Study in Washington, The United States

About Washington

Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, is a large city with a strong academic tradition. Two private research universities, Georgetown University and Howard University, are among the institutions in the city, and a dense network of independent schools serves families from pre-kindergarten to the end of high school.

For international students, the city offers universities with a long history and a Metro system that connects the main neighbourhoods. It is also a place where families moving to the United States can find international and independent schools.

Studying in Washington

Our directory lists eight institutions in Washington: three in higher education (Georgetown University, Howard University and The Institute for US Law) and five schools. Teaching is in English. At university level, the academic year typically runs from September to May, according to EducationUSA, the State Department's advising network.

Georgetown University, at 37th and O Streets NW, is a private, Roman Catholic university classified as a doctoral university with very high research activity. College Navigator, the U.S. Department of Education's college search tool, counts 20,031 students, 7,833 of them undergraduates, and a ratio of 11 students per teacher.

Howard University was founded in 1867 and is a private research university and a historically Black university, with 14 schools and colleges and 140 programmes leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. College Navigator gives 14,890 students, 11,519 of them undergraduates, and a ratio of 13 to 1.

Schools in Washington

The five schools in our directory are private, and each has its own profile:

• Sidwell Friends School: a co-educational Quaker day school for pre-K to grade 12, founded in 1883, with its middle and upper schools on a 15-acre campus in Washington and its lower school in Bethesda, Maryland
• Georgetown Day School: founded in 1945 as a place where students of all races, religions and backgrounds could learn together
• Gonzaga College High School: a Catholic college preparatory school for boys in grades 9 to 12, founded in 1821 in the Jesuit tradition
• British International School of Washington: a school with a British heritage for ages 2 to 18, from Early Years to Upper Secondary, with the IB Diploma Programme
• Edmund Burke School: a college preparatory school for grades 6 to 12, established in 1968

Student visa

International degree students usually need an F student visa, which also covers English courses at a language institute; J exchange visas cover exchange programmes, including high school and university study. Once admitted, you receive a Form I-20 or DS-2019 from the institution's international student office and present it when you apply for the visa. With permission from that office, international students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year, according to EducationUSA.

Cost of living for students

Washington is an expensive place to study. College Navigator gives these estimates for a first-year undergraduate in the 2024-25 academic year:

• Georgetown University: $68,017 in tuition and fees and $20,596 for food and housing on campus, about $92,563 in total
• Howard University: $35,810 in tuition and fees and $17,322 for food and housing on campus, about $58,032 in total

At school level, Sidwell Friends School lists tuition for 2026-27 from $55,250 (pre-K to grade 2) to $62,330 (grades 9 to 12), and 23% of its students receive financial aid. Figures change every year, so check each institution's current cost page.

Getting around and daily life

The Metro (WMATA) runs the city's rail and bus network. A one-way rail trip costs $2.25 to $6.75 at full fare, and a local bus trip $2.25; monthly rail and bus passes cost $72.00 to $216.00. WMATA also runs fare programmes for students, U-Pass and Kids Ride Free.

The city has four seasons. NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Reagan National Airport give an average temperature of 37.5 °F (about 3 °C) in January and 81.0 °F (about 27 °C) in July.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Washington, D.C.?

Our directory lists Georgetown University and Howard University, both private research universities, and The Institute for US Law.

How much does a year at Georgetown or Howard cost?

For 2024-25, College Navigator estimates about $92,563 at Georgetown University and $58,032 at Howard University for a first-year undergraduate living on campus, including tuition, fees, food and housing.

Are there international schools in Washington?

Yes. The British International School of Washington teaches students aged 2 to 18 with a British-heritage curriculum and the IB Diploma Programme. Our directory also lists four independent schools: Sidwell Friends, Georgetown Day School, Gonzaga College High School and Edmund Burke School.

How much does public transport cost in Washington?

According to WMATA, a one-way Metro rail trip costs $2.25 to $6.75 at full fare and a local bus trip $2.25. Monthly rail and bus passes cost $72.00 to $216.00.