Most Affordable Colleges in DC 2025

Badge for MOST AFFORDABLE COLLEGES IN DC

Published: Apr 19, 2021
Updated: Oct 8, 2024

Here are the most affordable colleges and universities in DC. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you, at a price you can afford.

Key Takeaways

Many affordable colleges in D.C., such as UDC and Trinity Washington University, offer students unparalleled access to internships and job opportunities in federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and political institutions, due to the city’s proximity to government and policy hubs.
Several D.C. institutions provide evening, weekend, and online courses geared toward working adults, making higher education more accessible and affordable for non-traditional students who want to balance education with work or family responsibilities.
Affordable colleges like the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) offer significantly reduced tuition rates for D.C. residents and participate in regional reciprocity agreements, allowing students from nearby states to receive discounted tuition.

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2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the most affordable colleges in DC saw no change in ranking positions. This was a result of all the schools in the ranking making similar improvements to their curriculum, internship opportunities, and other program features.

There are 2 colleges and universities in DC with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in DC is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges.