University of the District of Columbia
#5 Best HBCUs for EducationBottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 26.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $26.5 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best HBCUs for Education.
Every $1 spent returns $26.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,087,690.
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What The Data Says
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Graduation of 30% — 47% below the national average.
Social mobility rate of 3.78% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
Every $1 invested returns $26.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of the District of Columbia Matters
University of the District of Columbia is a public community college in Washington, DC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 3,351
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Legal Studies
Why students choose University of the District of Columbia
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,648 a year after grants and scholarships — 38% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,236 ten years after enrolling — 8% above the typical college, against $24,872 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 5% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.88 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Thirty percent of students graduate from the University of the District of Columbia. This rate reflects the challenges many face in completing their degrees. However, for those who do graduate, the average earnings a decade after enrolling stand at $44,236.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data sheds light on economic mobility for students. While specific mobility rates are not available, the university has a significant Pell Grant rate of 36%. This indicates a commitment to supporting low-income students, which is crucial for improving access and outcomes.
The net price to attend is $10,648, with a median debt of $24,872 upon graduation. Graduates can expect to earn a moderate income, making this school a viable option for those seeking programs in education, business, and health professions. Students who thrive here are often those who take advantage of the university's support services and community resources.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of the District of Columbia is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of the District of Columbia? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Washington, District of Columbia, University of the District of Columbia enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 30%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of the District of Columbia? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending University of the District of Columbia, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $12,514 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $10,648 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,268 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,872.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of the District of Columbia Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of the District of Columbia report median earnings of $44,236; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of the District of Columbia Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of the District of Columbia delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,648/year ($42,592 total). Graduates earn $44,236 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,130,282 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,087,690 (26.5× your investment). The median debt is $24,872, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 30% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of the District of Columbia Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of the District of Columbia is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 3.78%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 24.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $40,000, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of the District of Columbia awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of the District of Columbia's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of the District of Columbia? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a public institution in Washington, District of Columbia, University of the District of Columbia enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 30%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of the District of Columbia? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending University of the District of Columbia, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $12,514 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $10,648 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,268 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,872.
Is University of the District of Columbia Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of University of the District of Columbia report median earnings of $44,236; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Does University of the District of Columbia Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
University of the District of Columbia is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 3.78%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 24.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $40,000, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of the District of Columbia? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs around the national average at University of the District of Columbia, with an economic connectedness score of 0.88 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of the District of Columbia.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of the District of Columbia? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs around the national average at University of the District of Columbia, with an economic connectedness score of 0.88 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note