Best colleges for Registered Nursing in District of Columbia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Georgetown University, The Catholic University of America and Howard University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in District of Columbia by graduate earnings. Georgetown University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $84,915, College Scorecard. George Washington University, Georgetown University and The Catholic University of America award the most Registered Nursing degrees in District of Columbia: 367, 272 and 118 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 District of Columbia colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 888 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University Washington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $84,915 | 272 | 95% | $22,242 | $17,417 |
| 2 | The Catholic University of America Washington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,044 | 118 | 79% | $27,724 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Howard University Washington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,646 | 77 | 70% | $48,194 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Trinity Washington University Washington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,349 | 42 | 49% | $14,841 | $31,000 |
| 5 | George Washington University Washington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,221 | 367 | 84% | $29,789 | $26,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in District of Columbia
Top 6 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Washington University Washington Private not-for-profit | 367 | $79,221 |
| 2 | Georgetown University Washington Private not-for-profit | 272 | $84,915 |
| 3 | The Catholic University of America Washington Private not-for-profit | 118 | $81,044 |
| 4 | Howard University Washington Private not-for-profit | 77 | $79,646 |
| 5 | Trinity Washington University Washington Private not-for-profit | 42 | $79,349 |
| 6 | Saint Michael College of Allied Health Washington Private for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in District of Columbia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in District of Columbia.
Which District of Columbia colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
George Washington University (367 graduates a year), Georgetown University (272 graduates a year) and The Catholic University of America (118 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in District of Columbia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 District of Columbia colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in District of Columbia?+
By graduate earnings, Georgetown University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in District of Columbia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $84,915, College Scorecard. The Catholic University of America and Howard University follow. By degrees awarded, George Washington University is the largest, with 367 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in District of Columbia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Georgetown University tops the list at $84,915. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in District of Columbia?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in District of Columbia is $106,980 (median $102,540), across about 11,440 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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