14 Colleges and Universities in Washington D.C.

Several top colleges and universities are located in the Washington, D.C. area, and the nation's capital is a particularly good place to study for students interested in pursuing fields such as political science, government, and international relations. But students interested in art, engineering, or the humanities will also find several excellent options. The list below includes four-year, not-for-profit colleges within a roughly 20-mile radius of downtown Washington, D.C. There are, of course, many community colleges and for-profit institutions in the capital region as well.

American University

Students at American University come from over 150 countries, and the university has many strong academic programs including international relations, government, and political science. The school was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strong programs in the liberal arts and sciences. In athletics, American competes in the NCAA Division I Patriot League. Admission is selective with about a third of applicants receiving acceptances.

Location: Washington, D.C.
Enrollment: 14,318 (8,527 undergraduates)
School Type: private university

Bowie State University

Bowie State University.

Mattysc / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Bowie State University is one of the country's oldest historically Black universities. Its location between Baltimore and Washington D.C. gives students easy access to the opportunities available in both urban centers. Programs in business are extremely popular, and the school competes in NCAA Division II athletics. The great majority of applicants to Bowie State are admitted.

Location: Bowie, Maryland
Enrollment: 6,171 (5,227 undergraduates)
School Type: public historically Black university

Capitol Technology University

Capitol Technology University (formerly Capitol College). Ken Mayer / Flickr

Capitol Technology University is an extremely small college that places a lot of value on the personal attention and hands-on experiences students receive. The school's Space Operations Institute has a partnership with NASA. Programs in computer science and electrical engineering are most popular among undergraduates.

Location: Laurel, Maryland
Enrollment: 740 (400 undergraduates)
School Type: private technological institution

Catholic University of America

Marist Hall at Catholic University of America.

Farragutful / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

The campus of the Catholic University of American sits adjacent to the towering and impressive Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic church in the United States. Students at CUA come from all 50 states and nearly 100 countries. Popular academic programs include architecture and political science, and strengths in the liberal arts and sciences earned the school a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Students have easy access to the D.C. Metro.

Location: Washington, D.C.
Enrollment: 5,771 (3,279 undergraduates)
School Type: private Catholic university

Gallaudet University

Library of Congress

Gallaudet University has the distinction of being the first school for the deaf in the world. Situated on a striking urban campus, the university has an impressive 7 to 1 student / faculty ratio. Popular majors include communication studies, audiology, and interpretation. The school fields several NCAA Division III athletic teams.

Location: Washington, D.C.
Enrollment: 1,485 (1,075 undergraduates)
School Type: federally chartered private university for people who are deaf or hard of hearing

George Mason University

George Mason University. Ron Cogswell / Flickr

George Mason University is rapidly growing public institution that was recognized as an "up-and-coming university" by U.S. News & World Report. The school wins high marks for its overall value, and it has the distinction of being the largest public university in Virginia. The university is a member of the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference.

Location: Fairfax, Virginia
Enrollment: 37,863 (26,662 undergraduates)
School Type: public university

George Washington University

Hongyuan Zhang / Getty Images

Students at George Washington University graduate in style—the ceremony is held on the National Mall. Like many schools in the District of Columbia, the university has international focus with strong programs in international relations, international business and political science. GW is a member of the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. Successful applicants need strong academic records—only about 40% of applicants are admitted.

Location: Washington, D.C.
Enrollment: 27,814 (12,484 undergraduates)
School Type: private university

Georgetown University

Georgetown University. Kārlis Dambrāns / Flickr / CC by 2.0

Georgetown University is one of the country's top Catholic universities, and the school has a significant international student population as well as an impressive international relations major. Overall strengths in the liberal arts and sciences earned the university a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society. On the athletic front, Georgetown competes in the NCAA Division I Big East Conference. With a 14% acceptance rate, Georgetown is the most selective university in the D.C. area.

Location: Washington, D.C.
Enrollment: 19,593 (7,513 undergraduates)
School Type: private Catholic university

Howard University

Flickr Vision / Getty Images

Howard University consistently ranks at or near the top of the best historically Black colleges and universities in the United States. Academics are supported by a healthy 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio, and the university is a national leader in educating African Americans. Howard has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa because of its strong programs in the liberal arts and sciences, and the school is a member of the NCAA Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Howard admits about a third of all applicants.

Location: Washington, D.C.
Enrollment: 9,399 (6,526 undergraduates)
School Type: private historically Black university

Marymount University

A residence hall at Marymount University.

Aude / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Marymount University has easy access to the capital, and students can easily cross-register at 13 area colleges. Popular majors include nursing, business, interior design, and fashion merchandising. The university's athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division III level.

Location: Arlington, Virginia
Enrollment: 3,363 (2,158 undergraduates)
School Type: private Catholic university

Trinity Washington University

Trinity Washington University. JosephLeonardo / Flickr

Trinity Washington University occupies an attractive wooded campus in the northeastern corner of the city. Popular majors include nursing and psychology programs. The school often wins high marks for its value. Athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division III level. Nearly all applicants to Trinity are admitted.

Location: Washington, D.C.
Enrollment: 1,707 (1,356 undergraduates)
School Type: private Catholic university for women (at undergraduate level)

University of the District of Columbia

University of the District of Columbia. Matthew Bisanz / Wikimedia Commons

The University of the District of Columbia is the only public university in D.C. (there are several public universities nearby in Maryland and Virginia). The school offers over 75 degree programs including popular majors in business, biology, and administration of justice. Academics are supported by a healthy 9 to 1 student / faculty ratio, and the school is a member of the NCAA Division II East Coast Conference. The school has an open admission policy.

Location: Washington, D.C.
Enrollment: 4,199 (3,828 undergraduates)
School Type: public historically Black university

University of Maryland College Park

University of Maryland McKeldin Library. Daniel Borman / Flickr

The largest school in this list, the University of Maryland is an excellent choice for students looking for a large, lively research university with highly rated academic programs. The university has easy Metro access to the city, a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong programs in the liberal arts and sciences, an active Greek system, and membership in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. Less than half of applicants are admitted each year.

Location: College Park, Maryland
Enrollment: 40,743 (30,511 undergraduates)
School Type: public university

Washington Adventist University

Washington Adventist University. Farragutful / Wikimedia Commons

Washington Adventist University is a small school with a diverse student body from 40 states and 47 countries. Spiritual life on campus is active, and nursing, business, and psychology are among the most popular undergraduate majors. Academics are supported by a 8 to 1 student / faculty ratio, so students can expect a lot of interaction with their professors. The school has an honors program for academically strong students.

Location: Takoma Park, Maryland
Enrollment: 1,078 (945 undergraduates)
School Type: private university affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church

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The Middle Atlantic Region.

To expand your search, you can also check out these top picks in the region:

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Grove, Allen. "Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C." ThoughtCo, Feb. 27, 2021, thoughtco.com/colleges-and-universities-in-washington-dc-786987. Grove, Allen. (2021, February 27). Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/colleges-and-universities-in-washington-dc-786987 Grove, Allen. "Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/colleges-and-universities-in-washington-dc-786987 (accessed March 22, 2023).