Washington DC is where many top healthcare institutions are based. There are large and small hospitals, clinics, surgical centers, and other healthcare facilities. And while it is not a large area geographically, there are nursing schools in Washington, DC.
The high number of healthcare facilities is a good indicator that nurses will always be in demand as the population grows and experienced nurses retire. Additionally, other nearby metropolitan areas have high demands for nurses including Baltimore, Alexandria, and Fredericksburg.
Some of the local colleges and universities providing accredited nursing degrees in Washington, DC include the University of the District of Columbia, Georgetown University, Howard University, the Catholic University of America, and Trinity Washington University.
Pay in the District is well above the national average. The median annual wage for registered nurses in DC was $102,540 as of May 2025, compared with a national RN median of $97,550 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
The District of Columbia Board of Nursing, part of DC Health, is the governing body for the profession. To become licensed as a registered nurse, prospective nurses must complete a nursing program approved by the Board — typically an associate or bachelor’s degree — and pass the NCLEX-RN. The Board publishes its current list of approved programs and their NCLEX pass rates on the DC Health website.
Featured programs
Georgetown University — Berkley School of Nursing Location: Washington, DC Type of school: Private Nursing accreditation: CCNE Degree programs: BS/BSN, Accelerated BSN, Master’s Entry to Nursing, MSN, Nurse Practitioner (family, adult-gerontology acute care, women’s health), Nurse-Midwifery, Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice, PhD
Howard University — College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences Location: Washington, DC Type of school: Private (HBCU) Nursing accreditation: CCNE Degree programs: BS/BSN, LPN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner, DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
University of the District of Columbia Location: Washington, DC Type of school: Public Nursing accreditation: ACEN Degree programs: Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (community college), RN-to-BSN
Catholic University of America — Conway School of Nursing Location: Washington, DC Type of school: Private Nursing accreditation: CCNE Degree programs: BS/BSN, Accelerated BSN (12 months), MSN, DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP/MBA joint degree, PhD
Trinity Washington University Location: Washington, DC Type of school: Private Nursing accreditation: CCNE Degree programs: BS/BSN (pre-licensure)