For those interested in studying in Washington DC, we have a very useful list. We selected the best Washington DC institutions for prospective students. Please know that rankings are based on academic research, alumni reviews, graduation rates, as well as assessment from peer colleges. On the page, you will find major admissions stats such as acceptance rate, tuition fees, average SAT scores for each ranked college or university.
| Rankings | Schools |
| 1 | Georgetown University (Washington, DC) Tuition: $42,870 Total enrollment: 17,130 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 18.1% Average freshman retention rate: 96% 6-year graduation rate: 94% Classes with under 20 students: 58.5% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1290-1490 |
| 2 | American University (Washington, DC) Tuition: $39,499 Total enrollment: 12,724 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 41.6% Average freshman retention rate: 90% 6-year graduation rate: 77% Classes with under 20 students: 44.7% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1170-1370 |
| 3 | Catholic University of America (Washington, DC) Tuition: $36,820 Total enrollment: 6,894 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 75.1% Average freshman retention rate: 80% 6-year graduation rate: 68% Classes with under 20 students: 63.2% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1010-1230 |
| 4 | Howard University (Washington, DC) Tuition: $22,683 Total enrollment: 10,583 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 53.9% Average freshman retention rate: 83% 6-year graduation rate: 63% Classes with under 20 students: 59.4% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 970-1160 |
| 5 | George Washington University (Washington, DC) Tuition: $43,747 Total enrollment: 25,260 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 33.0% Average freshman retention rate: 93% 6-year graduation rate: 81% Classes with under 20 students: 53.9% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1210-1380 |
Washington DC History
In 1907, the main railway station of the capital, Union Station, was opened.
In March 1912, on the banks of the Potomac, the spouses of US President William Taft and the Japanese ambassador solemnly planted two cherry trees. These were the first of more than 3,000 trees donated by Japan to the United States. Cherry blossoms in the spring became so popular with residents and visitors that over time, the annual “Cherry Blossom Festival” was held in Washington.
In July 1919, racially motivated riots broke out in the city. Then whites, including military personnel, attacked black residents with the tacit support of the police. The riot was stopped only by a heavy downpour, then fifteen people died and several dozen were injured.
During the years of the Great Depression, the city grew rapidly thanks to numerous federal programs. It was then that most of the buildings of the “Federal Triangle” were built – a complex of government buildings (including the National Archives, the Treasury, etc.), which occupied a triangular-shaped block in central Washington. Later, during the Second World War, the city continued to grow, faced with a huge influx of people with a shortage of housing. In 1943, on the south bank of the Potomac, in Arlington, a new military building was built, known (due to its shape) as the Pentagon.