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Colleges in District of Columbia
All 19 degree-granting colleges in District of Columbia, sorted by published in-state tuition. Click any column header to re-sort.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive college in District of Columbia is $55,899 per year — about $223,596 over a four-year degree.
All 19 colleges, cheapest first
| College | In-state | Out-of-state | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of the District of ColumbiaPublicHBCUWashington · Less than 2-year | $6,152 | $6,152 | Public |
| 2 | NewU UniversityPrivateWashington · Less than 2-year | $6,500 | $6,500 | Private nonprofit |
| 3 | University of the Potomac-Washington DC CampusFor-profitWashington · Less than 2-year | $6,660 | $6,660 | Private for-profit |
| 4 | Strayer University-District of ColumbiaFor-profitWashington · Less than 2-year | $13,515 | $13,515 | Private for-profit |
| 5 | Strayer University-Global RegionFor-profitWashington · Less than 2-year | $13,515 | $13,515 | Private for-profit |
| 6 | Gallaudet UniversityPrivateWashington · Less than 2-year | $17,712 | $17,712 | Private nonprofit |
| 7 | Saint Michael College of Allied HealthFor-profitWashington · 2-year | $19,405 | $19,405 | Private for-profit |
| 8 | Trinity Washington UniversityPrivateWashington · Less than 2-year | $25,610 | $25,610 | Private nonprofit |
| 9 | Howard UniversityPrivateHBCUWashington · Less than 2-year | $31,050 | $31,050 | Private nonprofit |
| 10 | American UniversityPrivateWashington · Less than 2-year | $53,889 | $53,889 | Private nonprofit |
| 11 | The Catholic University of AmericaPrivateWashington · Less than 2-year | $54,186 | $54,186 | Private nonprofit |
| 12 | George Washington UniversityPrivateWashington · Less than 2-year | $60,946 | $60,946 | Private nonprofit |
| 13 | Georgetown UniversityPrivateWashington · Less than 2-year | $62,051 | $62,051 | Private nonprofit |
| 14 | Career Technical InstituteFor-profitWashington · 2-year | — | — | Private for-profit |
| 15 | Institute of World PoliticsPrivateWashington · Less than 2-year | — | — | Private nonprofit |
| 16 | Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of StudiesPrivateWashington · Less than 2-year | — | — | Private nonprofit |
| 17 | Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and FamilyPrivateWashington · Less than 2-year | — | — | Private nonprofit |
| 18 | The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Washington DCPrivateWashington · Less than 2-year | — | — | Private nonprofit |
| 19 | Wesley Theological SeminaryPrivateWashington · Less than 2-year | — | — | Private nonprofit |
By city
Questions
What is the cheapest college in District of Columbia?
University of the District of Columbia in Washington, at $6,152 per year for in-state students. The next cheapest are NewU University ($6,500), University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus ($6,660), Strayer University-District of Columbia ($13,515).
How much does college cost in District of Columbia?
The median published in-state tuition is $19,405 per year across 13 colleges that reported. Community colleges sit at the low end; private four-year schools at the high end. Remember this is tuition and fees only — housing, food and books are extra.
Public or private — which is cheaper?
Public colleges usually have a much lower sticker price for state residents because taxpayers subsidize them. But private colleges often give larger scholarships, so the net price can end up similar. Always compare after aid, not before.
Do I have to live in District of Columbia to get in-state tuition?
Generally yes, and the rules are stricter than people expect. Most states require 12 months of residency for reasons other than education, plus proof like a driver's license, voter registration and tax filings. Check the specific school's residency policy.
About this data
Every figure comes from IPEDS 2022 — the survey every U.S. college receiving federal student aid must complete. We list published tuition and fees for full-time undergraduates. Schools that did not report tuition appear at the bottom with a dash. Confirm current pricing on each school's website before applying.