Best Online Colleges in Washington, D.C.

Discover the best online colleges in the District of Columbia and find the option that offers the program and structure that suits your needs.

Updated September 24, 2024

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In 2019, Washington, D.C. had a 49.7% college attainment rate, surpassing the national average of 36%. The median household in Washington, D.C. earned $101,649 per year, well above the national median household income of $68,703. With an educated population and ample career opportunities, it’s no surprise that the nation’s capital houses many accredited colleges and universities.

Washington, D.C. is the central location of the United States federal government and hosts 176 foreign embassies, the World Bank headquarters, and numerous private companies. Attending a District of Columbia-based college can be desirable, especially for students looking to pursue politics, law, or international relations.

Many accredited institutions in Washington, D.C. offer online programs, allowing students greater geographic flexibility. Explore this list to compare the best online colleges in Washington, D.C.

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In this Article

Best Accredited Online Colleges in Washington, D.C.

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.

How We Rank Schools

To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.

To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:

Affordability (30%)
Student outcomes (30%)
Reputation (20%)
Diversity and social mobility (20%)

In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.

George Washington University

Washington, DC4 yearCampus + Online

$60,856

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,856

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

49%

Acceptance Rate

25%

Online Enrollment

Earning a place among the best online colleges in Washington, D.C., GW offers more than 70 online programs, including an RN-to-BSN degree, a master's degree in public health, and a doctoral degree in engineering. GW's online programs deliver coursework both synchronously and asynchronously, and courses last 6-14 weeks.

GW offers part-time and full-time enrollment, and programs typically start in the fall. Admission requirements vary, but prospective undergraduate students typically need a high school diploma, whereas graduate applicants may need a minimum 3.0 GPA and GMAT or GRE scores. GW offers the same tuition rates for state residents and nonresidents.

GW is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$33,930

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$33,930

Retention Rate

90%

Students Enrolled

25,939

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,856

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,856

George Washington University

Washington, DC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,856

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,856

Acceptance Rate

49%

Online Enrollment

25%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$33,930

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$33,930

Retention Rate

90%

Students Enrolled

25,939

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

GW is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Gallaudet University

Washington, DC4 yearCampus + Online

$16,512

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$16,512

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

59%

Acceptance Rate

39%

Online Enrollment

Gallaudet University offers five online and hybrid programs, although two programs did not accept new applications as of June 2021. The university offers bachelor's completion programs in deaf studies and psychology and master's degrees in counseling and education. Some online classes run through accelerated and asynchronous eight-week sessions, whereas others run synchronously.

Prospective undergraduates need a high school diploma, while prospective graduate students usually need a bachelor's degree, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and satisfactory scores on the GMAT or GRE. Most online students pay the same tuition rates, though learners from developing countries may receive discounts.

Gallaudet University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,180

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,180

Retention Rate

73%

Students Enrolled

1,322

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation