State Rankings

Best Colleges in District of Columbia

Top colleges in District of Columbia ranked by national standing and graduate outcomes — updated 2026.

Colleges listed: 11

Avg grad earnings: $66,876

Public / Private: 2 / 9

Top Colleges in District of Columbia

Nationally ranked schools appear first. Remaining schools are ordered by median graduate earnings.

State #	School	Type	Grad Earnings	Admit Rate	SAT Avg	Grad Rate	Out-of-State
1	Georgetown University Washington#20 national	Private	$103,494	13.1%	1,494	94.3%	$65,081
2	George Washington University Washington#128 national	Private	$90,873	43.5%	1,433	85.2%	$64,990
3	American University Washington#206 national	Private	$77,370	47.4%	1,392	78.5%	$56,543
4	The Catholic University of America Washington#257 national	Private	$73,250	83.8%	N/A	81.3%	$55,834
5	Howard University Washington#367 national	Private	$63,066	34.9%	1,205	68.9%	$33,344
6	Gallaudet University Washington#1282 national	Private	$43,101	60.9%	857	46.6%	$18,382
7	Trinity Washington University Washington#1492 national	Private	$53,804	99.2%	N/A	44.4%	$26,110
8	University of the District of Columbia Washington#2294 national	Public	$44,236	N/A	N/A	26.3%	$13,004
9	Arizona State University - Washington D.C. Washington	Public	$62,668	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
10	The Chicago School at Washington DC Washington	Private	$56,899	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
11	NewU University Washington	Private	N/A	99.0%	N/A	N/A	$16,500

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Excludes for-profit institutions.

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