Best College ROI in Dc 2026
11 colleges in Dc analyzed for return on investment. Strayer University-District of Columbia leads with a ROI Score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY).
Dc has 11 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 1 public institutions and 10 private ones. Across the 11 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $18K and earn $91K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Dc colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Strayer University-District of Columbia (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences). The lowest median debt comes from Strayer University-Global Region at $4K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Dc
Strayer University-District of Columbia
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Dc's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $5K in median debt.
Strayer University-Global Region
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer and Information Sciences. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Georgetown University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer Science. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $16K.
Top 11 Colleges by ROI in Dc
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strayer University-District of Columbia(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $5K | $95K | A (100) |
| 2 | Strayer University-Global Region(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $4K | $95K | A (100) |
| 3 | Georgetown University(private) | Computer Science | $16K | $95K | A (98) |
| 4 | American University(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | George Washington University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 6 | Howard University(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 7 | The Catholic University of America(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 8 | Trinity Washington University(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 9 | University of the District of Columbia(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 10 | Gallaudet University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $26K | $95K | A (93) |
| 11 | University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $13K | $65K | A (83) |
College ROI Rankings by State
College debt and earnings data for Dc is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Strayer University-District of Columbia has the best ROI in Dc with a score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $5K in median debt.
Across 11 Dc colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $18K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $91K.
Strayer University-District of Columbia graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Dc has 11 colleges in our database (1 public, 10 private). Of the 11 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).