Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in District of Columbia

Georgetown University leads District of Columbia among colleges for earnings: its former students earn a median of $103k ten years after enrolling, against $62k for the typical college in this list.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Georgetown University, DC: $103k
  • #2 George Washington University, DC: $91k
  • #3 American University, DC: $77k
  • 10 colleges ranked across District of Columbia
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: $62k across the typical college in this list.

  1. 1Georgetown University DC$103k
  2. 2George Washington University DC$91k
  3. 3American University DC$77k
  4. 4The Catholic University of America DC$73k
  5. 5Howard University DC$63k
  6. 6Trinity Washington University DC$54k
  7. 7University of the District of Columbia DC$44k
  8. 8Gallaudet University DC$43k
  9. 9Strayer University-Global Region DC$40k
  10. 10University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus DC$35k

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Georgetown University ($103k) is well clear of University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus at #10 ($35k).
  • University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus reaches #10 on a sample of 809 students enrolled, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • George Washington University is the largest market in the top ten, with 11,182 students enrolled behind its figure.
  • Colleges with fewer than 500 students enrolled are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Median earnings ten years after enrolling show what former students of a college go on to earn, as the Department of Education publishes it.

How to use it

Compare colleges within the same level and field, and read earnings next to completion rate and net price. Earnings reflect who enrolls and what they study as much as the college.

The top 25

  1. 1
    Completion rate
    95%
    Net price a year
    $40,815
    Private nonprofit
    7,569 students

    Based on 7,569 students enrolled.

    Georgetown University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  2. 2
    Completion rate
    84%
    Net price a year
    $36,586
    Private nonprofit
    11,182 students

    Based on 11,182 students enrolled.

    George Washington University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  3. 3
    Completion rate
    75%
    Net price a year
    $41,943
    Private nonprofit
    7,266 students

    Based on 7,266 students enrolled.

    American University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  4. 4
    Completion rate
    79%
    Net price a year
    $29,561
    Private nonprofit
    3,154 students

    Based on 3,154 students enrolled.

    The Catholic University of America: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  5. 5
    Completion rate
    70%
    Net price a year
    $50,539
    Private nonprofit
    10,108 students

    Based on 10,108 students enrolled.

    Howard University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  6. 6
    Completion rate
    49%
    Net price a year
    $9,302
    Private nonprofit
    1,414 students

    Based on 1,414 students enrolled.

    Trinity Washington University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  7. 7
    Completion rate
    33%
    Net price a year
    $10,648
    Public
    3,351 students

    Based on 3,351 students enrolled.

    University of the District of Columbia: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  8. 8
    Completion rate
    47%
    Net price a year
    $15,845
    Private nonprofit
    812 students

    Based on 812 students enrolled.

    Gallaudet University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  9. 9
    Completion rate
    14%
    Net price a year
    $17,833
    Private for-profit
    9,376 students

    Based on 9,376 students enrolled.

    Strayer University-Global Region: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  10. 10
    Completion rate
    33%
    Net price a year
    Not available
    Private for-profit
    809 students

    Based on 809 students enrolled.

    University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

Full ranking

All 10 colleges that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

How this ranking works

Earnings are the median earnings of students who received federal financial aid, ten years after they first enrolled, as published in the Department of Education College Scorecard. They describe past students, not a promise for future ones.

Only colleges with at least 500 students and published earnings are ranked. A college's earnings reflect who enrolls and what they study as much as what the college teaches.

Sample bar: colleges with fewer than 500 students enrolled are not ranked.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (median earnings, completion, net price), as held in our college tables. Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which certification ranks first: colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in district of columbia?
Georgetown University leads District of Columbia among colleges for earnings: its former students earn a median of $103k ten years after enrolling, against $62k for the typical college in this list.
How many colleges are ranked?
10 colleges have at least 500 students enrolled, so the list has 10 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
Earnings are the median earnings of students who received federal financial aid, ten years after they first enrolled, as published in the Department of Education College Scorecard. They describe past students, not a promise for future ones. Only colleges with at least 500 students and published earnings are ranked. A college's earnings reflect who enrolls and what they study as much as what the college teaches.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in District of Columbia,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/colleges-with-the-highest-earnings-in-district-of-columbia

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/colleges-with-the-highest-earnings-in-district-of-columbia">Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in District of Columbia (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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