Colleges in Washington, District of Columbia
25 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 25 colleges and universities in Washington, District of Columbia (15 Private nonprofit, 8 Private for-profit, 2 Public). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 25 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $20,985 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 51.0%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 58% of applicants.
The median net price in Washington is about the same as the District of Columbia statewide median of $20,985.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Washington, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$20,985
After aid
Median grad rate
51.0%
6-year
Median admission rate
58%
Median enrollment
811
Undergrad
All colleges in Washington
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington University Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $36,586 | 84.0% | 47% | 11,182 | Complete | |
| Howard University Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $50,539 | 70.0% | 41% | 10,108 | Complete | |
| Strayer University-Global Region Washington, DC | DC | Private for-profit, 4-year | $17,833 | 14.3% | Not available | 9,376 | Complete | |
| Georgetown University Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $40,815 | 94.8% | 13% | 7,569 | Complete | |
| American University Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $41,943 | 75.5% | 62% | 7,266 | Complete | |
| University of the District of Columbia Washington, DC | DC | Public, 4-year | $10,648 | 33.2% | Not available | 3,351 | Complete | |
| The Catholic University of America Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $29,561 | 79.5% | 83% | 3,154 | Complete | |
| Trinity Washington University Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $9,302 | 49.3% | 100% | 1,414 | Complete | |
| Gallaudet University Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $15,845 | 47.3% | 58% | 812 | Complete | |
| University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus Washington, DC | DC | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | 33.3% | Not available | 809 | Partial | |
| Career Technical Institute Washington, DC | DC | Private for-profit, 2-year | $20,985 | 69.1% | Not available | 232 | Partial | |
| Bennett Career Institute Washington, DC | DC | Private for-profit, <2-year | $11,824 | 51.0% | Not available | 176 | Partial | |
| Strayer University-District of Columbia Washington, DC | DC | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 156 | Partial | |
| Saint Michael College of Allied Health Washington, DC | DC | Private for-profit, 2-year | $38,751 | 83.3% | 75% | 136 | Partial | |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC Washington, DC | DC | Private for-profit, <2-year | $17,528 | 50.7% | Not available | 117 | Partial | |
| NewU University Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 12% | 34 | Partial | |
| National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 2-year | Not available | 33.3% | 100% | 16 | Partial | |
| Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Wesley Theological Seminary Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Institute of World Politics Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| The Chicago School at Washington DC Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 43% | Not available | Partial | |
| Windsor University Washington, DC | DC | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 12% | 0 | Partial | |
| Arizona State University - Washington D.C. Washington, DC | DC | Public, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 87% | Not available | Partial | |
| Relay Graduate School of Education - Washington D.C Washington, DC | DC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing |
By institution type
Private nonprofit (15)
Private nonprofit colleges in Washington are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- George Washington UniversityNet price: $36,586Grad: 84.0%
- Howard UniversityNet price: $50,539Grad: 70.0%
- Georgetown UniversityNet price: $40,815Grad: 94.8%
- American UniversityNet price: $41,943Grad: 75.5%
- The Catholic University of AmericaNet price: $29,561Grad: 79.5%
- Trinity Washington UniversityNet price: $9,302Grad: 49.3%
- Gallaudet UniversityNet price: $15,845Grad: 47.3%
- NewU UniversityNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- National Conservatory of Dramatic ArtsNet price: Not availableGrad: 33.3%
- Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of StudiesNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Wesley Theological SeminaryNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Institute of World PoliticsNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and FamilyNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- The Chicago School at Washington DCNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Relay Graduate School of Education - Washington D.CNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Private for-profit (8)
Private for-profit colleges in Washington operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Strayer University-Global RegionNet price: $17,833Grad: 14.3%
- University of the Potomac-Washington DC CampusNet price: Not availableGrad: 33.3%
- Career Technical InstituteNet price: $20,985Grad: 69.1%
- Bennett Career InstituteNet price: $11,824Grad: 51.0%
- Strayer University-District of ColumbiaNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Saint Michael College of Allied HealthNet price: $38,751Grad: 83.3%
- The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DCNet price: $17,528Grad: 50.7%
- Windsor UniversityNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Public (2)
Public colleges in Washington are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- University of the District of ColumbiaNet price: $10,648Grad: 33.2%
- Arizona State University - Washington D.C.Net price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Top programs in Washington
Most-completed programs across Washington colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Business26.4% of degrees
- Social sciences19.3% of degrees
- Health professions8.5% of degrees
- Computer science6.5% of degrees
- Psychology4.7% of degrees
- Biological sciences4.5% of degrees
- Communication4.1% of degrees
- Homeland security & law enforcement2.9% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Washington
Q.How many colleges are in Washington, District of Columbia?
There are 25 colleges and universities in Washington, District of Columbia that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 15 Private nonprofit, 8 Private for-profit, 2 Public.
Q.What is the largest college in Washington?
By undergraduate enrollment, George Washington University is the largest institution in Washington with roughly 11,182 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Washington?
Based on average net price after aid, Trinity Washington University is the most affordable institution in Washington at $9,302 per year.
Q.Which Washington college has the highest graduation rate?
Georgetown University reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Washington institutions at 94.8%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Washington?
The median net price across all 25 colleges in Washington is $20,985 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Washington?
Across Washington colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Business, Social sciences, Health professions.
Q.Are there community colleges in Washington?
Yes — Washington includes 2 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Washington that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.