The average graduation rate of District of Columbia colleges is 63.00%. It means that 63.00% of students have completed their studies within 150% of program length.

For the bachelor's degree (BS) in 4-year District of Columbia colleges, the average graduation rate is 56.27%, which means 56.27% of students earned BS degree in 6 years after enrolling first year.

In District of Columbia 2-year institutions (i.e. community colleges), the average graduation rate is 83.33%.

For District of Columbia colleges, Georgetown University has the highest graduation rate of 95.61% among 4-year colleges. For District of Columbia community colleges, National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts has the highest graduation rate of 100.00%.

Graduation Rate By School Level and Completion Time for District of Columbia Colleges

The following table compares graduation rates between District of Columbia colleges. For 4-year colleges, the rates are based on the time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree, which typically requires 4 years of study. Therefore, 100% normal time means 4-year, 125% normal time means 5-years, and the 150% normal time means 6 years.

For community colleges (2-4 year schools) and trade schools, the completion time to measure graduation rates vary depending on the length of the program. For example, 150% normal time for 1-year certificate programs is 18 months and 3 years for 2-years associate degree.

Graduation Rate Comparison between District of Columbia Colleges
SchoolGraduation Rate
(Completers)
Transfer-out RateRetention Rate
In 100% Normal TimeIn 125% Normal TimeIn 150% Normal Time
American University4-Year College, private74.33%78.57%79.46%--
The Catholic University of America4-Year College, private73.03%75.66%76.35%--
University of the District of Columbia4-Year College, public27.89%46.26%54.42%13%54%
Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies4-Year College, private-----
Gallaudet University4-Year College, private16.33%35.10%43.67%27%73%
George Washington University4-Year College, private79.41%84.28%84.80%--
Georgetown University4-Year College, private91.04%94.98%95.61%--
Howard University4-Year College, private60.78%68.22%70.00%19%88%
Strayer University-District of Columbia4-Year College, private9.09%-9.09%36%100%
National Conservatory of Dramatic ArtsCommunity College100.00%-100.00%--
Trinity Washington University4-Year College, private20.36%37.10%38.01%20%69%
Wesley Theological Seminary4-Year College, private-----
University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus4-Year College, private3.33%-50.00%--
Career Technical InstituteCommunity College56.70%-57.01%--
Bennett Career InstituteTrade School27.66%-46.81%3%60%
Institute of World Politics4-Year College, private-----
Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family4-Year College, private-----
The Chicago School at Washington DC4-Year College, private-----
Strayer University-Global Region4-Year College, private29.41%35.29%35.29%10%33%
Saint Michael College of Allied HealthCommunity College70.97%-93.55%3%74%
The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DCTrade School7.69%-92.31%--
Arizona State University - Washington, D.C.4-Year College, public-----
NewU University4-Year College, private-----
Relay Graduate School of Education - Washington, D.C4-Year College, private-----