State Hub

Colleges in District of Columbia

CampusPin tracks 18 colleges in District of Columbia, 16 universities and 2 community colleges. Compare tuition, acceptance, size, and setting to build a shortlist that fits.

Colleges tracked

18

Universities

16

Community colleges

2

Avg. in-state tuition

$33k

About college search in District of Columbia

How District of Columbia's higher-education landscape shapes a search

Washington, D.C. is a unique higher-education market: it is small in land area (under 70 square miles) but concentrates a remarkable mix of private research universities, the federal government as a co-located employer, and one of the most consequential HBCUs in the country. The city does not have a state university system in the conventional sense; the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is the only public university, and DC residents have access to the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DC TAG) that subsidizes attendance at out-of-state public universities to in-state rates.

Most college search in DC is a comparison across private universities, Georgetown, George Washington, American, Catholic, Howard, and Gallaudet, each with very different missions and academic profiles. Because DC is so small, most students cross-shop with Maryland and Northern Virginia institutions; the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region functions as one integrated college market.

Six major private universities in one city

Georgetown, GWU, American, Catholic University, Howard, and Gallaudet each anchor a distinct academic identity within a single Metro-accessible city.

Howard University as a leading HBCU

Howard University is among the most prominent historically Black research universities in the United States, with deep alumni networks across law, journalism, medicine, and federal service.

Gallaudet as the leading deaf-education university

Gallaudet is the world’s only university with all programs and services specifically designed for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and DeafBlind students.

DC TAG benefits DC residents

The DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DC TAG) helps DC residents pay the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at public universities outside DC, partly offsetting DC’s lack of a large state university system.

Public university system

University of the District of Columbia (UDC)

UDC is the only public university in Washington, D.C. It is also a federally designated HBCU and a land-grant institution. UDC includes a community college division.

Community college network

UDC Community College

UDC’s community college division operates the city’s public two-year programs and workforce pathways. Transfer to UDC’s four-year programs is the primary articulation path.

In-state vs. out-of-state tuition

DC has no separate "in-state" public university system in the conventional sense. UDC posts a District-resident tuition rate, and DC residents may use the DC TAG to attend out-of-state public universities at in-state rates (subject to caps and program eligibility). Verify DC TAG eligibility directly with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

Top metros for college search

Where District of Columbia's higher-education density concentrates

  • Northwest DC (Georgetown / Foggy Bottom)

    Northwest DC hosts Georgetown University (Georgetown neighborhood) and George Washington University (Foggy Bottom), plus the Catholic University of America further north.

  • Upper Northwest DC

    Upper Northwest DC hosts American University (Tenleytown) and the University of the District of Columbia (Van Ness).

  • Northeast DC

    Northeast DC is the home of Gallaudet University (the leading university for deaf students) and Trinity Washington University.

  • Capitol Hill / Northwest DC

    Howard University sits in Northwest DC near Shaw and is one of the most consequential HBCUs in the country.

What District of Columbia actually costs

Median net price after grants
$17,481 for families under $30,000
$45,641 at $110,000 or more
Across 8 District of Columbia colleges reporting the full series. All five income bands
Median federal debt at graduation
$22,750 with 32.4% borrowing
Debt without the borrower share is misleading, so CampusPin never shows one alone. Debt by college
Studying entirely online
24% of District of Columbia students
Federal enrolment collection, weighted by students rather than campuses. Where they study

Every college we track

Colleges and universities in District of Columbia

Filter all District of Columbia schools

South region overview

What students weigh when searching colleges in District of Columbia

Across District of Columbia (DC), CampusPin currently indexes 18 institutions: 1 public and 17 private, split between 16 universities and 2 community colleges. Students often compare fast-growing metros, flagship publics, regional campuses, and cost-sensitive pathways across a wide mix of institutions.

Run one search for broad public options and another for community-college or commuter-oriented pathways.
Check campus setting and support services early because regional fit can vary more than names alone suggest.
Keep cost, transfer, and online flexibility visible if location is important but not completely fixed.

Browse by major

District of Columbia colleges by program

Jump straight to District of Columbia colleges and universities that offer a specific major. Each page compares tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment for that program across District of Columbia.

Fields with a distinct set of District of Columbia colleges

12 fields where the colleges that awarded credentials in District of Columbia are a materially different set from those of any closely related field, based on federal completions data. The number is how many colleges awarded credentials.

How to use the District of Columbia hub

Start with CampusPin results filtered to District of Columbia so your first pass stays geographically focused.
Use school profiles to compare tuition, admissions, program format, and campus fit before building a shortlist.
If you are looking for lower-cost or transfer-first options, compare community colleges and four-year destinations separately.
Use blog guides and help-center content when you need stronger decision frameworks, not just more schools.

Next actions for District of Columbia

Explore all colleges in District of ColumbiaView community colleges in District of ColumbiaView online programs in District of ColumbiaRead planning guides before you compare

Frequently asked questions

Questions families ask about colleges in District of Columbia

Does Washington, D.C. have a state university system?
No. DC is a federal district, not a state, and does not operate a state university system in the conventional sense. The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is the only public university in DC. DC residents can use the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DC TAG) to attend out-of-state public universities at in-state rates.
How does the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DC TAG) work?
DC TAG helps eligible DC residents pay the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at public universities in any U.S. state. The grant is capped and subject to eligibility rules, verify current details with the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education before relying on it.
Which universities in Washington, D.C. are HBCUs?
Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) are the historically Black universities in Washington, D.C. Howard is private; UDC is public.
Can students compare DC, Maryland, and Virginia schools on CampusPin?
Yes. The DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region functions as one integrated college market, and most DC-area students cross-shop across all three jurisdictions. Pin schools across DC, MD, and VA, then open /compare to see them side by side.
What is Gallaudet University?
Gallaudet, located in Northeast DC, is the world’s only university where all programs and services are specifically designed for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and DeafBlind students. American Sign Language and English are the languages of instruction and campus life.
How many District of Columbia colleges are flagged for lower earnings on the FAFSA?
2 schools in the Department of Education's March 2026 release, the list the 2027-28 FAFSA uses, out of 14 District of Columbia schools with an earnings figure. The December 2025 release flagged 4: 2 came off and 0 were added. Every one is named in the District of Columbia section of CampusPin's FAFSA lower earnings list. The notice is informational and does not affect financial aid, and it describes a whole school, not a program.
How many District of Columbia colleges cost more than a family can borrow from the federal government?
For families earning under $30,000, 1 of the 8 District of Columbia colleges reporting the complete federal net-price series charge more after grants than the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026; the median college there charges $17,481. For families earning $48,001–$75,000 it is 2 (median $19,769). Net prices are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any family, and Parent PLUS requires no adverse credit history.

Related blog clusters

Guides that pair well with a District of Columbia search

Cost and Financial Aid

College affordability, net price, aid interpretation, borrowing decisions, and budgeting guidance for students and families using CampusPin to compare higher-ed options with more discipline.

Community College

Community-college strategy, affordability, transfer readiness, and credential pathway content for students exploring two-year options through CampusPin.

College Search Strategy

Filter-first search strategy, shortlist building, and planning content for students and parents using CampusPin to discover best-fit colleges and universities.

Help Center

Workflow guides for students searching in District of Columbia

Getting Started With CampusPin

A fast orientation to the CampusPin workflow, from your first search through profile review, pins, and next-step planning.

How to Use Filters to Narrow Your College List

A practical help article on how to use CampusPin filters without over-filtering or locking yourself into the wrong criteria too early.

How to Read a CampusPin School Profile

A guide to the major sections inside a CampusPin institution profile and how to interpret them effectively. Each page connects to clearer next steps, related guides, and the CampusPin tools that help you decide.

CampusPin research

National analyses with District of Columbia in the data

Each report is built from a checksum-verified snapshot, with full methodology and a downloadable CSV that includes District of Columbia.

Comparing schools on price? See our national analysis of how college cost relates to graduation and earnings, an association driven by selectivity and sector, not evidence that a pricier college pays off.

Explore District of Columbia

More ways to explore District of Columbia colleges

By city

Colleges in District of Columbia cities

CampusPin publishes a directory for 1 city in District of Columbia, every one where federal data reports at least five colleges.

Browse colleges by city nationwide

What this count of 18 includes

Other sites publish very different totals for District of Columbia, and most do not say what they are counting. Here is exactly what this one counts, so you can check it against anyone else's.

By level
16 listed as universities and 2 as community colleges. CampusPin records this as an institution type, and uses it as an approximation of four-year versus two-year; it is not a separately reported degree-level field.
By control
1 public and 17 private. CampusPin records control as public or private only, so private nonprofit and private for-profit institutions are not separated here.
  • Every institution counted has its own CampusPin profile listing the figures behind it and where each one came from, so the total can be checked against its parts rather than taken on trust.
  • This is CampusPin's directory of 3,798 institutions nationwide, not the full federal universe. NCES counted 5,829 Title IV institutions, administrative offices, and U.S. service academies nationwide for 2024-25. That figure includes entities a student would never apply to, which is one reason published totals differ so widely.
  • Figures come from federal sources on a reporting lag, so a very new or very recently closed institution may not be reflected yet. Found something wrong? Tell us and we will correct it.
Full data methodologyCoverage and data quality

Data sources & methodology

College listings for District of Columbia are compiled from federal datasets and each institution's own published information.

Sources used across this page

Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.

  • IPEDS / NCES College Navigator

    Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.

  • U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

    Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.

  • Institutional websites

    Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.

Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.

Methodology Data dictionary Report a correction

Suggested citation

CampusPin. Colleges in District of Columbia. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/colleges-by-state/district-of-columbia