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Pentagon, The (Boundary Increase)Pentagon, The (Boundary Increase) · Photo: Touch Of Light · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Arlington

Arlington is home to Marymount University

Marymount University (2,811 students on campus) is inside the town, and George Washington University (21,060) is 3.2 miles from the center, just over the line in Washington. About 7% of Arlington’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Virginia (7%).

Marymount UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGeorge Washington UniversityAmerican UniversityUniversity of the District of Columbia

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 Arlington. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
29
215,547 students on campus
Nearest college
2.4 mi
Marymount University
Residents in college
7%
About the same as VA (7%)
Nearest community college
8 mi
Northern Virginia · $5,891 tuition
Nearest public university
11.6 mi
George Mason University · $14,220 in-state
Median household income
$142K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Arlington

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

Five colleges within 4.9 milesMarymount University admits 93% of applicants; Georgetown University admits 13%; George Washington University admits 47%. Together they have 57,066 students on campus.A community college 8 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 7% of residentsAbout the same as Virginia (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Arlington

23 private colleges within 13.5 miles, four public colleges within 13.8 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miNorthern VirginiaUniversity of Maryland-College ParkGeorge Mason UniversityArlington
University or collegeCommunity college
Marymount UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,811 on campus · In Arlington93%admitted$29knet price54%graduate$68kearningsGeorgetown UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 17,465 on campus · 2.6 mi · Washington, DC13%admitted$41knet price95%graduate$103kearningsGeorge Washington UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 21,060 on campus · 3.2 mi · Washington, DC47%admitted$37knet price84%graduate$91kearningsAmerican UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 11,897 on campus · 4 mi · Washington, DC62%admitted$42knet price75%graduate$77kearningsThe Chicago School at Washington DCUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 569 on campus · 4 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 · 4 mi · Washington, DC33%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Career Technical InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 242 on campus · 4.1 mi · Washington, DCWesley Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 378 on campus · 4.3 mi · Washington, DCGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of the District of ColumbiaUniversity or college · Public · 3,833 on campus · 4.9 mi · Washington, DC$11knet price33%graduate$44kearningsHoward UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 12,280 on campus · 5.3 mi · Washington, DC41%admitted$51knet price70%graduate$63kearningsWashington University of Science and TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,008 on campus · 5.4 mi · Alexandria7%admitted67%graduateGallaudet UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,178 on campus · 6.1 mi · Washington, DC58%admitted$16knet price47%graduate$43kearningsStandard Healthcare Services-College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 719 on campus · 6.1 mi · Falls Church28%admitted$36knet price66%graduateTrinity Washington UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,576 on campus · 6.2 mi · Washington, DC100%admitted$9knet price49%graduate$54kearningsArizona College of Nursing-Falls ChurchUniversity or college · For-profit · 284 on campus · 6.4 mi · Falls Church100%admitted$39knet price$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.University of the Potomac-VA CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 547 on campus · 6.5 mi · FALLS CHURCH50%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.The Catholic University of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,721 on campus · 6.7 mi · Washington, DC83%admitted$30knet price79%graduate$73kearningsSaint Michael College of Allied HealthUniversity or college · For-profit · 123 on campus · 6.7 mi · Washington, DC75%admitted$39knet price83%graduateChamberlain University-VirginiaUniversity or college · For-profit · 540 on campus · 6.8 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 · 7 mi · ViennaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Northern Virginia Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 48,232 on campus · 8 mi · Annandale$10knet price33%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $5,891 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Columbia CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 231 on campus · 8.7 mi · Vienna$10knet price80%graduate$22kearningsWashington Adventist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 646 on campus · 9.2 mi · Takoma Park, MD46%admitted$19knet price29%graduate$64kearningsSANS Technology InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 119 on campus · 11.2 mi · North Bethesda, MD · mostly online93% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.University of Maryland-College ParkUniversity or college · Public · 39,078 on campus · 11.3 mi · College Park, MD45%admitted$16knet price89%graduate$83kearningsGeorge Mason UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 32,320 on campus · 11.6 mi · Fairfax87%admitted$18knet price68%graduate$76kearningsFortis College-LandoverUniversity or college · For-profit · 576 on campus · 13.5 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 · 13.8 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 · 14.9 mi · Largo, MD$9knet price18%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $4,034 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 Arlington’s median household income ($142,114) falls.

Prince George's Community College14.9 mi · Largo, MD · sticker $15,544 · tuition $4,034$12,979a year
Trinity Washington University6.2 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $33,903$15,307a year
Northern Virginia Community College8 mi · Annandale · sticker $17,153 · tuition $5,891$16,630a year
Gallaudet University6.1 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $40,374$18,318a year
Washington Adventist University9.2 mi · Takoma Park, MD · sticker $34,309$21,480a year
George Mason University11.6 mi · Fairfax · sticker $28,604$25,894a year
University of Maryland-College Park11.3 mi · College Park, MD · sticker $29,299$26,691a year
Marymount UniversityIn Arlington · sticker $57,184$30,618a year
The Catholic University of America6.7 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $75,481$37,651a year
Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing6.1 mi · Falls Church · sticker $41,939$41,243a year
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church6.4 mi · Falls Church · sticker $42,280$42,280a year
American University4 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $76,058$53,673a year
Howard University5.3 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $54,630$54,270a year
George Washington University3.2 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $83,856$55,337a year
Georgetown University2.6 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $88,741$57,403a year
University of the District of Columbia4.9 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $20,437—a year
Saint Michael College of Allied Health6.7 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $45,405—a year
Chamberlain University-Virginia6.8 mi · Vienna · sticker $45,594—a year
Columbia College8.7 mi · Vienna · sticker $13,440—a year
Fortis College-Landover13.5 mi · Landover, MD · sticker $33,587—a year
University of Maryland Global Campus13.8 mi · Adelphi, MD · mostly online · sticker $25,400—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 Arlington: 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 VirginiaUniversity of Maryland-College ParkGeorge Mason University
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 Arlington

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

Health professions 37%Business 15%Computer science 11%Biology 8%Engineering tech 6%Visual & performing arts 5%Everything else 19%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing104 graduates a year
$95k4 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General65 graduates a year
$83k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations54 graduates a year
$80k4 yrs out
Design and Applied Arts44 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General40 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Psychology, General31 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections31 graduates a year
$73k4 yrs out
Biology, General23 graduates a year
$66k4 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 Arlington

Is Arlington a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Arlington residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Virginia (7). The largest campus in the town, Marymount University, has 2,811 students on campus.

What colleges are in Arlington?

Marymount University is inside the town. George Washington University is 3.2 miles from the center, in Washington, Georgetown University is 2.6 miles from the center, in Washington, American University is 4 miles from the center, in Washington, and Northern Virginia Community College is 8 miles away in Annandale.

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

Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, 8 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 Arlington. 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 →