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Old Town Alexandria from George Washington Masonic National MemorialPhoto: Ben Schumin · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Alexandria

Alexandria is home to Washington University of Science and Technology

Washington University of Science and Technology (1,008 students on campus) is inside the city. About 6% of Alexandria’s residents are enrolled in college, below Virginia (7%).

Washington University of Science and Technology

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 Alexandria. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
28
215,428 students on campus
Nearest college
1.2 mi
Washington University of Science and Technology
Residents in college
6%
Below VA (7%)
Nearest community college
8.3 mi
Northern Virginia · $5,891 tuition
Nearest public university
12.1 mi
George Mason University · $14,220 in-state
Median household income
$120K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Alexandria

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

A university in AlexandriaWashington University of Science and Technology has 1,008 students on campus in Alexandria, 67% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 8.3 miles awayNorthern Virginia Community College in Annandale: tuition and fees $5,891 a year for Virginia residents.In-state price at George Mason UniversityLiving in Virginia, George Mason University charges $14,220 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $38,688. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsBelow Virginia (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Alexandria

22 private colleges within 14.8 miles, four public colleges within 14.2 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miNorthern VirginiaUniversity of Maryland-College ParkGeorge Mason UniversityAlexandria
University or collegeCommunity college
Washington University of Science and TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,008 on campus · In Alexandria7%admitted67%graduateGeorge Washington UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 21,060 on campus · 5.9 mi · Washington, DC47%admitted$37knet price84%graduate$91kearningsGeorgetown UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 17,465 on campus · 6.2 mi · Washington, DC13%admitted$41knet price95%graduate$103kearningsThe Chicago School at Washington DCUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 569 on campus · 6.3 mi · Washington, DC$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 · 6.3 mi · Washington, DC33%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Marymount UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,811 on campus · 6.5 mi · Arlington93%admitted$29knet price54%graduate$68kearningsCareer Technical InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 242 on campus · 6.5 mi · Washington, DCGallaudet UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,178 on campus · 7.8 mi · Washington, DC58%admitted$16knet price47%graduate$43kearningsArizona College of Nursing-Falls ChurchUniversity or college · For-profit · 284 on campus · 7.8 mi · Falls Church100%admitted$39knet price$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.Howard UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 12,280 on campus · 7.9 mi · Washington, DC41%admitted$51knet price70%graduate$63kearningsAmerican UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 11,897 on campus · 8.1 mi · Washington, DC62%admitted$42knet price75%graduate$77kearningsSaint Michael College of Allied HealthUniversity or college · For-profit · 123 on campus · 8.1 mi · Washington, DC75%admitted$39knet price83%graduateNorthern Virginia Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 48,232 on campus · 8.3 mi · Annandale$10knet price33%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $5,891 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Wesley Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 378 on campus · 8.4 mi · Washington, DCGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Trinity Washington UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,576 on campus · 8.6 mi · Washington, DC100%admitted$9knet price49%graduate$54kearningsUniversity of the District of ColumbiaUniversity or college · Public · 3,833 on campus · 8.7 mi · Washington, DC$11knet price33%graduate$44kearningsStandard Healthcare Services-College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 719 on campus · 9.1 mi · Falls Church28%admitted$36knet price66%graduateThe Catholic University of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,721 on campus · 9.2 mi · Washington, DC83%admitted$30knet price79%graduate$73kearningsUniversity of the Potomac-VA CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 547 on campus · 9.4 mi · FALLS CHURCH50%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Chamberlain University-VirginiaUniversity or college · For-profit · 540 on campus · 9.7 mi · Vienna90%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 · 9.9 mi · ViennaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Columbia CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 231 on campus · 11.7 mi · Vienna$10knet price80%graduate$22kearningsGeorge Mason UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 32,320 on campus · 12.1 mi · Fairfax87%admitted$18knet price68%graduate$76kearningsWashington Adventist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 646 on campus · 12.4 mi · Takoma Park, MD46%admitted$19knet price29%graduate$64kearningsUniversity of Maryland-College ParkUniversity or college · Public · 39,078 on campus · 13.9 mi · College Park, MD45%admitted$16knet price89%graduate$83kearningsUniversity of Maryland Global CampusUniversity or college · Public · 6,469 on campus · 14.2 mi · Adelphi, MD · mostly online$22knet price33%graduate$65kearnings89% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Prince George's Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,893 on campus · 14.7 mi · Largo, MD$9knet price18%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $4,034 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Fortis College-LandoverUniversity or college · For-profit · 576 on campus · 14.8 mi · Landover, MD$27knet price47%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.

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 Over $110k, where Alexandria’s median household income ($119,681) falls.

Prince George's Community College14.7 mi · Largo, MD · sticker $15,544 · tuition $4,034$12,979a year
Trinity Washington University8.6 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $33,903$15,307a year
Northern Virginia Community College8.3 mi · Annandale · sticker $17,153 · tuition $5,891$16,630a year
Gallaudet University7.8 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $40,374$18,318a year
Washington Adventist University12.4 mi · Takoma Park, MD · sticker $34,309$21,480a year
George Mason University12.1 mi · Fairfax · sticker $28,604$25,894a year
University of Maryland-College Park13.9 mi · College Park, MD · sticker $29,299$26,691a year
Marymount University6.5 mi · Arlington · sticker $57,184$30,618a year
The Catholic University of America9.2 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $75,481$37,651a year
Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing9.1 mi · Falls Church · sticker $41,939$41,243a year
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church7.8 mi · Falls Church · sticker $42,280$42,280a year
American University8.1 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $76,058$53,673a year
Howard University7.9 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $54,630$54,270a year
George Washington University5.9 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $83,856$55,337a year
Georgetown University6.2 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $88,741$57,403a year
Saint Michael College of Allied Health8.1 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $45,405—a year
University of the District of Columbia8.7 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $20,437—a year
Chamberlain University-Virginia9.7 mi · Vienna · sticker $45,594—a year
Columbia College11.7 mi · Vienna · sticker $13,440—a year
University of Maryland Global Campus14.2 mi · Adelphi, MD · mostly online · sticker $25,400—a year
Fortis College-Landover14.8 mi · Landover, MD · sticker $33,587—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 Alexandria: 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 →George Washington UniversityHoward UniversityNorthern VirginiaGeorge Mason UniversityUniversity of Maryland-College Park
Northern Virginia Community College33% graduate$54k earnings$11k typical debt
University of Maryland-College Park89% graduate$83k earnings$19k typical debt
George Mason University68% graduate$76k earnings$20k 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

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); University of the Potomac-VA Campus (2); Chamberlain University-Virginia (15); Fortis College-Landover (3).

Majors

What students study in Alexandria

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Washington University of Science and Technology, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Computer science 67%Business 33%Everything else 0%

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 Alexandria

Is Alexandria a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Alexandria residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Virginia (7). The largest campus in the city, Washington University of Science and Technology, has 1,008 students on campus.

What colleges are in Alexandria?

Washington University of Science and Technology is inside the city. Northern Virginia Community College is 8.3 miles away in Annandale.

What is the closest community college to Alexandria, and what does it cost?

Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, 8.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,891 a year for Virginia residents; the federal net price, $9,919, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does George Mason University cost if we live in Virginia?

Tuition and fees are $14,220 a year in-state and $38,688 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,942 (under $30,000 income) to $25,894 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Alexandria. 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 →