University in United States
Washington, DC, United States
University profile
The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is the only public university in Washington, DC, and describes itself as a public, historically Black, urban-focused land-grant university and the only exclusively urban land-grant university in the United States. Its mission is to serve the District and to produce lifelong learners who become transformative leaders in the workforce, government and the nonprofit sector. It offers associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees plus law degrees, professional certificates and workforce training.
Academic work is organised in a Community College and five colleges and schools: the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES), the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), the School of Business and Public Administration (SBPA), the School of Education and Learning Sciences (SELS) and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), together with the David A. Clarke School of Law. The university offers 81 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. SEAS describes UDC as the only public university in the nation's capital providing ABET-accredited undergraduate degrees, and CAUSES is a leader in urban food security and sustainability, with programs ranging from urban sustainability, water resources management and nutrition and dietetics to nursing (RN-to-BSN) and architecture.
The flagship Van Ness Campus on Connecticut Avenue NW in Northwest Washington houses the bachelor's, graduate and law programs, with a student center, theater and performing arts buildings, the Dr. E. B. Henderson Sports Complex, university health services and a library. The Community College is based at the Lamond-Riggs Campus in Northeast Washington. Students can reach the city's museums, federal institutions, embassies and think tanks by Metro.
Student life includes clubs and organizations, Greek life, a counseling and wellness center, career services, a food bank and NCAA athletics as the UDC Firebirds. Housing and Residence Life manages two apartment-style communities across the street from the main campus, AVA Van Ness and 3003 Van Ness, with fully furnished one- and two-bedroom units, a 24-hour concierge and fitness center, and live-on resident assistants.
International students are served by the Office of International Student Services, which advises on F-1 status, SEVIS and I-20 matters, and the university calls itself an "international HBCU". International admission is open to students seeking an associate or bachelor's degree who study full-time. UDC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, reaffirmed on an eight-year cycle.
Undergraduate bachelor's tuition per credit hour is $324 for DC residents, $374 for metro-area residents and $680 for non-residents; graduate tuition per credit hour is $513 for residents and $986 for non-residents. Mandatory fees are $430 per semester (activity $35, athletic/recreation $105, health services $25, technology $75, student center $140, career and professional $40, sustainability $10). Health insurance is required unless waived with comparable coverage. The 2024-2025 nine-month cost-of-attendance estimate for a bachelor's student living in university housing is $32,449 for DC residents, $33,649 for metro and $40,993 for non-residents (tuition at 12 credits per semester, fees, housing, food, books, transportation, insurance and personal expenses).
Merit-based scholarship tiers by high school GPA. DC public and charter schools: 3.7+ or valedictorian/salutatorian full ride (tuition, fees, housing stipend); 3.4-3.6 40% of tuition/fees; 3.0-3.3 30%. Metro high schools: 50%, 15% and 11%. Out-of-state and international schools: 30% (3.7+ or valedictorian/salutatorian), 15% (3.4-3.6) and 10% (3.0-3.3). Scholars must reach a 3.0 GPA by the end of the second semester of sophomore year. Eligibility details.
Aid is applied for through the FAFSA (school code 007015), available from October 1; the priority date for work-study is May 1. Programs include the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, TEACH Grant, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford loans, Parent PLUS and Grad PLUS loans, Federal Work-Study and the UDC Student Employment Program. A limited amount of work-study funds is available to international students with work-eligible F visa status. Scholarship Universe matches enrolled and admitted students to institutional and vetted external scholarships. Contact: Office of Financial Aid, 202-274-5941. Types of financial aid.
DC-UP Scholars Learning Community Scholarship →
UDC Federal Work-Study and Student Employment Program (financial aid) →
Browse the scholarships listed for University of the District of Columbia and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for University of the District of Columbia →Applicants must hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent from an accredited institution. Bachelor's (Van Ness Campus) entry requires a 2.5 high school GPA with an 890 SAT or 16 ACT, or a 2.0 GPA with a 1030 SAT or 19 ACT; the university has been temporarily SAT/ACT test optional since fall 2020. Applicants who do not qualify for the bachelor's program may be admitted to the Community College (associate degrees, Lamond-Riggs Campus), which admits any graduate of an accredited high school or GED holder. Applications are made online (Common App) and are complete once all documents, including official transcripts, are received. The undergraduate application fee is currently waived (the listed fee is $50); fee waivers are available to eligible DC high school students.
Undergraduate: fall August 1 (international April 30); spring December 5 (international September 1); summer I May 1; summer II May 15. Graduate: fall March 15 (international February 15); spring October 15 (international September 15); no graduate summer admission. The PhD in Urban Leadership and Entrepreneurship priority deadline is April 15. Applying by the priority deadline gives a guaranteed seat if admitted, a quicker decision, full institutional scholarship consideration and an advantage for campus housing.
Bachelor's entry requires 24 or more college credits with an aggregate GPA of 2.0 or higher, or fewer than 24 credits with a high school GPA of 2.5 or higher. Associate entry requires not being on academic probation or suspension elsewhere. Official transcripts from all colleges attended are required; high school transcripts or GED are needed for fewer than 30 college credits.
International admission is for applicants seeking an associate or bachelor's degree who will study full-time (at least 12 credits) on a non-immigrant visa. Bachelor's applicants need a high school GPA of at least 2.5. Required: online application, official sealed and translated transcripts with a NACES-member credential evaluation for work completed outside the U.S., evidence of English proficiency, financial verification for F-1 applicants, passport photo page, I-94 and I-20 eligibility form (F-1 transfers submit their latest I-20 and transfer form). English proficiency, for non-native speakers, is met by a C or better in a U.S. college English course, TOEFL of 550 paper or 79 internet-based (both Community College and flagship), IELTS overall 6, SAT critical reading 500/ACT English 16 (Community College) or SAT 600/ACT English 19 (flagship), or completion of ELS level 109 (Community College) or 112 (flagship). Conditional admission is available through an ELS partnership.
A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA typically of 2.5 to 3.0 is expected. GRE, GMAT or discipline-specific tests are submitted where a program requires them, and UDC sets no minimum score. Applicants also submit transcripts, a 500-word personal statement, two letters of recommendation and any program-specific materials through the graduate application portal. Some programs (such as the MAT, MA in Early Childhood Education, Speech-Language Pathology and the PhD) admit for fall only.
Housing: AVA Van Ness (2950 Van Ness Street NW) and 3003 Van Ness (3003 Van Ness Street NW) offer furnished one- and two-bedroom apartments for one to four students, with kitchen, balcony or patio, 24-hour concierge, 24-hour fitness center and a seasonal pool. A non-refundable $150 housing deposit applies.
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