There are nineteen colleges and universities in Washington, D.C., that are listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. 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. Georgetown University is also the oldest Jesuit and Catholic university in the United States. 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. George Washington left shares to endow a university in D.C. which became George Washington University 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.

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.

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. It is also DC's sole land-grant university. 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.

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). 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.

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 Type Enrollment(Fall 2024) Founded AccreditationAmerican UniversityPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral/research university 12,321 1893ABA, APA, CEPH, MSCHEBay Atlantic UniversityPrivate not-for-profitNot Classified 2014NECHEPrivate not-for-profitResearch university 5,243 1887ACEN, ABA, APA, ATS, CCNE, MSCHE, NASMGallaudet UniversityPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral university 1,335 1864APA, ASHA, CEA, MSCHEGeorge Washington UniversityPrivate not-for-profitResearch university 25,374 1821ACME, ABA, APTA, APA, ASHA, CCNE, CEPH, CPE, LCME, MSCHE, NASADGeorgetown UniversityPrivate not-for-profitResearch university 20,031 1789ACME, ABA, CCNE, CEA, COA, CPE, LCME, MSCHEHoward UniversityPrivate not-for-profitResearch university 14,890 1867ACPE, ABA, ADA, AND, AOTA, APTA, APA, ASHA, ATS, CCNE, JRCERT, LCME, MSCHE, NASAD, NASM, NASTPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution 173 1990MSCHE NewU UniversityPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution 34 2019 MSCHE Private not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution 74 1902ATS, MSCHEPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution 65 1988MSCHEStrayer University–District of ColumbiaPrivate for-profitMaster's university 12,286 1904CCNE, MSCHETrinity Washington UniversityPrivate not-for-profitMaster's university 1,948 1897AOTA, CCNE, MSCHEUniversity of the District of ColumbiaPublicMaster's university 4,202 1851ACEN, ABFSE, AND, ASHA, JRCERT, MSCHEUniversity of the Potomac–Washington DC CampusPrivate for-profitSpecial-focus institution 1,241 1989MSCHEWesley Theological SeminaryPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution 374 1882ATS, MSCHE

Other active institutions

+ List of other active institutions School Control Founded AccreditationQuantic School of Business and TechnologyPrivate for-profit 2014 DEACHuman Resources UniversityPublic (U.S. Government) 2011 N/AInter-American Defense CollegePublic (Organization of American States and the Inter-American Defense Board) 1962 MSCHENational Defense UniversityPublic (U.S. Government & Armed Forces) 1976MSANational Intelligence UniversityPublic (U.S. Government and U.S. Armed Forces) 1962MSCHEJohns Hopkins University Carey Business SchoolPrivate not-for-profit 2007 AACSBJohns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International StudiesPrivate not-for-profit 1943 N/ASt. Paul's CollegePrivate not-for-profit 1914 None

Active institutions with satellite programs

+ List of active institutions with satellite programs SchoolArizona State UniversityBrown UniversityThe College of William & MaryCornell UniversityHillsdale CollegeJohns Hopkins UniversityNew York UniversityPepperdine UniversityMarquette UniversityStanford UniversityTexas A&M UniversityUniversity of California, Washington CenterUniversity of MarylandUniversity 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 1925 1987 Merged with George Washington University in 1987Corcoran College of the Arts and Design Private not-for-profit 1878 2014 Absorbed into George Washington University Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross Private not-for-profit 1935 1973 Campus acquired by Howard University in 1974 to serve as the campus for Howard University School of LawGraduate School USA Private not-for-profit 1921 Still open No longer offering academic degree programs or for-credit courses Mount Vernon Seminary and College Private not-for-profit 1875 1999 Merged with George Washington University in 1999, and currently serves as the institution's Mount Vernon Campus Southeastern University Private not-for-profit 1879 2009 Acquired by Graduate School USA in 2010

See also Higher education in the United States List of college athletic programs in Washington, D.C. List of recognized higher education accreditation organizations Lists of American institutions of higher education

References Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

External links United States Department of Education listing of accredited institutions in Washington, D.C.