Best Teaching Schools and Degrees in Washington DC

Becoming a teacher in Washington DC requires a number of steps, but attending a qualified teacher preparation program is essential. In fact, all teachers are required to complete a program from an accredited school in order to work in the public education system. For aspiring teachers looking for teaching schools in Washington DC, this guide provides key information to help you find the best school for your needs. There are several colleges and universities that offer teaching degrees in Washington DC. Scroll down to find lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews. Whether you are just entering college or looking to change careers, this guide can serve as an informative starting point for your new career as a teacher.

Quick Facts

There are 9 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Washington DC.¹
3 colleges offer an associate’s degree in education.*¹
6 colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in education.*¹
9 colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.*¹
1 school ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019.²
No schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2020.³
4 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2019.⁴
2 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019.⁵
7 not-for-profit teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.

*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with teacher degree programs.

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Washington DC

Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*

American University (#167)

*Institution-wide ranking.

US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2019

George Washington University (#61 tie)
Howard University (#93 tie)
Catholic University of America (#93 tie)
Gallaudet University (#143 tie)

US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019

George Washington University (#22 tie)
American University (#200)

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Washington DC

Comparison of Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Washington DC according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.

While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states. Read more about the CAEP, NCATE, and TEAC accrediting bodies. We have also included rankings from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a research and policy group that scores teacher preparation programs at the national level using key standards chosen to measure students’ preparation for success in teaching. For further information on the NCTQ’s program rankings, please see the notes below the table.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution for the 2017-2018 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education records under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which provides for reporting that holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality.

Programs that are not ranked, or for which data is not available, in a given category are denoted as “-“.

State-Approved School	CAEP Accred.?⁶	NCTQ Undergrad Elementary Prog. % (2016)**⁷	NCTQ Undergrad Secondary Prog. % (2017)**⁷	Teacher Prep Prog. Enrollment⁸	Teacher Prep Prog. Completers⁸	Licensing Exams Pass Rate⁸	Net Price***¹
American University	Yes	—	57%	130	67	91%	$32,732
Catholic University of America	Yes	52%	—	33	33	92%	$35,214
Gallaudet University	Yes	—	—	43	7	—	$15,270
George Washington University	Yes	—	—	98	67	63%	$37,638
Howard University	Yes	—	—	73	15	85%	$21,061
Trinity Washington University	Yes	—	—	70	25	85%	$16,948
University of the District of Columbia	Yes	17%	—	25	9	—	$16,741

*The NCTQ rated undergraduate elementary teaching programs in 2016 and undergraduate secondary teaching programs in 2017 by national percentile based on their overall scores on the NCTQ’s standards for teacher education. Schools that do not provide data on all key standards or that fall below the top 50% of schools nationally are not included by the NCTQ in their ratings. Visit the NCTQ website for more information on its standards and methodologies.
**Net price is per year for undergraduate tuition as calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

Profiles of Well-Known Schools

Georgetown University: The nation’s capital is home to Georgetown University, one of the most prestigious universities in the US. Georgetown does not confer undergraduate degrees in education but specializes in graduate-level studies for educators seeking a Master of Arts (MA) in teaching English as a Second Language and bilingual education. The programs at GU are known for their academic rigor and challenge. Graduates with the MA often pursue careers in teaching, administration, and policy. The MA degrees all operate under the auspices of the Georgetown University Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship. Many graduates go to work for Teach For America which brings in the nation’s brightest teachers into urban and rural public schools for a term of at least two years.

Howard University: Howard University is a Historically Black University (HBCU) located in the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C. The School of Education has been preparing the nation’s best urban educators since its inception in 1890. In addition to its academic programs, the School of Education has two research programs – a federally funded Upward Bound program as well as an Early Learning Program. The Journal of Negro Education is the School’s premier research publication. Students can matriculate to the college to study undergraduate or graduate level degrees in dozens of majors. Students learn innovative pedagogy and have ample opportunity to learn practical educational skill sets in the classroom. Howard University School of Education graduates are dispersed in every state in the US as well as internationally.

FIND SCHOOLS

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Washington DC

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

American University
4400 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 885-1000
www.american.edu

Catholic University of America
620 Michigan Ave NE
Washington, DC 20064
(202) 319-5000
www.cua.edu

Gallaudet University
800 Florida Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 651-5000
www.gallaudet.edu

George Washington University
2121 I St NW
Washington, DC 20052
(202) 994-1000
https://www.gwu.edu/

Student Review: “The George Washington University was a wonderful experience. It was really great living in the heart of DC – the area was safe, the dorms were really nice, and there was never a lack of stuff to do! Bars, clubs, go to the monuments. Due to the overwhelming presence of government agencies, business headquarters, startups, and non-profits, there are opportunities galore no matter what your interest is in. The only major complaint is the cost of the education and the cost of living in DC – quite high. I would not recommend the school if your money is tight, it’s just not worth it these days. It was a great experience but I’m incredibly grateful for my scholarships.” -Gabriel Y., student at The George Washington University

Georgetown University
3700 O St NW
Washington, DC 20057
(202) 687-0100
www.georgetown.edu

Howard University
2400 Sixth St NW
Washington, DC 20059
(202) 806-6100
www2.howard.edu

Trinity Washington University
125 Michigan Ave NE
Washington, DC 20017
(202) 884-9000
www.trinitydc.edu

University of the District of Columbia
4200 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 274-5000
www.udc.edu

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Tile
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2020 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2019.
4. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2019: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
5. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2019: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
6. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
7. National Council on Teacher Quality Teacher Preparation Program Review: https://www.nctq.org/review/home
8. US Department of` Education 2018 Title II Reports: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx

Washington DC Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide