What colleges are in the DMV

The DC, Maryland, and Virginia region has more than 30 four-year colleges and universities. The largest and most widely known are Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University, and American University in Washington, DC; the University of Maryland at College Park in Maryland; and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Beyond these, the region includes smaller private colleges, religiously affiliated schools, and regional public universities that serve different academic interests and price points.

Most of these schools are clustered in Washington, DC itself, or within 30 miles in the surrounding suburbs. A few are further out — the University of Virginia is about 120 miles southwest of DC, and some smaller colleges sit in rural areas of Maryland and Virginia. The distance matters if you are considering commuting or want to know what campus life looks like in an urban versus suburban or rural setting.

This guide describes the major institutions, where they are located, and what type of school each one is. It does not rank them or compare their academic programs in detail — that requires looking at each school's own website and talking to admissions offices.

Key Takeaways

  • Washington, DC has the highest concentration of four-year colleges, including Georgetown, George Washington, Howard, American, and Catholic University.
  • The University of Maryland at College Park is the largest public university in the region and sits about 10 miles northeast of downtown DC.
  • The University of Virginia, located in Charlottesville about 120 miles south, is the state's flagship public university.
  • Smaller private and religiously affiliated colleges throughout the region offer different academic environments and often lower price tags than the largest universities.
  • Most colleges in the DMV are within 30 miles of Washington, DC, making the region unusually dense with higher education options.

Major universities in Washington, DC

Georgetown University is a private Jesuit university in the Georgetown neighborhood of northwest DC. It is one of the oldest universities in the United States and is known for its business, law, and foreign service programs. Georgetown is highly selective and has one of the highest price tags in the region.

George Washington University is also a private university, located in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood near the White House and the National Mall. It is known for political science, international affairs, and business programs. Like Georgetown, it is selective and expensive.

Howard University is a private historically Black university located in the Shaw neighborhood of DC. It was founded in 1867 and has a strong reputation in engineering, medicine, business, and the liberal arts. Howard serves a large percentage of Black students and has deep roots in African American intellectual and cultural life.

American University is a private university in northwest DC known for international affairs, business, and communications. It is selective but generally less expensive than Georgetown or George Washington.

Catholic University of America is a private Catholic university in northeast DC. It offers programs across engineering, business, arts and sciences, and other fields. It is less selective than Georgetown or George Washington and typically costs less.

Public universities in Maryland

University of Maryland at College Park is the flagship public university of Maryland and the largest university in the region by enrollment. It is located in College Park, Maryland, about 10 miles northeast of downtown DC. The university has strong engineering, business, and computer science programs and serves roughly 40,000 students. As a public university, it is significantly less expensive than private universities in DC, especially for Maryland residents.

University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) is located in Catonsville, Maryland, about 30 miles north of DC. It is known for engineering, information technology, and the sciences. UMBC is smaller than College Park and has a different campus culture.

Towson University is located in Towson, Maryland, about 40 miles north of DC near Baltimore. It is a public university with strong programs in business, education, and the liberal arts. It serves a large commuter population.

University of Maryland Eastern Shore is located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, more than 100 miles from DC. It is a historically Black public university and is the smallest of the University of Maryland system schools.

Public universities in Virginia

University of Virginia is the flagship public university of Virginia, located in Charlottesville about 120 miles southwest of DC. It was founded by Thomas Jefferson and is one of the most selective public universities in the United States. UVA has strong programs across engineering, business, law, and medicine. It is less expensive than private universities but more expensive than many other public universities because of its reputation and selectivity.

Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia, about 200 miles southwest of DC in the mountains. It is known for engineering and agriculture. Virginia Tech is a large public university and is less expensive than UVA.

George Mason University is located in Fairfax, Virginia, about 20 miles west of DC. It is a public university that has grown significantly in recent decades. George Mason has strong programs in business, engineering, and computer science and serves many commuter students.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is located in Richmond, Virginia, about 100 miles south of DC. It is known for health professions, engineering, and the arts. VCU is a large public university with a strong medical school.

Smaller private and religiously affiliated colleges

Beyond the major universities, the DMV region has dozens of smaller colleges. Trinity Washington University is a small Catholic women's college in northeast DC. Marymount University is a small Catholic university in Arlington, Virginia, about 5 miles west of DC. Mount Vernon College (now part of George Washington University) was historically a women's college and is now integrated into GWU.

Goucher College is a small private liberal arts college in Towson, Maryland, about 30 miles north of DC. McDaniel College is a small private liberal arts college in Westminster, Maryland, about 40 miles north of DC. Hood College is a small private college in Frederick, Maryland, about 50 miles north of DC.

Hampden-Sydney College is a small private men's college in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, about 100 miles south of DC. Hollins University is a small private women's college in Roanoke, Virginia, about 200 miles southwest of DC. Washington and Lee University is a small private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, about 150 miles southwest of DC.

These smaller schools typically have lower enrollment than the major universities, more intimate class sizes, and lower price tags than the most selective private universities in DC. Many are religiously affiliated but do not require students to share that faith.

Community colleges in the DMV

If you are looking for a two-year college rather than a four-year university, the DMV region has several community college systems. Montgomery College serves Montgomery County, Maryland. Prince George's Community College serves Prince George's County, Maryland. Northern Virginia Community College serves multiple counties in northern Virginia. District of Columbia Community College serves Washington, DC.

Community colleges are significantly less expensive than four-year universities and allow students to complete general education requirements before transferring to a four-year school. Many students use community college as a pathway to a bachelor's degree at a lower total cost.

How to research colleges in the DMV

Each college maintains its own website with information about programs, admissions, cost, and campus life. Most schools offer campus tours, information sessions, and virtual tours. If you are a high school student, your school counselor can also point you toward resources and help you think through what type of school fits your needs.

The Common process (commonapp.org) is used by most four-year colleges and universities in the region for admissions. Many schools also accept applications through their own portals. Community colleges typically have their own separate process processes.

If you want to compare schools side by side, the National Center for Education Statistics (nces.ed.gov) maintains data on all accredited colleges, including enrollment, cost, and graduation rates. The College Board's College Search tool (collegeboard.org) also allows you to filter schools by location, size, and other factors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a university and a college?

In common usage, the terms are often used interchangeably. Technically, a university typically offers graduate programs and research opportunities in addition to undergraduate education, while a college focuses primarily on undergraduate education. Many institutions use "college" or "university" in their name regardless of this distinction.

How far is the University of Virginia from DC?

The University of Virginia in Charlottesville is approximately 120 miles southwest of downtown Washington, DC. The drive typically takes two to two and a half hours depending on traffic and which part of the DC area you start from.

Are there colleges in the DMV that are less expensive than Georgetown or George Washington?

Yes. Public universities like the University of Maryland at College Park and George Mason University are significantly less expensive, especially for in-state students. Smaller private colleges like Goucher and McDaniel typically cost less than Georgetown or George Washington. Community colleges are the least expensive option.

Can I live at home and commute to college in the DMV?

Yes. Many colleges in the region, particularly George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, and the University of Maryland at College Park, serve large numbers of commuter students. However, some schools, especially smaller liberal arts colleges, expect most students to live on campus.

What if I want to start at a community college and transfer to a four-year university?

Most four-year universities in the DMV accept transfer students from community colleges. Community colleges in the region have formal transfer agreements with many four-year schools, which means credits transfer smoothly and some schools may provide admission to transfer students who meet certain requirements.