How Colleges Work in the District of Columbia

The District of Columbia is not a state, and that changes how college services are organised here. There is no state university system, no separate county government, and no rural region. The Mayor and Council run local affairs under the Home Rule Act of 1973, and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) handles many duties that a state education agency would handle elsewhere.

Our directory lists 28 colleges and training schools, every one of them in Washington and filed under District of Columbia County. That makes searching simpler than in a large state, but the range is wide. It runs from Georgetown University, whose roots go back to 1789, to small career schools such as Bennett Career Institute on Monroe Street Northeast. In between you will find a public land-grant university, a university for deaf and hard of hearing students, seminaries, and programs held on a military base.

Knowing which type of school you need saves time. A high school graduate comparing four-year degrees has different questions than an adult who wants a trade certificate, or a service member checking tuition assistance. The sections below explain who oversees these schools, where they cluster, and how to prepare before you call or visit.

Who Licenses and Oversees Colleges in Washington

Because the District has no state government, oversight sits with city agencies and, in some cases, Congress. A college that wants to offer degrees in the city generally needs authorization from the Higher Education Licensure Commission, which operates through OSSE. The commission looks at whether a school is financially sound, has qualified faculty, and describes its programs and costs honestly. Several of the oldest campuses, including George Washington University, Howard University, Gallaudet University and American University, were chartered by Congress in the nineteenth century. That is a distinction few schools elsewhere share.

Licensing is not the same as accreditation. Accreditation comes from private agencies recognised by the U.S. Department of Education, and many District schools are reviewed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Seminaries, art schools and career colleges often use other accreditors. Accreditation affects whether your credits transfer and whether you can use federal student aid, so check it before you pay a deposit.

OSSE also administers the DC Tuition Assistance Grant, created by the DC College Access Act of 1999. It helps eligible District residents cover the gap between in-state and out-of-state tuition at public colleges across the country, and it offers support at some private institutions in the region and at historically Black colleges. Eligibility rules, deadlines and award amounts change, so read the current OSSE guidance before you apply.

Campus Clusters Across the City's Four Quadrants

Washington addresses end in NW, NE, SW or SE, and the quadrant tells you roughly where you are headed. Colleges are not spread evenly. They gather in a few neighborhoods, and each cluster has its own character.

Transit explains why most students manage without a car. Metrorail's Red Line reaches Brookland-CUA, NoMa-Gallaudet U, Van Ness-UDC and Tenleytown-AU. Foggy Bottom-GWU is served by the Blue, Orange and Silver Lines, and Shaw-Howard U is on the Green and Yellow Lines. Georgetown has no Metro station of its own, so most visitors arrive by bus or campus shuttle.

Public, Private, Pontifical and Career Schools Compared

The University of the District of Columbia is the city's public university. It is a land-grant institution and a historically Black university, with a community college division. District residents pay lower tuition than non-residents, which makes it the main low-cost local option. Its law school, the David A. Clarke School of Law, appears as a separate listing in our database.

Private universities fill most of the rest of the map. Georgetown, George Washington, American, Howard and Catholic University are the large names. Howard received its congressional charter in 1867. Gallaudet, chartered in 1864, teaches in American Sign Language and English. Trinity Washington University is a Catholic institution that began as a women's college and now serves a broader student body.

Pontifical and theological schools serve a narrower audience. The Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception grants church-authorised degrees in theology and philosophy, mostly to seminarians and religious. Wesley Theological Seminary prepares clergy and lay leaders in the United Methodist tradition.

Career-focused schools such as Bennett Career Institute, Career Technical Institute, Radians College, Technical Learning Centers and Strayer University offer shorter programs and evening schedules for working adults. Ask each one for total cost, completion rates and job placement figures in writing, then compare them with a program at a community college. The Corcoran College of Art and Design is listed under its former name, and its programs are now part of George Washington University, so confirm current details with GWU.

Practical Steps Before You Contact a Washington College

Start with the phone number in the listing, then confirm hours with the school. Large campuses split their work among admissions, financial aid, the registrar and disability services, so ask for the right office by name. Many offices also handle part of their work online.

Bring or gather these items before an in-person visit:

Parking is scarce near most campuses and enforcement is active, so plan on Metro or bus. Financial aid offices are busiest in the weeks before each term begins, so allow extra time then.

Before you enroll anywhere, confirm that the school is authorised to operate in the District, look up its accreditation, and read the refund policy. If a problem comes up with a school, OSSE is the District agency to contact. You can browse every listing on the District of Columbia County page and compare two or three schools before you call.

Public colleges and universities in District of Columbia offer residents access to affordable higher education, professional certifications, and workforce training. The District of Columbia state legislature oversees funding and policy for public institutions, while individual governing boards manage each campus.

Colleges locations are available in 1 cities across District of Columbia. They are spread across 1 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Washington, reflecting the presence of major university campuses and community college districts serving large student populations.

Prospective students in District of Columbia should research in-state tuition rates, available degree programs, and financial aid options at public institutions, as these factors vary significantly between community colleges and four-year universities.

Colleges by Counties

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Students in District of Columbia applying to public colleges and universities should complete the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize eligibility for federal and state financial aid. Many District of Columbia institutions also offer state-specific grant programs with additional eligibility criteria.

Browse Colleges by county across District of Columbia to find the nearest location.

Finding the Right Campus in Washington, DC

Every college in our District of Columbia listings sits in the city of Washington, so the real choice comes down to neighborhood, mission and format. Start by deciding whether you want a residential campus or a commuter-friendly one. American University, Georgetown, Howard and Catholic University all have large residential campuses. Downtown schools such as Strayer University at 1133 15th Street Northwest or the University of Phoenix at 25 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest mostly serve students who work during the day.

Next, match the school to your goal. A bachelor's degree, a law degree, a seminary program and a trade certificate each point to different schools. Gallaudet University at 800 Florida Avenue Northeast serves students who are deaf or hard of hearing, while the Institute of World Politics at 1521 16th Street Northwest focuses on statecraft and national security. Service members can start with the Webster University and University of Maryland listings at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.

Finally, call before you go. Numbers such as 202-994-1000 for George Washington University or 202-687-0100 for Georgetown University usually reach a main switchboard, so name the office you need. The District of Columbia County page shows the full set of listings.

Colleges in District Of Columbia: Frequently Asked Questions

Degree-granting institutions that want to operate in the District generally need approval from the Higher Education Licensure Commission, which works through the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). OSSE plays the role a state education agency would play elsewhere, since the District has no state government. Some long-established universities, including George Washington, Howard, Gallaudet and American, hold congressional charters. A license is separate from accreditation, which comes from private agencies recognised by the U.S. Department of Education. Check both before enrolling, and ask the school for proof if it is not obvious.

Yes. The University of the District of Columbia, at 4200 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, is the city's public university. It is a land-grant institution and a historically Black university, and it includes a community college division. Its David A. Clarke School of Law is a few doors away at 4340 Connecticut Avenue Northwest. District residents pay lower tuition than non-residents, though rates change each year, so ask the university for the current schedule. You can reach the main number at 202-274-5304. The Van Ness-UDC station on the Red Line is the closest Metro stop.

The DC Tuition Assistance Grant grew out of the DC College Access Act of 1999 and is administered by OSSE. It is meant for District residents who attend college outside the District's one public university. At public colleges nationwide it helps cover the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition, and it also supports attendance at some private colleges in the Washington region and at historically Black colleges. Residency requirements, application deadlines and award limits are set by OSSE and can change, so confirm the current rules on the OSSE website before you apply each year.

Several campuses have a station named after them. On the Red Line, Brookland-CUA serves Catholic University, NoMa-Gallaudet U serves Gallaudet University, Van Ness-UDC serves the University of the District of Columbia, and Tenleytown-AU serves American University. Foggy Bottom-GWU, on the Blue, Orange and Silver Lines, serves George Washington University. Shaw-Howard U, on the Green and Yellow Lines, serves Howard University. Georgetown University has no Metro station, so plan on a bus or the campus shuttle. Downtown career schools on 15th Street, 16th Street and Vermont Avenue are within walking distance of several stations.

Two listings in our database use the base address, 112 Brookley Avenue Southwest. Webster University can be reached at 202-561-4382, and the University of Maryland program, listed under its older University College name, at 202-563-3611. These programs are set up mainly for service members, their families and base-affiliated staff. Call first to ask who is eligible to enroll, which degrees are offered, and how to get onto the base. Access usually depends on valid identification and sometimes advance clearance, so do not just show up at the gate on the day of a class.

Whether you are looking at Bennett Career Institute, Radians College or another career-focused school, take the same steps. Confirm with OSSE that the school is authorised to operate in the District. Look up its accreditor in the U.S. Department of Education's database. Ask for total program cost, completion rate and job placement figures in writing, and read the enrollment agreement and refund policy before signing. Do not sign on the first visit. Compare the program with a similar one at the University of the District of Columbia's community college division, which can be cheaper.