Unlock Your Psychology Career Potential: Compare the Best Psychology Degree Programs in District of Columbia for 2025

$24,492

Avg. Net Price

58%

Avg. Admitted

31%

Avg. Enrolled

67%

Avg. Graduation Rate

11/1

Avg. Student / Faculty

Psychology Degree Programs in District of Columbia

Find and compare the best psychology degree programs by state.

8

Number of Schools

In District of Columbia, there are 8 4-year schools that offer psychology degrees

54

Number of Programs

With 8 schools offering psychology programs, the total number of programs offered in District of Columbia is 54

1,219

Number of Graduates

The 54 psychology programs in District of Columbia produced 1,219 psychology graduates in 2021

Psychology Degree Programs in District of Columbia

District of Columbia Psychology Degrees Programs

Top (8) Psychology Programs in District of Columbia

Georgetown University

2021 Psychology Graduates: 85
Average Cost to Attend: $81,342
Average Amount Grant / Scholarship: $2,898
Average Net Price: $23,049
Average Admitted: 12%
Average Enrolled: 48%
Average Graduation Rate: 95%
Student / Faculty: 11 / 1
Full-Time Instructors: 40%
District of Columbia Ranking: #1
National Ranking: #32

Gallaudet University

2021 Psychology Graduates: 69
Average Cost to Attend: $38,338
Average Amount Grant / Scholarship: $874
Average Net Price: $25,465
Average Admitted: 62%
Average Enrolled: 61%
Average Graduation Rate: 58%
Student / Faculty: 6 / 1
Full-Time Instructors: 97%
District of Columbia Ranking: #2
National Ranking: #107

George Washington University

2021 Psychology Graduates: 460
Average Cost to Attend: $76,359
Average Amount Grant / Scholarship: $7,549
Average Net Price: $31,240
Average Admitted: 50%
Average Enrolled: 19%
Average Graduation Rate: 84%
Student / Faculty: 12 / 1
Full-Time Instructors: 48%
District of Columbia Ranking: #3
National Ranking: #169

American University

2021 Psychology Graduates: 93
Average Cost to Attend: $67,720
Average Amount Grant / Scholarship: $3,521
Average Net Price: $28,622
Average Admitted: 64%
Average Enrolled: 19%
Average Graduation Rate: 79%
Student / Faculty: 12 / 1
Full-Time Instructors: 50%
District of Columbia Ranking: #4
National Ranking: #288

Howard University

2021 Psychology Graduates: 204
Average Cost to Attend: $47,748
Average Amount Grant / Scholarship: $6,949
Average Net Price: $26,870
Average Admitted: 35%
Average Enrolled: 27%
Average Graduation Rate: 64%
Student / Faculty: 13 / 1
Full-Time Instructors: 65%
District of Columbia Ranking: #5
National Ranking: #470

Trinity Washington University

2021 Psychology Graduates: 61
Average Cost to Attend: $39,530
Average Amount Grant / Scholarship: $1,350
Average Net Price: $12,815
Average Admitted: 97%
Average Enrolled: 31%
Average Graduation Rate: 41%
Student / Faculty: 11 / 1
Full-Time Instructors: 26%
District of Columbia Ranking: #6
National Ranking: #794

The Catholic University of America

2021 Psychology Graduates: 221
Average Cost to Attend: $71,210
Average Amount Grant / Scholarship: $2,831
Average Net Price: $35,520
Average Admitted: 86%
Average Enrolled: 14%
Average Graduation Rate: 74%
Student / Faculty: 11 / 1
Full-Time Instructors: 44%
District of Columbia Ranking: #7
National Ranking: #605

University of the District of Columbia

2021 Psychology Graduates: 26
Average Cost to Attend: $29,166
Average Amount Grant / Scholarship: $2,274
Average Net Price: $12,354
Average Admitted: %
Average Enrolled: %
Average Graduation Rate: 44%
Student / Faculty: 8 / 1
Full-Time Instructors: 32%
District of Columbia Ranking: #8
National Ranking: #1172

Psychology Programs Offered in District of Columbia

There are 54 undergraduate psychology programs offered by 8 different 4-year colleges, comprising 1 public and 7 private schools.

Additionally, psychology programs in District of Columbia produced 631 bachelor’s graduates, 456 master’s graduates and 124 doctorate graduates.

The table below details the programs offered and the total number of graduates in District of Columbia.

Psychology GraduatesBSMAPMCPhD
Clinical Psychology2235
Cognitive Psychology102
Counseling and Applied Psychology81445
Counseling Psychology2
Developmental Psychology1
Experimental Psychology98111
Forensic Psychology54
General Psychology3394813
Industrial Organizational Psychology1
Mental Health Counseling19
Research Psychology1321114
School Psychology547
Social Psychology243
Social Work28205
Total Graduates6314568124
US Department of Education

Credits Accepted for District of Columbia Schools

The types of academic credits available to District of Columbia students are varied and include:

  • Dual enrollment
  • Credit for life experiences
  • Advanced placement (AP) credits

Psychology Admission, Enrollment, and Graduation in District of Columbia

On average, District of Columbia schools admitted 58% of students who applied to 4-year institutions. Of those who were offered admission, 31% enrolled.

The average freshman retention rate for District of Columbia schools is 84%, compared to 71% for all universities nationwide.

The overall graduation rate for 4-year colleges and universities in District of Columbia is 67%, compared to 56% for all universities nationwide.

The top three schools in District of Columbia for highest graduation rate are Georgetown University (95%), George Washington University (84%), and American University (79%).

The top three schools with the highest number of psychology graduates in District of Columbia are George Washington University (460), The Catholic University of America (221), and Howard University (204).

RegionDistrict of ColumbiaU.S.
Applied15,8498,766
Admitted58%73%
Enrolled31%26%
1st Year Return84%71%
Graduation67%56%
US Department of Education

Student & Faculty Information in District of Columbia

In the fall of 2021, District of Columbia schools that offered psychology programs had an average of 61% full-time instructional or research faculty members and 38% part-time instructional faculty members.

The average student-to-faculty ratio for District of Columbia schools offering psychology programs is 11:1.

The table below shows a comparison of the percentage of full-time instructional and research faculty members and the student-to-faculty ratio between District of Columbia and the United States as a whole:

RegionDistrict of ColumbiaU.S.
Full-Time Instructional54%56%
Full-Time Research6%6%
Part-Time Instructional38%35%
Student Faculty Ratio11:115:1
US Department of Education

Tuition and Student Expenses in District of Columbia

If you’re an undergraduate psychology student in District of Columbia, the average tuition you’ll pay depends on the institution you choose. Typically, tuition costs range from $5,292 to $59,784 per year, with an average of $38,502. In addition to tuition, you’ll also need to budget for books and supplies, which can cost between $800 and $1,426 annually, with an average of $1,209.

The three most affordable undergraduate psychology schools in District of Columbia are University of the District of Columbia ($29,166), Gallaudet University ($38,338), and Howard University ($47,748). Meanwhile, the three most expensive institutions are the Georgetown University ($81,342), George Washington University ($76,359), and The Catholic University of America ($71,210).

As for prospective graduate psychology students, the average cost of tuition and fees for graduate programs varies widely based on the school and program chosen. Graduate tuition costs between $9,234 and $54,672 per year, with an average of $33,845. However, most graduate programs also require additional fees, such as application fees, technology fees, and library fees, which can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. In-state graduate fees typically range from $54 to $1,200, with an average of $715.

The three most affordable graduate psychology schools in District of Columbia are University of the District of Columbia ($10,094), Gallaudet University ($19,380), and George Washington University ($32,904). Meanwhile, the three most expensive graduate programs are Georgetown University ($55,128), The Catholic University of America ($51,630), and American University ($38,456).

If you’re curious about how District of Columbia schools stack up against national averages, you can compare average total expenses in the table below. Note that these figures don’t take into account financial aid, grants, loans, or scholarships. If you’re interested in that information, you can find it in the sections below.

Average Expenses for Psychology SchoolsDistrict of ColumbiaU.S.
On Campus Room & Board$15,864$11,729
On-Campus Living Expenses$3,265$3,474
Total Living Expenses$19,129$15,203
Tuition for In-State, Undergraduate$38,502$21,301
Books and Supplies, Undergraduate$1,209$1,254
Total Undergraduate Expenses$58,840$37,758
In-State, Graduate Tuition$33,845$14,479
In-State, Graduate Fees$715$1,155
Total Graduate Expenses$34,560$15,634
US Department of Education

Cost to Attend, Financial Aid, Net Price in District of Columbia

Average Net Price

In District of Columbia, the cost to attend a college or university that offers psychology programs is a significant financial investment. The key term to know for college affordability is the net price.

The average net price for a college or university in District of Columbia that offers psychology programs is $24,492. This figure is calculated based on the most recent data provided by each institution to the US Department of Education.

Net price is determined by adding up the costs of tuition, room and board, living expenses, books, and supplies and then subtracting the average financial aid, such as grants, scholarships, and loans, received by federal financial aid recipients.

FinancialDistrict of ColumbiaU.S.
Cost to Attend$58,840$37,758
Average Financial Aid$23,647$13,984
Percent Receiving Aid83%90%
Net Price$24,492$17,524
US Department of Education

Net Price by Family Income

Depending on the federal, state, or institutional grant aid available, the table below shows the average amount students pay to attend District of Columbia universities shown by family income bracket.

Students may pay more or less depending on their individual circumstances; however, these are the average costs as tracked by the university and reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Average Net Price by Income2020-20212021-2022
$0 – $30,000$15,313$14,434
$30,001 – $48,000$14,455$16,196
$48,001 – $75,000$19,049$19,268
$75,001 – $110,000$22,091$20,889
$110,001 and more$16,288$21,405
US Department of Education

Psychology Salary Reports for District of Columbia

We use annual surveys of 100,000 psychologists to compile data on salary, employment projections, cost-of-living adjustments, comparisons to related professions, salary based on years of experience, and rankings by city.