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

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.
- 1Georgetown University DC$103k
- 2George Washington University DC$91k
- 3American University DC$77k
- 4The Catholic University of America DC$73k
- 5Howard University DC$63k
- 6Trinity Washington University DC$54k
- 7University of the District of Columbia DC$44k
- 8Gallaudet University DC$43k
- 9Strayer University-Global Region DC$40k
- 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
Georgetown University DC
$103k
- Completion rate
- 95%
- Net price a year
- $40,815
- Private nonprofit
- 7,569 students
Based on 7,569 students enrolled.
- 2
George Washington University DC
$91k
- 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
American University DC
$77k
- Completion rate
- 75%
- Net price a year
- $41,943
- Private nonprofit
- 7,266 students
Based on 7,266 students enrolled.
- 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
Howard University DC
$63k
- Completion rate
- 70%
- Net price a year
- $50,539
- Private nonprofit
- 10,108 students
Based on 10,108 students enrolled.
- 6
Trinity Washington University DC
$54k
- 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
- 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
Gallaudet University DC
$43k
- Completion rate
- 47%
- Net price a year
- $15,845
- Private nonprofit
- 812 students
Based on 812 students enrolled.
- 9
Strayer University-Global Region DC
$40k
- 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
- 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.
| Rank | College | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University DC | $103k | 7,569 |
| 2 | George Washington University DC | $91k | 11,182 |
| 3 | American University DC | $77k | 7,266 |
| 4 | The Catholic University of America DC | $73k | 3,154 |
| 5 | Howard University DC | $63k | 10,108 |
| 6 | Trinity Washington University DC | $54k | 1,414 |
| 7 | University of the District of Columbia DC | $44k | 3,351 |
| 8 | Gallaudet University DC | $43k | 812 |
| 9 | Strayer University-Global Region DC | $40k | 9,376 |
| 10 | University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus DC | $35k | 809 |
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
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling
- Four-year colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling
- Community and two-year colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in the Northeast
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in New England
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in the Mid-Atlantic
- All 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>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
The job market, once a week
One email every Tuesday with the week's most useful read on the job market and the search, plus occasional news from NextChapter. No account needed. Unsubscribe any time.
Applying and hearing nothing back?
Find out where you stand: your odds, the jobs that fit you and a plan for the week ahead. Free. No résumé needed.
Already a member? Log in
Run a workforce board, job center or economic development office, or hire in the places and industries on this list?
Leave your work email. We'll send how organizations use NextChapter to reach job seekers.