Georgetown University is a Jesuit (Society of Jesus) private university located in Georgetown (Georgetown, Washington, DC), Washington, DC. Father John Carroll (John Carroll (bishop)) founded the school in 1789, though its roots extend back to 1634. While the school struggled financially in its early years, Georgetown expanded into a branched university after the American Civil War under the leadership of university president Patrick Francis Healy. Georgetown is the oldest Roman Catholic university (Roman Catholic universities and colleges in the United States) in the United States, and its religious heritage is used to define the institution. The universitys mixed endorsement of Roman Catholic and secular viewpoints has caused controversy at times.

Georgetowns three urban campuses feature traditional collegiate architecture and layout, but prize their green spaces and environmental (Natural environment) commitment. The main campus is known for Healy Hall, a designated National Historic Landmark. Academically, Georgetown is divided into four undergraduate (undergraduate education) schools and four graduate (Postgraduate education) schools, with popular programs and notable faculty in international relations, government (political science), law, medicine, and business. Georgetown has around seven-thousand undergraduate students, and over eight-thousand post-graduate students.

The student body is noted for its pluralism and political activism, as well as its sizable international contingent. Campus groups include the nations oldest student dramatic society and the largest student-run business. Georgetowns most notable alumni (List of Georgetown University alumni) have served in various levels of government in the United States and abroad, such as current Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and former U.S. President (President of the United States) Bill Clinton. The Georgetown athletics teams are named "the Hoyas (Georgetown Hoyas)", made famous by their mens basketball team (Georgetown Hoyas mens basketball), which leads the Big East Conference with seven tournament championships (Big East Mens Basketball Tournament).