What Kind of School Georgetown College Is
Let’s start with the basics: what kind of institution it is, where it is, and what it is not.
Georgetown College is a private, nonprofit college offering programs lasting four years or longer. The federal system that classifies colleges in the United States describes it as a small, highly residential baccalaureate college focused on arts and sciences: at least half of its degree-seeking undergraduates live in housing owned, controlled, or affiliated with the institution, and at least 80 out of every 100 attend full time. The system also places it in the selective-admission group.
That last point matters to your budget before it matters to your pride. Being “highly residential” is not just a label: it means living on campus is a central part of the experience there, and room and board are charged separately from tuition. They are almost never combined in the brochure you receive. Ask for that figure separately, including the meal plan, before comparing this school with any other one your child is considering.
Geographically, Georgetown College is in Georgetown, Kentucky, within Scott County. The area around the campus is classified as a town near an urban area, but not within it. If your family does not live nearby, this is not a decorative detail: it means you need to determine separately where your child would live and how your child would get to campus. The code classifying the area only identifies the school’s location; it says nothing about your circumstances or how long the trip from your home would take.
In terms of academic level, the federal system records a master’s degree as the highest level the institution reports offering and classifies it as an institution that primarily awards bachelor’s degrees or higher. This is general institutional information: it does not tell you whether the specific major your child wants is available there or whether that field has a clear path from undergraduate to graduate study. That must be asked program by program.
And one point is worth clarifying immediately, because many families look for this information before anything else: Georgetown College is not recorded as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), a Tribal College or University, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 institutions in the federal directory, 138 have at least one of those three designations; Georgetown College is not among them. That says nothing about which students it serves today, how many Latino students are on campus, or how your child would feel there. Those questions are answered by speaking with the school, not by reading an unchecked box.
How Many Students There Are and Who They Are
Georgetown College is a small school, and that changes the character of everything else.
In the official fall count, total enrollment was 1,463: undergraduate enrollment was 1,200 and graduate enrollment was 263. Above all, it is an undergraduate school, not a graduate school. Compared with the other 941 selective private four-year schools in the same census, its size is among the most common: it is neither one of the giants nor one of the tiny schools, but right in the middle.
Now, something worth saying honestly: being large does not mean more options, and being small does not mean more attention for your child. What really matters is the specific major your child wants, not the institution’s overall size. Ask about that, not the total number of students.
As for who makes up the student body, the share of undergraduates who are Hispanic or Latino is 7 out of every 100. It is a small minority, and compared with similar schools, Georgetown College falls below the group’s midpoint without falling into the lowest quarter. This does not make the school bad or good; it simply describes who is enrolled today. If your child would be one of the few Latino students there, it makes sense to ask directly what student groups, cultural center, or Spanish-speaking staff are available on campus and to speak with a current student before deciding. The number shown here is for the entire school; your child’s experience in a specific major may look different.
The rest of the student profile looks like this: there are almost no adults above age 25, with a share of 1 out of every 100, and the undergraduate population is nearly evenly divided between men and women, with women accounting for 49 out of every 100 students. Most incoming students—78 out of every 100—came from Kentucky. If your child comes from outside the state, your child would be part of a minority within the student population.
What the Academics Are Like and How the Calendar Is Organized
The academic year at Georgetown College is organized into semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each.
The school reported that it accepts credit for AP exams, but it did not indicate that it accepts credit for life experience. Saying that it accepts AP does not mean your child will receive credit for every exam: we do not know what scores are required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits apply to the specific major your child wants. Request a written equivalency evaluation before enrolling, and do not calculate any savings until you have it in hand. The school also reported enrolling high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program, so if your child is still in high school, that option exists.
As for its academic offerings, in the most recently reported year, Georgetown College awarded 177 bachelor’s degrees across 19 academic program families. The family awarding the most degrees was business and management, accounting for 21 out of every 100 degrees that year, but no other family dominates the school’s offerings: the offerings are distributed, with no single field accounting for 30 out of every 100 degrees or more. Nineteen active families do not mean nineteen specific majors; one family groups multiple programs, and some may have minimal activity. Verify the exact program your child wants, not just the general field.
Regarding the relationship between students and faculty, Georgetown College reports 15 students per full-time-equivalent faculty member. Compared with similar schools, that ratio places it in the group’s highest quarter, meaning among those with more students per faculty member. At the same time, on the general scale describing all colleges, the ratio falls within the middle range. Both readings are true at once, which is why they are presented separately. What this does not tell you is the actual size of first-year classes: that figure is not available in this report and must be requested directly.
Academic Pathways the School Reports Offering
Georgetown College reports offering study abroad as well as teacher-training pathways: preparation for teacher certification below the graduate level, the ability to complete preparation in certain teacher-specialization areas at the institution itself, and state approval of its initial teacher-certification program. If your child is considering becoming a teacher or spending a semester abroad, these are two pathways that formally exist at this institution and are worth exploring in depth.
Getting In: Requirements, Admission Probability, and What Happens Next
This is where many families want quick answers. Let’s take it piece by piece, because each part tells you something different.
Georgetown College does not have open admission. It reviews requirements before saying yes. Of the nine admission considerations recorded by the federal system—not counting standardized tests or legacy status—two are required: the high school GPA and, when applicable, an English-proficiency exam. Other components are not required but are considered if submitted: the complete high school record, completion of the college-preparatory course plan the institution requests, a personal essay, and letters of recommendation.
If your child studied outside the United States or attended high school in Spanish, ask now whether the English-proficiency exam applies and what would qualify your child for an exemption. This college marked it as required when applicable, and it is one of those things families discover late, when it is harder to address. One piece of practical good news: the published undergraduate application fee is $0.
Now, the question that probably matters most to you: how likely is your child to be admitted? In the most recent cycle, Georgetown College received 1,815 first-time applications and admitted 1,341 applicants. That works out to 74 out of every 100. It is an accessible percentage, slightly above the midpoint among similar selective private schools. Put another way, seven or eight out of every ten applicants received a yes. That does not make admission automatic, but it does give your child a real reason to apply—and also a reason not to leave the application until the last minute. Remember something important: this number comes from a single cycle, not a fixed institutional rule. If more applicants apply in your child’s year and the number of available places does not grow, the figure can fall on its own. Check the data again for the exact year in which your child applies.
Here is a distinction many families do not make clearly, and it is worth understanding: being admitted is not the same as enrolling. Out of every 100 students Georgetown College admitted, only 23 ultimately enrolled there that fall. The other 77 had a place but did not take it. This is not a mark against the school—the federal record does not say why each person made that choice—and it also tells you nothing about what your child specifically would be offered. What matters is this: wait for your financial-aid letter, with the actual net price, before deciding whether this school stays on the list.
As for tests, the SAT or ACT is required here for your child’s application to be considered complete. Among those who enrolled, very few submitted the SAT—the share was 3 out of every 100, with no score range reported—but ACT data are available: the median among those who submitted it was 23. The system reports neither a minimum score nor a deadline for receiving the result; ask the admission office directly and add the answer to the family calendar that same day.
As for transfers, in the most recent fall, undergraduate transfer enrollment at Georgetown College was 42. These students were attending Georgetown College for the first time after previously studying at another institution. Compared with similar schools, that count places it in the lower half, although it is a count of people, not a proportion, and depends on the school’s size. What we do not know, because it is not reported, is how many credits are accepted from incoming transfer students or the rate at which students transfer from Georgetown College to another institution. That does not mean no one transfers from here; it only means that specific information is unavailable in this report.
What It Costs: The Listed Price and What Families Actually Pay
At Georgetown College, among 59 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $8,926. Among 49 students in the same population whose EFC family income was from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $9,698; among 76 students whose EFC family income was above $110,000, it was $19,770. For dependent students, the income band combines their parents’ income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income band, which included 59 students, and the average for the highest-income band, which included 76 students, is $10,844. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $14,878.
Among the 937 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this figure with the same time coverage, Georgetown College falls within the least expensive quarter for lower-income families after grants and scholarships are subtracted. That does not mean it will be inexpensive for your family. It is a factor that matters when you build the list of schools to which your child will apply.
None of these figures is a price quote for your child. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The figure that matters is the aid letter sent to you. In the meantime, use the net price calculator on the school’s website.
How Families Pay: Grants, Loans, and How Common Debt Is
At Georgetown College, practically all degree-seeking students receive some form of grant or scholarship aid: 100 out of every 100, rounded. Among recipients, the average was $40,706 per year. That is a large figure, but it is an average: it includes students who received much more and others who received much less. It is not a guaranteed offer for your child; it is real money, but it is not a price. What actually determines how much you will pay is the amount left after that aid, and you will know that amount only when you receive your specific letter.
Separately, the share of students receiving the federal Pell Grant, intended for families with demonstrated financial need, is 35 out of every 100.
Now for the hardest part of this section, and one of the most important points in the entire article: the share of Georgetown College undergraduates who received a federal student loan in the most recently reported academic year was 53 out of every 100. That is more than half. Financing an education with debt is common here, not the exception.
Among borrowers, the average amount borrowed that year was $6,073. If your child borrowed a similar amount in each of the four years of college, the total would be around $24,292, not including interest. That calculation should be made before the first signature, not afterward. Compared with similar schools, this proportion of students with loans is among the common rates, neither one of the highest nor one of the lowest in the group.
It is important to understand what this figure does not cover: it is only for the most recently reported year and only for federal loans in the student’s name. It does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, debt from private banks, or credit cards. Nor is it the total debt with which a student graduates after four years; determining that would require adding each year’s amount, and that information is not in this report.
This percentage describes other families, not yours. How much your child specifically would need to borrow depends on your child’s own financial-aid letter. Wait for that letter before either ruling out the school or committing to it.
Georgetown College also reports offering an installment tuition payment plan as an additional way to manage the cost.
The Campus: Housing, Activities, Library, and Support
Georgetown College has institution-operated housing, although it is not required for every first-time, full-time student. It also offers meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies depending on the plan you choose. The reported maximum capacity of institutional housing is 1,555. The availability of housing does not guarantee a room specifically for your child; request in writing the current year’s rate, the deadline to apply for space, and whether housing is guaranteed or has a waiting list.
If your child is interested in ROTC, Georgetown College reported two available branches: Army and Air Force. Navy is not marked as available. Appearing in the report does not mean the program is taught specifically on this campus or that admission is guaranteed; you need to ask about it by name.
In athletics, the school competes at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics), with reported teams in football, basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. This membership belongs to the institution; it is not a promise to your child. If your child wants to compete, write directly to the coach of that sport, ask whether there is room on the team, which division it competes in, and whether that sport offers athletic scholarships, and request the answer in writing.
As for distance education, the school offers it at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. But in the most recent count, no undergraduate student took an entire course load through distance education; everyone took at least one class in person. Separately, the institution did report having at least one complete program that can be completed entirely through distance education. That report does not say at which level or in which field; confirm it directly if it is something your child needs.
The library operates with paid staff, and its annual expenditures exceeded the federal government’s reporting threshold of $100,000. It has physical and digital collections and participates in interlibrary lending. What the data do not say is the exact schedule or whether someone is available to guide your child’s research; ask those questions directly.
Finally, the services and support the institution reports include combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services for graduates, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program for veterans, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military families, and a published web address for disability services. The fact that these services are reported does not indicate how accessible or effective they are in practice; that is also worth asking about.
What Happens to Students Who Enroll: Staying, Graduating, and Where They Go
For many families, this is the most uncomfortable section to read, and it is also one of the most honest views this report allows.
Of the first-time, full-time cohort that entered in 2022, with total enrollment of 356, the number meeting the official retention criterion one year later was 241: a share of 68 out of every 100. That means they were still enrolled at Georgetown College or had already completed their bachelor’s degree. Compared with similar selective private schools, this figure places Georgetown College toward the bottom of the group: seven out of every ten of those schools, or more, retained a larger share of their cohort.
The other 115 students in that cohort fell outside the official result. The data do not say what happened to them. Not appearing as retained does not mean someone gave up: the student may have transferred, paused their studies, begun working, or had any number of other reasons that this report simply does not capture.
As for graduation, of the 305 students who entered in 2017 as first-time, full-time bachelor’s-degree-seeking students, the number who held a Georgetown College degree six years later was 145. That works out to 48 out of every 100. At four years, the figure is 42 out of every 100, only six points lower than at six years, suggesting that those who graduate here generally do so close to the standard timeframe. Compared with similar selective private schools, this six-year graduation rate falls below the group’s midpoint.
Put plainly, that cohort was divided almost evenly between those who completed a bachelor’s degree there and those who did not. The report records outcomes, not the reasons behind each individual story. This calculation follows only first-time, full-time students; it does not include transfer or part-time students. If your child would enter in another category, ask for the rate corresponding to that specific group.
There is also a longer, eight-year window worth examining because it tells a different story. Of a cohort that entered between 2015 and 2016—a total of 352 students, including both first-time students and students with prior college experience, and both full-time and part-time students—by the August 2023 reporting date, the share who had earned a degree or certificate from Georgetown College was 52 out of every 100. The system also reports that 33 out of every 100 remained connected in some way without having received a credential from Georgetown College, although that figure has a confusing definition in the source and does not allow a precise statement about how many were still enrolled at that exact time. Compared with similar schools, this eight-year rate falls within the group’s lowest quarter.
And here, without softening it, is the figure that gives me the greatest pause in this entire report: among students who received a Pell Grant—that is, students from families with fewer financial resources—only 37 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from Georgetown College after eight years. That is 26 points lower than among students who did not receive Pell. It is a large gap, and it is present in the official data without any possible embellishment.
We do not know why. The report does not capture each student’s reasons. What you can do, if this question affects your family closely, is take it directly to the school: ask what specific counseling exists for students receiving Pell, what emergency assistance is available, and whether institutional aid renews automatically each year. Request the answers in writing.
How to Put All of This Together
You now know, in considerable detail, one piece of the puzzle: what Georgetown College is according to its own official data. You know that it is a small, highly residential school with few Latino students, a relatively accessible probability of admission, and many admitted students who choose not to enroll there. You know that the listed price is high but that, for lower-income families, the actual price they end up paying is among the lowest in its comparable group. You know that student debt is common here, not the exception, and you know that half of those who enroll end up graduating from this school within six years, with a substantial gap between students receiving Pell and those who do not.
None of these numbers makes the decision for you. Your child is responsible for bringing effort, curiosity, academic interests, and a voice to all of this. The college is responsible for making an admission decision, offering aid, and explaining how much support it can provide. You are responsible for understanding the family’s finances, requesting the letters and data in writing, and supporting the decision without carrying it alone or leaving your child to carry it alone.
What you have just read is a real piece of the plan, but it is only one piece. Combine it with what your child wants to study, what your child has built so far, and what your family can and is willing to pay. A plan that truly works for your family comes from that combination, not from a single article.
Note on sources: The information in this article comes from official reports that colleges submit to the United States Department of Education through the IPEDS system, with the reference years indicated in the text. Best College Aid does not represent Georgetown College or the United States government, and this article does not constitute personalized admission advice.