Universities in Washington, USA
- Rankings & Reviews -

For business studies see our separate ranking of business schools in Washington, USA

Latest ranking updates related to universities in Washington
  • 06 Mar, 2024: Scimago Institutions Rankings updated with George Washington University ranked highest among 6 listed universities in Washington.
  • 25 Jan, 2024: THE Times Higher Education, UK published most recent results of THE World’s Most International Universities. Georgetown University achieves position 151.
  • 19 Dec, 2023: Urap published most recent results of URAP World Ranking - University Ranking by Academic Performance. Includes 5 universities from Washington.
  • 05 Dec, 2023: Latest QS World University Rankings: Sustainability from British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK. 3 universities from Washington appear in this ranking.

The capital of the United States, Washington D.C is known for being the home of the White House and Capitol, as well as numerous National Historic Landmarks, such as the Bonneville Dam Historic District, or Fort Worden.

The city offers no less than 13 higher education institutions to study at, and a number of them have been ranked very favorably by the university ranking organisations.


Rankings of universities in Washington, USA 2024

  • #53 
  • #187 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #32 
  • #32 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #55 
  • #297 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
Show 28 more rankings of Georgetown University and subject specific rankings for 9 subjects

Student satisfaction: 4.3 / 5.0 (based on 2251 student ratings)
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  • #58 
  • #201 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #72 
  • #72 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #62 
  • #340 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
Show 24 more rankings of George Washington University and subject specific rankings for 11 subjects

Student satisfaction: 4.9 / 5.0 (based on 12 student ratings)
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  • #118 
  • #601 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #137 
  • #138 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #119 
  • #791 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
Show 22 more rankings of American University and subject specific rankings for 6 subjects


  • #145 
  • #801 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #110 
  • #109 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #146 
  • #1001 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
Show 14 more rankings of Howard University and subject specific rankings for 6 subjects

Student satisfaction: 4.2 / 5.0 (based on 756 student ratings)
  • #121 
  • #601 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #153 
  • #154 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #218 
  • #1263 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024]
Show 11 more rankings of The Catholic University of America and subject specific rankings for 5 subjects

#6
USA

Trinity Washington University

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  • #813 
  • #840 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #851 
  • #885 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #1239 
  • #7815 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

  • #1242 
  • #1297 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #237 
  • #236 
US News Best National Universities
[Published 17 September, 2023]
  • #199 
  • #202 
Washington Monthly - National Universities
[Published 28 August, 2022]
Show 3 more rankings of Gallaudet University and subject specific rankings for 1 subjects

  • #518 
  • #4286 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024]
  • #934 
  • #971 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #864 
  • #896 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
Show 1 more rankings of Office of Admissions, University of the District of Columbia and subject specific rankings for 1 subjects

#9
USA

The Institute of World Politics

Student satisfaction: 4.4 / 5.0 (based on 58 student ratings)
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  • #1262 
  • #7921 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

#10
USA

University of the Potomac

Student satisfaction: 4.0 / 5.0 (based on 32 student ratings)
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  • #1297 
  • #8076 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

#11
USA

Strayer University

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  • #47 
  • #56 
StuDocu World University Ranking - US & Canada
[Published 06 September, 2021]
  • #999 
  • #6610 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

  • #215 
  • #214 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #362 
  • #373 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #353 
  • #358 
Forbes: America's Top Colleges
[Published 30 August, 2022]
Show 5 more rankings of Washington & Jefferson College

#13
USA

Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception

Student satisfaction: 4.7 / 5.0 (based on 14 student ratings)
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Highest subject rankings of universities in Washington

Business MONEY Best Colleges for Business Majors
#5 
Georgetown University
Law GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#11 
Georgetown University
Anthropology URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
#24 
George Washington University
Nursing & Health Care Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#30 
George Washington University
Linguistics QS World University Rankings By Subject
#32 
Georgetown University
Education GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#51 
George Washington University
Computer Science Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#55 
George Washington University
Engineering US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
#79 
George Washington University
Journalism URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
#86 
George Washington University
Chemistry NTU Rankings by Subject
#300 
George Washington University

Student Opinions About Studying in Washington

“I’ve been living in D.C for more than six years and I’m still finding new gems that I didn’t know were there. It’s not cheap living here, but there are plenty of things you can do for free, like enjoying the outdoors. In Washington you quickly get used to the fact that you have to leave the house early if you want to arrive on time using a car.”

“The best things about living in D.C for me have been the fairly good employment statistics, and being able to enjoy plenty of museums that are constantly updating their exhibitions. Unfortunately it’s true what they say about the traffic, it’s really out of hand. I would advise anyone to try finding an apartment that’s close to what they’ll be doing every day, or they might end up very frustrated and fed up.”

“Personally I see Washington D.C as a place that’s great for living as a single person and making some money for a while, but as time passes you might find yourself wanting a bigger living space, and Washington’s prices are high.”

Washington Key Facts for International Students

PROS

  • Washington D.C offers an abundance of festivals, shopping and dining opportunities, natural spaces, and entertainment. There’s something to suit the tastes and hobbies of virtually every kind of person here.

  • If you’re willing to accept living in a fairly modest and basic apartment, a 3-bedroom apartment can be found in the $1,001-$1,500 range, but you have to look well to find them. The most typical and representative rent prices are from $1,501-$2,000.

  • There are a lot of international students in Washington D.C, which helps newcomers to feel that they are blending in more easily.

CONS

  • The city’s public transport system is known for not being as reliable as it should be, meaning that many prefer to depend on their car, and this in turn gives the city its terrible traffic congestion issues.

  • The job market is known for being fiercely competitive in Washington, since there is a large number of highly qualified young people looking for a position. When it comes to basic, part-time entry level employment, there tend to be more offerings.

  • Residents describe Washington D.C as a place where people tend to sacrifice their personal lives in order to get ahead in their professional lives, which means people end up too busy to socialize. It’s recommended to keep an eye open for social events in your area, which can be done using Facebook groups, or checking out the bulletin board on your campus if you’re a student.


12 out of 13 Universities in Washington Ranked in at least one ranking

35 Different Rankings list Universities in Washington (23 institution and 12 subject rankings)

19 Global Rankings rank Universities in Washington Among TOP 200

Time: GMT +2

District/province: North-West,

Living costs for students in Washington:

* 100 = prices in London

  • Living costs without accommodation 107* (7% more expensive than London)
  • All costs including accommodation 103* (3% more expensive than London)
  • Meals (grocery & lower cost restaurants) 101* (1% more expensive than London)
  • Average Big Mac price 98.86 ZAR
  • Plug Type A
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz
  • Plug Type B
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz

Map with location of universities in Washington

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FAQ

Georgetown University ranks #1 in Washington in our meta ranking composed of 112 university rankings.

Among all universities in Washington George Washington University is listed in the largest number of rankings. See all 45 rankings where George Washington University is listed.

Georgetown University is ranked best in Washington for Business (Business). See all rankings for the Georgetown University.

Georgetown University is ranked best in Washington for Law (Law). See all rankings for the Georgetown University.

George Washington University is ranked best in Washington for Social Studies & Humanities (Anthropology). See all rankings for the George Washington University.

George Washington University is ranked best in Washington for Medicine & Health (Nursing & Health Care). See all rankings for the George Washington University.

Georgetown University is ranked best in Washington for Languages & Literature (Linguistics). See all rankings for the Georgetown University.

George Washington University is ranked best in Washington for Education (Education). See all rankings for the George Washington University.

George Washington University is ranked best in Washington for Computer Science (Computer Science). See all rankings for the George Washington University.

George Washington University is ranked best in Washington for Engineering (Engineering). See all rankings for the George Washington University.

George Washington University is ranked best in Washington for Journalism & Media Studies (Journalism). See all rankings for the George Washington University.

George Washington University is ranked best in Washington for Natural Sciences (Chemistry). See all rankings for the George Washington University.

George Washington University is ranked best in Washington for Mathematics (Mathematics). See all rankings for the George Washington University.

George Washington University is ranked best in Washington for Agriculture (Agriculture). See all rankings for the George Washington University.

Ranking publishers

4icu

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British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK

Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:

Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%

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Criteria used in ranking -QS Employability Rankings:

Employer reputation 30% Alumni outcomes 25% Partnerships with Employers per Faculty 25% Employer/Student Connections 10% Graduate employment rate 10%

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CWUR Center for World University Rankings

Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:

Research Performance: 40%

  • Research Output: 10%
  • High-Quality Publications: 10%
  • Influence: 10%
  • Citations: 10%

Quality of Education: 25%

Alumni Employment: 25%

Quality of Faculty: 10%

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Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands

Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:

Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity

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Forbes

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Kiplinger

Criteria used in ranking -Kiplinger's Best College Values:

Quality Criteria 55% Cost Criteria 45%

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MONEY

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Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Best Colleges in America, ranked by value:

Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%

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NTU ranking

Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:

Research Productivity: 25%

  • # Articles last 11 years: 10%
  • # Articles current year: 15%

Research Impact: 35%

  • # Citations last 11 years: 15%
  • # Citations last 2 years: 10%
  • Average # citations last 11 years: 10%

Research Excellence: 40%

  • H-index last 2 years: 10%
  • # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
  • # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%

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Nature Index

Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index - Academic:

Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)

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Payscale

Criteria used in ranking -Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only):

Ranking is based on ROI

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RUR Ranking Agency (Moscow, Russia)

Criteria used in ranking -RUR World University Rankings:

Teaching: 40%

  • Ratio Faculty/Student: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Doctoral Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Doctoral Degrees Awarded/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • World Teaching Reputation: 8%

Research: 40%

  • Citations per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • Doctoral Degrees per Accepted PhD: 8%
  • Normalized Citation Impact: 8%
  • Papers per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • World Research Reputation: 8%

International Diversity: 10%

  • International Faculty: 2%
  • International Students: 2%
  • International Co-Authored Papers: 2%
  • Reputation Outside Geographical Region: 2%
  • International Level: 2%

Financial Sustainability: 10%

  • Institutional Income per Faculty: 2%
  • Institutional Income per Student: 2%
  • Papers per Research Income: 2%
  • Research Income per Academic/Research Staff: 2%
  • Research Income per Institutional Income: 2%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Academic Rankings:

Normalized citation impact (Citations of research publications from all university authors compared with world averages) 20% Citation per papers 20% Papers per academic and research staff 20% International research reputation 20% Share of research publications written in international co-authorship 20%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Reputation Ranking:

Teaching Reputation 50% Research Reputation 50%

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Scimago Institutions

Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:

Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%

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ShanghaiRanking Consultancy

Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:

Quality of Education 10%

  • Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%

Quality of Faculty 40%

  • Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
  • Highly Cited Researchers 20%

Research Output 40%

  • Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
  • Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%

Per Capita Performance 10%

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StuDocu

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THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -THE World University Rankings:

30% Teaching (the Learning Environment)

  • Reputation survey: 15%
  • Staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%
  • Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2.25%
  • Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 6%
  • Institutional income: 2.25%

30% Research (Volume, Income and Reputation)

  • Reputation survey: 18%
  • Research income: 6%
  • Research productivity: 6%

30% Citations (Research Influence)

7.5% International Outlook (Staff, Students and Research)

  • Proportion of international students: 2.5%
  • Proportion of international staff: 2.5%
  • International collaboration: 2.5%

2.5% Industry Income (Knowledge Transfer)"

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Criteria used in ranking -THE Global Employability University Ranking:

Employability (survey) 100%

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Criteria used in ranking -THE World’s Most International Universities:

Proportion of international students 25% Proportion of international staff 25% Proportion of journal publications with one or more international co-authors 25% University’s international reputation 25%

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The Princeton Review

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Urap

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Us News

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Wallstreet Journal USA & THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings:

Outcomes 40% (employability) Resources 30% Engagement 20% (teaching) Environment 10% (diversity)

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Washington Monthly

Criteria used in ranking -Washington Monthly - National Universities:

Social Mobility 33.33%
Research 33.33%
Community and National Service 33.33%

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Webometrics

Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:

Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%

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