District of Columbia Nursing Schools and Programs
Selecting then applying to nursing schools in District of Columbia can be a time consuming task. For those just getting started in Nursing, we suggest that you focus on your near term District of Columbia education goals and licensing requirements. The first question to ask yourself is: Do I want to begin my career as a Nursing Assistant, Practical Nurse, or District of Columbia Registered Nurse?

District of Columbia Registered Nurse programs generally lead to an Associate Degree in Nursing or Bachelor Degree in Nursing which typically last 2 to 4 years.
Finding the best Nurse Practitioner school in District of Columbia before you become a Registered Nurse, for example, may bog down the school selection and application process. Furthermore, many four year undergraduate colleges routinely accept transfer credits for prerequisites often called pre-nursing courses.
While earning an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN, ASN) or Bachelor Degree in Nursing (BDN, BSN) is an important milestone for nurses, many District of Columbia nursing school students gain meaningful work experience and an income upon completion of a shorter Certified Nursing Assistant or Licensed Practical Nursing program in the state of District of Columbia.
To help students search for the best nursing school in District of Columbia, we have outlined some key questions to ask. Below on this page you will find the following:
- How do I become a nurse in District of Columbia?
- Is District of Columbia a nursing compact state?
- How long is nursing school in District of Columbia?
- How much does nursing school in District of Columbia cost?
- Is it hard to get into a District of Columbia nursing school?
- List of nursing schools in District of Columbia.
How do I become a nurse in District of Columbia?
If you want to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the state of District of Columbia, you will need to complete a Practical Nurse training program. Practical Nursing programs generally last 1 to 1.5 years. Upon completion of your District of Columbia practical nursing program, you will have to pass the nationwide NCLEX-PN exam. After you pass the NCLEX-PN exam, you will apply for a Practical Nurse license from the District of Columbia Board of Nursing.
If you want to become a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of District of Columbia, you will need to complete a Registered Nurse training program. Registered Nurse programs generally last 2 to 4 years. Upon completion of your District of Columbia registered nursing program, you will have to pass the nationwide NCLEX-RN exam. After you pass the NCLEX-RN exam, you will apply for a Registered Nurse license from the District of Columbia Board of Nursing.
Is District of Columbia a nursing compact state?
No, District of Columbia is not part of the nursing license compact. States which joined the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC) allow the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN) to practice in other participating states using one multi-state nursing license. This means that a District of Columbia Licensed Practical Nurse or a District of Columbia Registered Nurse must apply for a license by endorsement when moving to another state.
How long is nursing school in District of Columbia?
The amount of time you spend in a District of Columbia nursing school will vary based upon the career path you choose. You can become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in as little as 6 to 12 weeks. Become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 1 to 1.5 years, a District of Columbia Registered Nurse (RN) in 2 to 4 years, or stay in nursing school longer to become a Nurse Practitioner in 6 to 8 years.
Above on this page we created a tabular image which summarizes how long nursing school is in District of Columbia. That image includes the number of nurses employed in the state of District of Columbia, along with the average wages earned at each education level.
Notice that in the state of District of Columbia, far greater numbers are employed as a Registered Nurse (RN) compared to a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Notice also that a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in District of Columbia earns far more in wages compared to a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
Use the nursing program acronyms CNA, LPN, ASN, BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD to help identify which District of Columbia nursing schools offer the length of program you desire.
How much does nursing school in District of Columbia cost?
Tuition at a public nursing school in District of Columbia will cost between $5,000 to $6,000 per year for state residents seeking a two year Associate or a four year Bachelor degree. The private four year colleges and universities in District of Columbia are among the most expensive in the United States, and cost between $12,000 to $52,000 per year.
To help reduce the cost of nursing school in District of Columbia, a student can generally take their pre-nursing courses at a smaller two year college. Then, transfer those credits into the larger four year college or university of your choice. Each college has their own method of awarding transfer credits for pre-nursing coursework. You will need to plan ahead and question the receiving school before you start your first pre-nursing class.
Is it hard to get into a District of Columbia nursing school?
We list the quoted acceptance rate provided by each District of Columbia nursing school. A college acceptance rate is calculated by dividing the number of accepted students by the number of total applicants. Reviewing the list of nursing schools in District of Columbia provided below, we can see the acceptance rates range from about 20% to 100% or Open. SAT and ACT scores are displayed on each individual nursing school page.
If you are having trouble getting accepted into a District of Columbia nursing school due to a below average GPA, SAT, or ACT score, here are two strategies which might help: 1) take your pre-nursing courses at your local community college then reapply later as a transfer student with an above average GPA, and, 2) get your Nursing Assistant or Practical Nurse license to help you gain experience and stand out from other college applicants.
List Of Nursing Schools In District of Columbia
Below is our complete list of accredited nursing schools in District of Columbia. In general, these schools offer campus based CNA, LPN, ASN, BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD, and more nursing programs approved by the District of Columbia Board Of Nursing.
Click the name of any District of Columbia nursing school below to view the cost to attend, SAT and ACT scores, college or university characteristics, student body profile, satellite map of the surrounding area, and to view any additional nursing program information we have available in our database.
George Washington University
1918 F Street NW,
Washington,
DC
20052
202-994-1000
George Washington University is a Private not-for-profit institution with a campus in Washington, District of Columbia. The institution is approved to offer nursing programs by the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. The Washington, District of Columbia campus for George Washington University is located in a City setting. Total enrollment for all degrees including nursing programs is 25,939. In-state tuition and fees were $62,200 for the most recent reporting period. …
Nursing Programs: BSN, MSN, Post-MSN, DNP, PhD
- Tuition Cost $62,200
- Room and Board $15,720
- Acceptance Rate 49%
- ACT Score 31-34
Georgetown University
37th and O Street NW,
Washington,
DC
20057
202-687-0100
Georgetown University is a Private not-for-profit institution with a campus in Washington, District of Columbia. The institution is approved to offer nursing programs by the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. The Washington, District of Columbia campus for Georgetown University is located in a City setting. Total enrollment for all degrees including nursing programs is 20,984. In-state tuition and fees were $62,052 for the most recent reporting period. …
Nursing Programs: BSN, MSN, Post-MSN, DNP
- Tuition Cost $62,052
- Room and Board $18,824
- Acceptance Rate 12%
- ACT Score 32-35
Howard University
2400 Sixth Street NW,
Washington,
DC
20059
202-806-6100
Howard University is a Private not-for-profit institution with a campus in Washington, District of Columbia. The institution is approved to offer nursing programs by the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. The Washington, District of Columbia campus for Howard University is located in a City setting. Total enrollment for all degrees including nursing programs is 12,886. In-state tuition and fees were $31,050 for the most recent reporting period. …
Nursing Programs: BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, Post-MSN
- Tuition Cost $31,050
- Room and Board $15,880
- Acceptance Rate 53%
- ACT Score 20-26
The Catholic University of America
620 Michigan Ave NE,
Washington,
DC
20064
202-319-5000
The Catholic University of America is a Private not-for-profit institution with a campus in Washington, District of Columbia. The institution is approved to offer nursing programs by the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. The Washington, District of Columbia campus for The Catholic University of America is located in a City setting. Total enrollment for all degrees including nursing programs is 4,968. In-state tuition and fees were $54,186 for the most recent reporting period. …
Nursing Programs: BSN, MSN, Post-MSN, DNP, PhD
- Tuition Cost $54,186
- Room and Board $16,670
- Acceptance Rate 86%
Trinity Washington University
125 Michigan Ave NE,
Washington,
DC
20017
202-884-9000
Trinity Washington University is a Private not-for-profit institution with a campus in Washington, District of Columbia. The institution is approved to offer nursing programs by the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. The Washington, District of Columbia campus for Trinity Washington University is located in a City setting. Total enrollment for all degrees including nursing programs is 1,895. In-state tuition and fees were $25,610 for the most recent reporting period. …
Nursing Programs: BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, RN-to-MSN
- Tuition Cost $25,610
- Room and Board $11,750
- Acceptance Rate 97%
University of the District of Columbia
4200 Connecticut Ave NW,
Washington,
DC
20008
202-274-5000
University of the District of Columbia is a Public institution with a campus in Washington, District of Columbia. The institution is approved to offer nursing programs by the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. The Washington, District of Columbia campus for University of the District of Columbia is located in a City setting. Total enrollment for all degrees including nursing programs is 3,577. In-state tuition and fees were $6,152 for the most recent reporting period. …
Nursing Programs: CNA, ASN, RN-to-BSN
- Tuition Cost $6,152
- Acceptance Rate Open
The nursing program acronyms CNA, LPN, ASN, BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD, etcetera used in our list of District of Columbia nursing schools may differ from the actual title published by the college or university.
Nursing schools in District of Columbia and other states, for example, may follow their own traditional degree naming convention, or, attempt to follow a newer naming convention trending nationwide.
Last updated: August 1, 2024
References:
- District of Columbia Nursing License Requirements. State of District of Columbia, Board of Nursing. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- District of Columbia State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- Tuition And Characteristics Of District of Columbia Colleges. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- District of Columbia Nurse Licensure Compact Status. NCSBN, National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Retrieved August 1, 2024.