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 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%).