Best Colleges in DC 2024

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Here are the best colleges and universities in DC. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you.

Best Colleges in DC

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  1. Georgetown University
  2. George Washington University
  3. American University
  4. Howard University
  5. The Catholic University of America
  6. Gallaudet University
  7. University of the District of Columbia
  8. Trinity Washington University
  1. Georgetown University
  2. George Washington University
  3. Howard University
  4. American University
  5. The Catholic University of America
  6. Gallaudet University
  7. University of the District of Columbia
  8. Trinity Washington University
  1. Trinity Washington University 97%
  2. The Catholic University of America 86%
  3. Gallaudet University 59%
  4. Howard University 53%
  5. George Washington University 49%
  6. American University 41%
  7. Georgetown University 12%
  1. Howard University 14 to 1
  2. George Washington University 12 to 1
  3. Trinity Washington University 12 to 1
  4. Georgetown University 11 to 1
  5. American University 11 to 1
  6. The Catholic University of America 11 to 1
  7. Gallaudet University 6 to 1
  8. University of the District of Columbia 6 to 1
  1. George Washington University $62,200
  2. Georgetown University $62,052
  3. The Catholic University of America $54,186
  4. American University $53,889
  5. Howard University $31,050
  6. Trinity Washington University $25,610
  7. Gallaudet University $17,712
  8. University of the District of Columbia $5,292
  1. Georgetown University $56,592
  2. The Catholic University of America $52,190
  3. American University $38,139
  4. Howard University $35,556
  5. George Washington University $33,930
  6. Gallaudet University $18,180
  7. Trinity Washington University $15,120
  8. University of the District of Columbia $9,234
  1. Trinity Washington University
  2. University of the District of Columbia
  3. Gallaudet University
  4. The Catholic University of America
  5. Howard University
  6. American University
  7. George Washington University
  8. Georgetown University
  1. Trinity Washington University
  2. University of the District of Columbia
  3. Gallaudet University
  4. The Catholic University of America
  5. American University
  6. Howard University
  7. George Washington University
  8. Georgetown University
  1. Georgetown University 12%
  2. American University 41%
  3. George Washington University 49%
  4. Howard University 53%
  5. Gallaudet University 59%
  6. The Catholic University of America 86%
  7. Trinity Washington University 97%
  1. Gallaudet University 6 to 1
  2. University of the District of Columbia 6 to 1
  3. Georgetown University 11 to 1
  4. American University 11 to 1
  5. The Catholic University of America 11 to 1
  6. George Washington University 12 to 1
  7. Trinity Washington University 12 to 1
  8. Howard University 14 to 1
  1. University of the District of Columbia $5,292
  2. Gallaudet University $17,712
  3. Trinity Washington University $25,610
  4. Howard University $31,050
  5. American University $53,889
  6. The Catholic University of America $54,186
  7. Georgetown University $62,052
  8. George Washington University $62,200
  1. University of the District of Columbia $9,234
  2. Trinity Washington University $15,120
  3. Gallaudet University $18,180
  4. George Washington University $33,930
  5. Howard University $35,556
  6. American University $38,139
  7. The Catholic University of America $52,190
  8. Georgetown University $56,592

What are DC’s Colleges & Universities?

DC’s Best Overall

Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges

DC's Best Colleges and Universities Badge
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We’ve identified 8 colleges and universities in DC that meet our criteria. This list of the top colleges in DC below focuses on schools that offer bachelor’s degrees. The ranking features fully accredited public and private colleges and universities in DC.

Best Colleges in DC 2023

  1. #1

    Georgetown University

    Washington , DC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    12%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    24K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1485/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Georgetown University

    Cost of Degree: $62,051
    Expenses: $22,644
    Starting Salary: $125,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  2. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    49%

    Graduation

    85%

    Student body

    30K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1410/32

    Career Outlook for degree at George Washington University

    Cost of Degree: $60,946
    Expenses: $18,745
    Starting Salary: $82,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  3. #3

    American University

    Washington , DC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $54K

    Acceptance

    41%

    Graduation

    79%

    Student body

    17K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1360/30

    Career Outlook for degree at American University

    Cost of Degree: $53,889
    Expenses: $17,814
    Starting Salary: $67,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  4. #6

    Gallaudet University

    Washington , DC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $18K

    Acceptance

    59%

    Graduation

    44%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    920/17

    Career Outlook for degree at Gallaudet University

    Cost of Degree: $17,712
    Expenses: $22,000
    Starting Salary: $34,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  5. Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Graduation

    35%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of the District of Columbia

    Cost of Degree: $6,152
    Starting Salary: $39,400
    What is University of the District of Columbia known for?

    University of the District of Columbia’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

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DC’s Best Colleges in Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archieve

Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

  1. Georgetown University
  2. George Washington University
  3. The Catholic University of America
  4. Howard University
  5. American University
  6. Gallaudet University
  7. Trinity Washington University
  8. University of the District of Columbia
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