There are nineteen colleges and universities in Washington, D.C., that are listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.[note 1] These institutions include five research universities, four master's universities, and ten special-focus institutions. Sixteen of Washington, D.C.'s post-secondary institutions are private, of which three are for-profit. Only three of the city's post-secondary institutions listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education are public. In addition to the institutions listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, Washington, D.C., has four additional private not-for-profit post-secondary institutions (Bay Atlantic University, Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, NewU University, and St. Paul's College) and two additional public post-secondary institutions (National Defense University and the Inter-American Defense College).

Washington, D.C.'s oldest post-secondary institution is Georgetown University, founded in 1789.[2][3] Georgetown University is also the oldest Jesuit and Catholic university in the United States.[4][5] Founded in 1821, George Washington University is the city's largest institution of higher learning in terms of enrollment, as it had 25,653 students as of the spring of 2013.[6][7] George Washington left shares to endow a university in D.C. which became George Washington University[8] According to the United States Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences, Washington Theological Union is the city's smallest with an enrollment of 80.[7]

In total, there are six Catholic post-secondary institutions listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America, Georgetown University, the Dominican House of Studies, the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at The Catholic University of America, Trinity Washington University, and the Washington Theological Union.

In addition, Gallaudet University is a post-secondary institution for the deaf and hard of hearing, and its curriculum is officially bilingual in both English and American Sign Language.[9]

The University of the District of Columbia is Washington, D.C.'s largest public university (with an enrollment of 5,110 students) and its oldest historically black university.[7] It is also DC's sole land-grant university.[10] The other HBCU in the district, a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund alongside UDC, is Howard University, one of the top-ranked HBCUs in the nation.[11][12]

Washington, D.C., has three medical schools: George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Georgetown University School of Medicine, and Howard University College of Medicine. There are six law schools that are accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA): the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Columbus School of Law (Catholic University of America), Howard University School of Law, George Washington University Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, and Washington College of Law (American University).[13] Four international relations schools in Washington, D.C., are members of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA): Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, and American University's School of International Service.[14]

Eighteen of Washington, D.C.'s post-secondary institutions are officially recognized by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA). Most are accredited by multiple agencies, such as the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA), the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Institutions

List of active institutions
School Control[note 2] Type[note 3] Enrollment
(Fall 2024)[15] 		Founded Accreditation[7]
American University Private not-for-profit Doctoral/research university 12,321 1893[16] ABA, APA, CEPH, MSCHE
Bay Atlantic University Private not-for-profit Not Classified 2014[17] NECHE[18]
Catholic University of America Private not-for-profit Research university 5,243 1887[19] ACEN, ABA, APA, ATS, CCNE, MSCHE, NASM
Gallaudet University Private not-for-profit Doctoral university 1,335 1864[20] APA, ASHA, CEA, MSCHE
George Washington University Private not-for-profit Research university 25,374 1821[6] ACME, ABA, APTA, APA, ASHA, CCNE, CEPH, CPE, LCME, MSCHE, NASAD
Georgetown University Private not-for-profit Research university 20,031 1789[2] ACME, ABA, CCNE, CEA, COA, CPE, LCME, MSCHE
Howard University Private not-for-profit Research university 14,890 1867[21] ACPE, ABA, ADA, AND, AOTA, APTA, APA, ASHA, ATS, CCNE, JRCERT, LCME, MSCHE, NASAD, NASM, NAST
Institute of World Politics Private not-for-profit Special-focus institution 173 1990[22] MSCHE
NewU University Private not-for-profit Special-focus institution 34 2019 MSCHE[23]
Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies Private not-for-profit Special-focus institution 74 1902[24] ATS, MSCHE
Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family[note 4] Private not-for-profit Special-focus institution 65 1988[25] MSCHE
Strayer University–District of Columbia Private for-profit Master's university 12,286 1904[26] CCNE, MSCHE
Trinity Washington University Private not-for-profit Master's university 1,948 1897[27] AOTA, CCNE, MSCHE
University of the District of Columbia Public Master's university 4,202 1851[28] ACEN, ABFSE, AND, ASHA, JRCERT, MSCHE
University of the Potomac–Washington DC Campus Private for-profit Special-focus institution 1,241 1989[29] MSCHE
Wesley Theological Seminary Private not-for-profit Special-focus institution 374 1882[30] ATS, MSCHE

Other active institutions

List of other active institutions[note 5]
School Control Founded Accreditation
Quantic School of Business and Technology Private for-profit 2014[31] DEAC[32]
Human Resources University Public (U.S. Government) 2011[33] N/A
Inter-American Defense College Public (Organization of American States and the Inter-American Defense Board) 1962 MSCHE
National Defense University Public (U.S. Government & Armed Forces) 1976[34] MSA[35]
National Intelligence University[note 6] Public (U.S. Government and U.S. Armed Forces) 1962[36] MSCHE[37]
Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School Private not-for-profit 2007 AACSB[38]
Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies Private not-for-profit 1943[39] N/A[note 7]
St. Paul's College Private not-for-profit 1914[40] None

Active Institutions with satellite programs

List of active institutions with satellite programs
School
Arizona State University
Brown University[41]
The College of William & Mary[42]
Cornell University[43]
Hillsdale College
Johns Hopkins University
New York University[44]
Pepperdine University
Marquette University
Stanford University[45]
Texas A&M University[46]
University of California, Washington Center[47]
University of Maryland[48]
University of Texas at Austin

Defunct institutions

List of defunct institutions in Washington, D.C.
School Control Founded Closed Notes
Benjamin Franklin University Private not-for-profit[49] 1925[49] 1987[49] Merged with George Washington University in 1987[49]
Corcoran College of the Arts and Design Private not-for-profit 1878[50] 2014 Absorbed into George Washington University
Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross Private not-for-profit[51] 1935[51] 1973[51] Campus acquired by Howard University in 1974 to serve as the campus for Howard University School of Law[52]
Graduate School USA Private not-for-profit 1921[53] Still open No longer offering academic degree programs or for-credit courses
Mount Vernon Seminary and College Private not-for-profit[54] 1875[55][56] 1999[55][56] Merged with George Washington University in 1999, and currently serves as the institution's Mount Vernon Campus[54][57]
Southeastern University Private not-for-profit[58][59] 1879[58] 2009[58][59] Acquired by Graduate School USA in 2010[59]

See also

References

Explanatory notes

  1. National Defense University, the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, and St. Paul's College are not listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education or by the United States Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences.[1]
  2. School control and type is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.[1]
  3. School control and type is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.[1]
  4. The Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at The Catholic University of America, while affiliated with Catholic University of America, is not a division of the university.[25]
  5. These institutions are not listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education or by the United States Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences.[1][7]
  6. National Intelligence University is not listed by the United States Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences.[7]
  7. The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies is not independently accredited, as it is a division of Johns Hopkins University.[39]

Citations

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  2. "History". Georgetown University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  3. McGregor 2007, p. 266.
  4. Fogle 2009, p. 66.
  5. O'Neill & Williams 2003, p. 7.
  6. "GW Overview". George Washington University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  7. "College Navigator". United States Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  8. "Founders Online: George Washington's Last Will and Testament, 9 July 1799". founders.archives.gov.
  9. "Mission & Vision Statements". Gallaudet University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  10. "Map of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities" (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2009.
  11. "White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities". United States Department of Education. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  12. "Thurgood Marshall College Fund: Member Schools". Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  13. "ABA-Approved Law Schools by Year". American Bar Association. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  14. Tierney, Irene Entringer García Blanes, Susan Peterson, Michael J. (August 4, 2025). "The Top International Relations Schools of 2024, Ranked". Foreign Policy.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. "College Navigator - District of Columbia". National Center for Education Statistics.
  16. "About American University: History". American University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  17. "History of BAU". Bay Atlantic University. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020.
  18. "Accreditation". Bay Atlantic University - Washington, D.C.
  19. "About The Catholic University of America". Catholic University of America. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  20. "Fast Facts 2015". Gallaudet University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  21. "Brief History of Howard University". Howard University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  22. "About IWP: History". The Institute of World Politics. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  23. "MSCHE NewU Location". MSCHE.
  24. "History of the Pontifical Faculty". Dominican House of Studies. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  25. "History of the Institute". John Paul II Institute. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  26. "Strayer Buzz: History". Strayer University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  27. "General Information". Trinity Washington University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  28. "UDC's History". University of the District of Columbia. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  29. "The History of the University of the Potomac". University of the Potomac. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  30. "About Us: History". Wesley Theological Seminary. June 8, 2015. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  31. "Quantic School of Business and Technology History". Pedago, LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021.
  32. "Quantic's Degrees and Certifications". Pedago, LLC. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022.
  33. "About Us Human Resources University". United States Office of Personnel Management. Archived from the original on November 25, 2015.
  34. "History of the National Defense University". National Defense University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  35. "Accreditation". National Defense University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  36. "NIU History". National Intelligence University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  37. "Accreditation". National Intelligence University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  38. "Business School Accreditation". Johns Hopkins University.
  39. "About SAIS: A Global Presence, an International Perspective". Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  40. "St. Paul's College". St. Paul's College. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  41. "Brown in Washington | Swearer Center. Brown University". www.brown.edu. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020.
  42. "William & Mary Washington Center". wm.edu/offices/dccenter/.
  43. "Cornell in Washington | =Cornell in Washington ". sce.cornell.edu/ciw.
  44. "About NYU Washington, D.C. Facilities & Services". New York University. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020.
  45. "Stanford in Washington | =Stanford in Washington". siw.stanford.edu/.
  46. "The Bush School in Washington | =The Bush School in Washington". bush.tamu.edu/dc/.
  47. "University of California,_Washington_Center | =University of California,_Washington_Center ". www.ucdc.edu.
  48. "Robert H. Smith School of Business Washington, D.C. Campus Info". University of Maryland. Archived from the original on August 29, 2019.
  49. "Benjamin Franklin University". George Washington University, GW Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  50. "About the College: History". Corcoran College of the Arts and Design. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  51. "Closed Colleges: Sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross". Sisters of the Holy Cross. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  52. "About the School of Law: History". Howard University School of Law. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  53. "Graduate School USA: Celebrating a Legacy of Achievement". Graduate School USA. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  54. "Another Women's School Absorbed". H-Net. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  55. "Mount Vernon Campus". George Washington University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  56. "Keeping the Legacy Alive". George Washington University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  57. "2010 Mount Vernon Campus Plan". George Washington University. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015.
  58. "About SEU". Southeastern University. Archived from the original on April 29, 2007.
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Bibliography