District of Columbia Colleges: Tuition, Debt & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in District of Columbia: median 10-year earnings $63,066 (+16.1% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 76.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $20,000 (+48.9% vs U.S.) 55,908 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- IPEDS degrees & certificates awarded statewide: 60,654 (2024 extract)
- Graduate sex mix (IPEDS): 62.4% women, 37.6% men
- Total college enrollment: 55,908 students
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $63,066 (+16.1% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 76.7% (-11.3 pp vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $20,000 (+48.9% vs U.S. $13,432). Debt rank: #45 nationally of 48 (lower debt = better rank)
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 52.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 86.5%
- Earnings rank: #6 nationally (higher median 10-yr earnings = better rank)
- Employment-outcome rank: #45 nationally (higher working share = better rank)
- Student debt rank: #45 nationally of 48 (lower debt = better rank)
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Higher education in District of Columbia includes public research universities, private colleges, and community colleges serving transfer students and workforce training. About 55,908 students enrolled statewide in federal data. Major campuses include George Washington University and Howard University. The tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, debt, and employment outcomes against U.S. and regional medians.
District of Columbia vs regional & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia (DC) | N/A | N/A | $20,000 | 52.8% | 55,908 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: District of Columbia vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia (DC) | $63,066 | 76.7% | 86.5% | 6.9% | — | 71.7% | 0.35 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Outcomes by sector in District of Columbia
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 7 | $73,250 | 76.7% | 88.2% | 2.8% | — | 83.3% |
Higher education completions in District of Columbia (IPEDS 2024)
Supply-side counts from IPEDS Completions — not employment or placement rates.
In the IPEDS 2024 completions file, institutions in District of Columbia reported 60,654 total awards (all levels and fields).
Among reported completers statewide, about 62.4% were women and 37.6% were men.
Largest institutions by degrees awarded
| # | Institution | Completions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Washington University | 17,142 |
| 2 | Georgetown University | 16,326 |
| 3 | American University | 9,276 |
| 4 | Howard University | 5,824 |
| 5 | Strayer University-Global Region | 4,508 |
| 6 | The Catholic University of America | 2,574 |
| 7 | University of the District of Columbia | 1,412 |
| 8 | Trinity Washington University | 808 |
| 9 | Gallaudet University | 696 |
| 10 | Career Technical Institute | 578 |
Top majors by completions
| # | Program (CIP) | Completions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 99.0 | 30,327 |
| 2 | CIP 45.0901 | 2,191 |
| 3 | CIP 52.0201 | 2,081 |
| 4 | Law (JD) | 1,910 |
| 5 | Social Sciences | 1,107 |
| 6 | Business Administration, Management, & Operations | 921 |
| 7 | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research | 755 |
| 8 | General Psychology | 663 |
| 9 | Finance, General | 583 |
| 10 | CIP 22.0201 | 550 |
Educational attainment context (District of Columbia)
U.S. Census ACS 2024 — adults age 25+.
- Bachelor's degree or higher: 64.2% of adults 25+
- Some college, no degree (ACS): 11.84%
Program completions produced in District of Columbia (IPEDS 2024)
Award completions by CIP family — supply-side context for nursing, cosmetology, and other pathways. Not placement rates.
| Program area | Completions | Institutions |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing (CIP 51.38) | 1,038 | 7 |
| Cosmetology (CIP 12.04) | 165 | 2 |
| Computer Science (CIP 11.01) | 165 | 7 |
| Business (CIP 52.01) | 921 | 4 |
State workforce wages (BLS OEWS May 2024)
Context for graduate earnings — not a unemployment rate for recent grads (CEW state series not in repo).
- All occupations median annual wage: $88,000
- Education occupations (SOC 25-xxxx) median: $80,775
Program-level earnings in District of Columbia (Scorecard)
- Median 1-yr post-completion program earnings (across reporting campuses): $81,061
- Median 4-yr post-completion: $106,010
- Campuses with program earnings data: 10
Public 4-year in-state tuition trend: District of Columbia
Median published in-state tuition, public 4-year institutions. Source: College Scorecard multi-year pull.
Top 10 colleges in District of Columbia by degrees awarded (IPEDS 2024, all fields)
Ranked by total IPEDS-reported completions (all award levels and fields) in 2024. This is degrees/certificates produced, not enrollment or job placement.
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Rank 1, Degrees Awarded, 17,142, George Washington University
George Washington University
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Rank 2, Degrees Awarded, 16,326, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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Rank 3, Degrees Awarded, 9,276, American University
American University
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Rank 4, Degrees Awarded, 5,824, Howard University
Howard University
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Rank 5, Degrees Awarded, 4,508, Strayer University-Global Region
Strayer University-Global Region
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Rank 6, Degrees Awarded, 2,574, The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
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Rank 7, Degrees Awarded, 1,412, University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia
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Rank 8, Degrees Awarded, 808, Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University
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Rank 9, Degrees Awarded, 696, Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
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Rank 10, Degrees Awarded, 578, Career Technical Institute
Career Technical Institute
Top 9 colleges in District of Columbia by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 94.8%, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
-
Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 84.0%, George Washington University
George Washington University
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 79.5%, The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 75.5%, American University
American University
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 70.0%, Howard University
Howard University
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Rank 6, Graduation Rate, 49.3%, Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University
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Rank 7, Graduation Rate, 47.3%, Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
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Rank 8, Graduation Rate, 33.3%, University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
-
Rank 9, Graduation Rate, 14.3%, Strayer University-Global Region
Strayer University-Global Region
Top 9 colleges in District of Columbia by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 89.7%, Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 81.7%, Howard University
Howard University
-
Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 81.1%, Strayer University-Global Region
Strayer University-Global Region
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 77.0%, Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 76.7%, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 73.2%, The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 72.3%, University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 71.6%, American University
American University
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 70.7%, George Washington University
George Washington University
Top 7 most selective colleges in District of Columbia (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 12.9%, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 41.3%, Howard University
Howard University
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 47.1%, George Washington University
George Washington University
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 58.1%, Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
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Rank 5, Admission Rate, 62.0%, American University
American University
-
Rank 6, Admission Rate, 82.8%, The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
-
Rank 7, Admission Rate, 99.5%, Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University
Top 8 colleges in District of Columbia by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $106,218, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $104,200, George Washington University
George Washington University
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $92,324, Howard University
Howard University
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $83,505, American University
American University
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Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $81,061, Strayer University-Global Region
Strayer University-Global Region
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Rank 6, Entry-Level Earnings, $81,044, The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
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Rank 7, Entry-Level Earnings, $79,349, Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University
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Rank 8, Entry-Level Earnings, $38,090, Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Top 8 colleges in District of Columbia by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $159,452, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $150,716, George Washington University
George Washington University
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $134,332, American University
American University
-
Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $114,909, The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $106,318, Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University
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Rank 6, Early-Career Earnings, $105,703, Strayer University-Global Region
Strayer University-Global Region
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Rank 7, Early-Career Earnings, $103,478, Howard University
Howard University
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Rank 8, Early-Career Earnings, $70,859, Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Top 9 colleges in District of Columbia by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $83,222, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $71,607, George Washington University
George Washington University
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $63,217, The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $61,328, American University
American University
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,379, Howard University
Howard University
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,533, Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,444, University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,582, Strayer University-Global Region
Strayer University-Global Region
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,578, Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Top 9 colleges in District of Columbia by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $88,766, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $78,974, George Washington University
George Washington University
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $70,443, American University
American University
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $70,095, The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $54,819, Howard University
Howard University
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $47,306, Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $39,294, Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $37,064, Strayer University-Global Region
Strayer University-Global Region
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $32,356, University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
Top 9 colleges in District of Columbia by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $103,494, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $90,873, George Washington University
George Washington University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $77,370, American University
American University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $73,250, The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $63,066, Howard University
Howard University
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $53,804, Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $43,101, Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,092, Strayer University-Global Region
Strayer University-Global Region
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $34,961, University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
Top 9 colleges in District of Columbia by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $260,441, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $214,398, George Washington University
George Washington University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $180,900, The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $171,952, Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $139,208, American University
American University
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $127,682, Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $94,549, Strayer University-Global Region
Strayer University-Global Region
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $80,480, University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $35,710, Howard University
Howard University
Top 8 most affordable colleges in District of Columbia (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $9,302, Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $15,845, Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
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Rank 3, Net Price, $17,833, Strayer University-Global Region
Strayer University-Global Region
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Rank 4, Net Price, $29,561, The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
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Rank 5, Net Price, $36,586, George Washington University
George Washington University
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Rank 6, Net Price, $40,815, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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Rank 7, Net Price, $41,943, American University
American University
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Rank 8, Net Price, $50,539, Howard University
Howard University
Top 9 colleges in District of Columbia by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 96.8%, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 92.2%, George Washington University
George Washington University
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 90.9%, Howard University
Howard University
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 88.2%, American University
American University
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 86.5%, The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
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Rank 6, First-Year Retention, 80.0%, University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
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Rank 7, First-Year Retention, 71.1%, Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
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Rank 8, First-Year Retention, 69.2%, Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University
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Rank 9, First-Year Retention, 60.0%, Strayer University-Global Region
Strayer University-Global Region
Student debt: District of Columbia vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in District of Columbia is $20,000 (+48.9% vs U.S. median $13,432). Rank: #45 nationally of 48 (lower debt = better rank).
Median earnings (10 years out): District of Columbia vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in District of Columbia center around $63,066 (+16.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: District of Columbia vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 76.7% at the median District of Columbia campus (-11.3 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Median graduate debt is $20,000 (+48.9% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #45 nationally of 48 (lower debt = better rank) (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in District of Columbia are $63,066, about +16.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 76.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-11.3 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 86.5% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 71.7% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, District of Columbia ranks earnings #6 and employment proxy #45 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Trinity Washington University (89.7%), Howard University (81.7%), Strayer University-Global Region (81.1%), Gallaudet University (77.0%), Georgetown University (76.7%), The Catholic University of America (73.2%), University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus (72.3%), American University (71.6%), George Washington University (70.7%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within District of Columbia, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $73,250 (7 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in District of Columbia is 52.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
National Student Clearinghouse data cite roughly 36,706 residents with some college but no credential in District of Columbia (YoY change 3.40%). That stock of incomplete credentials sits alongside the completion and employment metrics above.
City profiles in this state
Metro and city aggregates for places with at least three reporting campuses in the College Scorecard.
| City | Campuses |
|---|---|
| Washington | 25 |
FAQ
How much does college cost in District of Columbia?
Cost benchmarks for District of Columbia are listed in the profile tables when campuses report tuition and net price to the College Scorecard.
What is typical student debt for graduates in District of Columbia?
Median federal loan debt among completers in District of Columbia is $20,000 vs a U.S. median of $13,432 (District of Columbia ranks #45 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do graduates earn in District of Columbia?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for District of Columbia campuses reporting to the College Scorecard is $63,066 vs $54,323 nationally. Six-year medians are $47,379.
What share of District of Columbia graduates are working after college?
The federal employment-outcome proxy used on this site (8-year cohort working and not enrolled) has a median of 76.7% in District of Columbia vs 87.9% nationally.
How many colleges are in District of Columbia?
This profile aggregates 9 campuses with cost or outcomes data in District of Columbia and roughly 55,908 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private colleges are in District of Columbia?
Among campuses with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 0 public, 7 private nonprofit, and 0 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top colleges in District of Columbia?
Rankings on this page are drawn from College Scorecard medians; standouts include highest 150%-time graduation rate: Georgetown University; highest 10-year earnings: Georgetown University; lowest net price among large campuses: Trinity Washington University. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in District of Columbia?
Among 25 campuses in District of Columbia, 2 historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs, IPEDS HBCU flag), including University of the District of Columbia and Howard University; 4 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include University of the District of Columbia, Gallaudet University, and Trinity Washington University; 7 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (5), United Methodist (2).
Sources & related
- U.S. national benchmarks
- All college profiles
- District of Columbia trade school profile
- States & cities with the most colleges
- Compare George Washington University vs Howard University vs Georgetown University
- District of Columbia college costs drilldown
- Top colleges in District of Columbia by ROI
- Student loan debt by state
- College enrollment statistics
- Supplemental: Census ACS attainment, IPEDS completions, BLS OEWS, NSC SCNC, tuition trends
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON