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Colleges in and near Washington

Washington is home to 13 colleges, with about 76,000 students on campus

George Washington University (21,060 students on campus) and Georgetown University (17,465) are inside the city. About 9% of Washington’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as District of Columbia (9%).

Gallaudet UniversityHoward UniversityGeorge Washington UniversityTrinity Washington UniversityThe Catholic University of AmericaGeorgetown UniversityUniversity of the District of ColumbiaAmerican University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Washington. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
29
183,469 students on campus
Nearest college
0.9 mi
The Chicago School at Washington DC
Residents in college
9%
About the same as DC (9%)
Nearest public university
3.8 mi
University of the District of Columbia · $5,662 in-state
Median household income
$110K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Washington

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Eight colleges within 4.5 milesGallaudet University admits 58% of applicants; Howard University admits 41%; George Washington University admits 47%. Together they have 74,010 students on campus.In-state price at University of the District of ColumbiaLiving in District of Columbia, the University of the District of Columbia charges $5,662 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $12,514. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 9% of residentsAbout the same as District of Columbia (9%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Washington

24 private colleges within 13.3 miles, three public colleges within 9.1 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miNorthern VirginiaUniversity of Maryland-College ParkGeorge Washington UniversityWashington
University or collegeCommunity college
The Chicago School at Washington DCUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 569 on campus · In Washington$57kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of the Potomac-Washington DC CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 501 on campus · In Washington33%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Career Technical InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 242 on campus · In WashingtonGallaudet UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,178 on campus · In Washington58%admitted$16knet price47%graduate$43kearningsHoward UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 12,280 on campus · In Washington41%admitted$51knet price70%graduate$63kearningsGeorge Washington UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 21,060 on campus · In Washington47%admitted$37knet price84%graduate$91kearningsTrinity Washington UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,576 on campus · In Washington100%admitted$9knet price49%graduate$54kearningsSaint Michael College of Allied HealthUniversity or college · For-profit · 123 on campus · In Washington75%admitted$39knet price83%graduateThe Catholic University of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,721 on campus · In Washington83%admitted$30knet price79%graduate$73kearningsGeorgetown UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 17,465 on campus · In Washington13%admitted$41knet price95%graduate$103kearningsUniversity of the District of ColumbiaUniversity or college · Public · 3,833 on campus · In Washington$11knet price33%graduate$44kearningsAmerican UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 11,897 on campus · In Washington62%admitted$42knet price75%graduate$77kearningsWesley Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 378 on campus · In WashingtonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Washington Adventist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 646 on campus · 5.7 mi · Takoma Park, MD46%admitted$19knet price29%graduate$64kearningsMarymount UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,811 on campus · 6 mi · Arlington, VA93%admitted$29knet price54%graduate$68kearningsUniversity of Maryland-College ParkUniversity or college · Public · 39,078 on campus · 7 mi · College Park, MD45%admitted$16knet price89%graduate$83kearningsWashington University of Science and TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,008 on campus · 7.9 mi · Alexandria, VA7%admitted67%graduateFortis College-LandoverUniversity or college · For-profit · 576 on campus · 8.7 mi · Landover, MD$27knet price47%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.University of Maryland Global CampusUniversity or college · Public · 6,469 on campus · 9.1 mi · Adelphi, MD · mostly online$22knet price33%graduate$65kearnings89% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Standard Healthcare Services-College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 719 on campus · 10.3 mi · Falls Church, VA28%admitted$36knet price66%graduatePrince George's Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,893 on campus · 10.4 mi · Largo, MD$9knet price18%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $4,034 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of the Potomac-VA CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 547 on campus · 10.7 mi · FALLS CHURCH, VA50%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.SANS Technology InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 119 on campus · 10.7 mi · North Bethesda, MD · mostly online93% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Chamberlain University-VirginiaUniversity or college · For-profit · 540 on campus · 11 mi · Vienna, VA90%admitted$33knet price100%graduate$92kearningsEarnings are reported for all 15 campuses that file with it.Virginia University of Integrative MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 251 on campus · 11.2 mi · Vienna, VAGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Arizona College of Nursing-Falls ChurchUniversity or college · For-profit · 284 on campus · 11.3 mi · Falls Church, VA100%admitted$39knet price$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.Columbia CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 231 on campus · 12.6 mi · Vienna, VA$10knet price80%graduate$22kearningsNorthern Virginia Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 48,232 on campus · 12.8 mi · Annandale, VA$10knet price33%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $5,891 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Capitol Technology UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 242 on campus · 13.3 mi · Laurel, MD · mostly online74%admitted$22knet price43%graduate$85kearnings73% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Washington’s median household income ($109,870) falls.

Prince George's Community College10.4 mi · Largo, MD · sticker $15,544 · tuition $4,034$11,300a year
Trinity Washington UniversityIn Washington · sticker $33,903$13,623a year
Northern Virginia Community College12.8 mi · Annandale, VA · sticker $17,153 · tuition $5,891$13,835a year
University of the District of ColumbiaIn Washington · sticker $20,437$16,312a year
University of Maryland-College Park7 mi · College Park, MD · sticker $29,299$18,250a year
Gallaudet UniversityIn Washington · sticker $40,374$18,830a year
Washington Adventist University5.7 mi · Takoma Park, MD · sticker $34,309$22,090a year
Georgetown UniversityIn Washington · sticker $88,741$26,459a year
Capitol Technology University13.3 mi · Laurel, MD · mostly online · sticker $42,471$27,961a year
George Washington UniversityIn Washington · sticker $83,856$28,100a year
The Catholic University of AmericaIn Washington · sticker $75,481$28,295a year
American UniversityIn Washington · sticker $76,058$30,063a year
Fortis College-Landover8.7 mi · Landover, MD · sticker $33,587$30,140a year
Marymount University6 mi · Arlington, VA · sticker $57,184$31,962a year
Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing10.3 mi · Falls Church, VA · sticker $41,939$37,822a year
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church11.3 mi · Falls Church, VA · sticker $42,280$40,507a year
Howard UniversityIn Washington · sticker $54,630$52,981a year
Saint Michael College of Allied HealthIn Washington · sticker $45,405—a year
University of Maryland Global Campus9.1 mi · Adelphi, MD · mostly online · sticker $25,400—a year
Chamberlain University-Virginia11 mi · Vienna, VA · sticker $45,594—a year
Columbia College12.6 mi · Vienna, VA · sticker $13,440—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Washington: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Howard UniversityGeorge Washington UniversityAmerican UniversityUniversity of Maryland-College ParkNorthern Virginia
Northern Virginia Community College33% graduate$54k earnings$11k typical debt
University of Maryland-College Park89% graduate$83k earnings$19k typical debt
George Washington University84% graduate$91k earnings$20k typical debt
Georgetown University95% graduate$103k earnings$16k typical debt
Howard University70% graduate$63k earnings$24k typical debt
American University75% graduate$77k earnings$23k typical debt
University of Maryland Global Campus33% graduate$65k earnings$21k typical debt
Prince George's Community College18% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
The Catholic University of America79% graduate$73k earnings$26k typical debt
University of the District of Columbia33% graduate$44k earnings$25k typical debt
Marymount University54% graduate$68k earnings$25k typical debt
Trinity Washington University49% graduate$54k earnings$28k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus (2); Fortis College-Landover (3); University of the Potomac-VA Campus (2); Chamberlain University-Virginia (15).

Majors

What students study in Washington

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Washington’s 10 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Social sciences 23%Business 16%Health professions 9%Communication 5%Biology 5%Education 4%Everything else 39%

Biggest programs

International Relations and National Security StudiesGeorge Washington University · 511 graduates a year
$77k4 yrs out
International Relations and National Security StudiesAmerican University · 387 graduates a year
$74k4 yrs out
Political Science and GovernmentGeorge Washington University · 305 graduates a year
$80k4 yrs out
International Relations and National Security StudiesGeorgetown University · 283 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingGeorge Washington University · 272 graduates a year
$97k4 yrs out
Political Science and GovernmentGeorgetown University · 272 graduates a year
$80k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsAmerican University · 264 graduates a year
$88k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesGeorgetown University · 236 graduates a year
$153k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Washington

Is Washington a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Washington residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as District of Columbia (9). The largest campus in the city, George Washington University, has 21,060 students on campus.

What colleges are in Washington?

George Washington University, Georgetown University, Howard University, American University and 9 more are inside the city.

How much does the University of the District of Columbia cost if we live in District of Columbia?

Tuition and fees are $5,662 a year in-state and $12,514 from out of state.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Washington. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →