assembly Service report, LSAT or GRE score, personal statement (2 pages double-spaced), two to four letters of recommendation (one academic letter expected for applicants within five years of college), resume, character and fitness disclosures, and the Georgetown application fee. Part-time applicants additionally submit a brief essay on why they are pursuing a part-time JD and how it integrates with current employment.

Georgetown does not interview most applicants. PILS scholarship finalists are interviewed. Part-time program applicants are occasionally interviewed by admissions readers to clarify professional circumstances and program fit. Most admitted Georgetown students never interviewed before admission.

Frequently asked questions

Data sources: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures for the 2024-2025 reporting cycle; Georgetown Law Financial Aid; Georgetown Law Employment Statistics; Public Interest Law Scholars. Last reviewed 15 May 2026.