by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a grad degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. 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 Master's ranking - to help you make that decision.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
We analyzed 8 grad schools across District of Columbia to determine which have the best master's degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best grad schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue a master's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that graduate students take on while they are working on their master's degree. 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.
Our Best Master'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.
To learn more, visit our graduate school ranking methodology page.
If you plan to take your education even further, you may want to visit our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
Our analysis found Georgetown University to be the best grad school for master’s degrees in District of Columbia in this year’s ranking. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 3,975 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $73,859 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #2 on our Best Master’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 4,602 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from GWU go into careers with an average salary of $68,845 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 8 master’s degree schools in District of Columbia that were part of this year’s ranking, Gallaudet University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 128 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Gallaudet make an average of $46,672 per year during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American University. The school came in at #4 in District of Columbia on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. The American University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,829 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $56,358 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 8 master’s degree schools in District of Columbia that were part of this year’s ranking, Catholic University of America landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 557 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from CUA is $71,181 during the early years of their career.
Howard University landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in District of Columbia ranking. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 229 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Howard go into careers with an average salary of $69,017 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #7, Trinity Washington University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in District of Columbia list. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 111 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Trinity College is $62,970 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #8, University of the District of Columbia did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in District of Columbia list. This small public school is located in Washington, District of Columbia, and it awarded 130 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from University of the District of Columbia make an average of $57,901 a year.
View Best Master’s Degree Schools Nationwide >
More about our data sources and methodologies.