2025 Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in District of Columbia
With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a college degree. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top District of Columbia Colleges for a Bachelor's ranking - to help you make that decision.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
Choosing the Best School for You
After analyzing 7 schools in District of Columbia, we came up with our list of those that offered the best bachelor's degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Average Early-Career Salaries
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a bachelor's degree from the school. That is, everyone wants their degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
Student Loan Borrowing
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their bachelor's so we factor that into our rankings as well.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
Our Best Bachelor's Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Find out more about our best schools ranking methodology
Other Rankings
Are you more interested in the top bachelor's degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list
by location. In addition, we've put together a number of other
college rankings that may help you in your search.
Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in District of Columbia
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
2,223
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$64,266
Average Early-Career Earnings
$61,942
Average Student Debt
Our analysis found Georgetown University to be the best school for bachelor’s degrees in District of Columbia in this year’s ranking. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,223 students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown make an average of $64,266 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $61,942 in student loans.
Full Georgetown University Report
3,466
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$58,779
Average Early-Career Earnings
$46,746
Average Student Debt
A rank of #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in District of Columbia list means George Washington University is a great place for students working on their degree. GWU is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Washington, District of Columbia. It awarded 3,466 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from GWU go into careers with an average salary of $58,779 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $46,746 in student loans.
Full George Washington University Report
1,954
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$42,632
Average Early-Career Earnings
$69,121
Average Student Debt
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American University. The school came in at #3 in District of Columbia on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1,954 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from The American University is $42,632 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $69,121.
Learn More About American University
834
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$54,985
Average Early-Career Earnings
$73,211
Average Student Debt
Out of the 7 bachelor’s degree schools in District of Columbia that were part of this year’s ranking, Catholic University of America landed the #4 spot on the list. CUA is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 834 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from CUA go into careers with an average salary of $54,985 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $73,211 in student loans.
Read full report on Catholic University of America
1,292
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$48,358
Average Early-Career Earnings
$88,991
Average Student Debt
Out of the 7 bachelor’s degree schools in District of Columbia that were part of this year’s ranking, Howard University landed the #5 spot on the list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Washington, District of Columbia, and it awarded 1,292 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $48,358 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $88,991 in student loans.
Full Howard University Report
205
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$44,023
Average Early-Career Earnings
Trinity Washington University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in District of Columbia ranking. Trinity College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Washington, District of Columbia. It awarded 205 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Trinity College make an average of $44,023 a year.
Learn More About Trinity Washington University
378
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$49,648
Average Early-Career Earnings
University of the District of Columbia ranked #7 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in District of Columbia list. University of the District of Columbia is a small public school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 378 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from University of the District of Columbia go into careers with an average salary of $49,648 during the early years of their career.
Full University of the District of Columbia Report
Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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