2023 Best Online Colleges in Washington D.C.

The Georgetown University is a private, nonprofit, Jesuit-affiliated institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including a selection of master's degree programs online. Remote students can choose from programs in real estate, sports industry management, technology management, and a few others. Each of these programs requires a different amount of credit hours (anywhere from 30 to 33) and may take a student from two to five years to complete. Georgetown is a highly selective school, and only 12% of applicants are accepted. It also has a fantastic graduation rate of 95%.

Georgetown utilizes Canvas, a popular learning management system, to provide remote students with asynchronous online courses. Online students also have access to the same resources as their on-campus peers, such as counseling, a digital media center, a library, a writing center, and others. They can also receive plenty of individualized attention from the school’s renowned professors, as Georgetown’s student-to-faculty ratio is 11 to one. Eligible students can take advantage of financial aid. Scholarships may be available, but the school recommends inquiring about how they may impact the financial aid. Overall, Georgetown is recognized as one of the top universities in the United States with a stellar academic reputation and highly desirable degree programs.

The George Washington University (GWU) is a private, nonprofit institution, where students can pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees. The university also provides a great variety of programs for remote learners — from certificates and associate degrees to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. There’s a wide choice of degree subjects as well, especially when it comes to graduate degrees. As for online bachelor’s degrees, options include health sciences with various specializations, nursing, and a homeland security bachelor's degree completion program. Credit requirements vary: Some health science programs consist of 120 credits, which can take four to five years to complete, others only require 60 credits, and the nursing program consists of 21 credits and can be finished in as few as 15 months. GWU can be somewhat competitive and accepts 50% of applicants. Additionally, it has a high graduation rate of 82%.

At GWU, remote learners can complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously through the learning management platform Blackboard. They also have access to an online library, student success coaching, military and veteran services, counseling and psychological services, and IT support. The university also has an excellent student-to-faculty rate of 15 to one. Students can apply for financial aid and scholarships — however, scholarships for graduate students are limited. To conclude, GWU is known as a prestigious university leading research in a variety of fields and offering high-quality education, in-person and online.

The American University (AU) is a private, nonprofit institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It provides undergraduate and graduate programs, including online graduate degrees in subjects like nutrition education, measurement and evaluation, accounting, marketing analytics, and others. These programs require between 30 to 48 credits or one to two years of studies, according to AU. Sixty-four percent of applicants get accepted into the school and 79% of students graduate — which is a high number among four-year schools.

Blackboard is AU's learning management system, where remote learners take courses asynchronously. Some instructors may add synchronous classes using Wimba or a different platform. Online students can also access library services and academic support. They can also be eligible for financial aid, and scholarships may be available. To summarize, AU stands out for its multi-faceted learning environment that prepares students for a career.

The Catholic University of America is a private, nonprofit, Roman Catholic institution providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It also offers fully online programs, such as master’s ecclesial administration and management, library and information science, and social work. In general, master’s degree programs require around 30 to 36 credit hours, which takes students 12 to 18 months to complete. Catholic University isn’t difficult to get into with an 86% acceptance rate, and it also has a solid graduation rate of 74%.

The university uses the learning management system Blackboard to provide online coursework, which is asynchronous. Remote students also have access to a writing center, academic advising, and other services. They can also easily receive personalized support from professors as the university’s student-to-faculty ratio is 11 to one. Additionally, financial aid may be available, as well as grants, loans, and work-study. Overall, Catholic University is known as the only higher education institution founded by the U.S. bishops providing education rooted in Catholic values.

The University of the Potomac - Washington D.C. (UOTP) is a private, for-profit institution with online degrees at every level. Some bachelor's majors include computer science, hospitality, business, and information technology. These programs typically require 120 credits, which full-time students can usually complete in approximately four years. The acceptance rate at UOTP is 100%, with 76% of students graduating with their degrees.

At UOTP, students use Moodle for completing their degrees 100% online. Coursework is delivered on a flexible study schedule through synchronous and asynchronous formats. The student-to-faculty ratio is 13:1. Financial aid — including scholarships and federal loans — is available for online students. Student support is provided through academic advisement and career workshops. UOTP is known for offering the same programs online as on campus.