November 15, 2025
The College of the District of Columbia soars in HBCU rankings, redefining entry.
Written by Sean Mitchell
The College of the District of Columbia (UDC), Washington, D.C.’s solely public college and the nation’s solely city land-grant HBCU, has achieved a serious milestone — rating #18 amongst all Traditionally Black Schools and Universities (HBCUs) and #9 amongst public HBCUs within the U.S. Information & World Report 2025 rankings.
The leap marks UDC’s highest placement thus far, reflecting vital positive factors in pupil success, analysis innovation, and affordability. The college credit its targeted technique on increasing entry and aligning packages with the workforce wants of Washington, D.C.
“This recognition displays the unimaginable progress we’ve made towards delivering a high-quality, reasonably priced training that empowers our college students and serves our metropolis,” mentioned UDC President Maurice D. Edington in a college assertion. “We’re proud to symbolize what an city, public HBCU can obtain when given the chance to develop.”
The college’s rise isn’t any small feat. Simply 5 years in the past, the college ranked within the decrease third of the U.S. Information HBCU checklist. Since then, new tutorial packages, elevated analysis funding, and focused investments in pupil assist have pushed enchancment.
Key initiatives embrace the launch of UDC’s new Workforce Growth and Lifelong Studying (WDLL) division, which has educated greater than 20,000 D.C. residents in high-demand fields resembling cybersecurity, inexperienced infrastructure, and healthcare. The growth of undergraduate analysis by the College of Engineering and Utilized Sciences additionally positioned UDC as a hub for utilized innovation.
In interviews with native media, Edington emphasised the college’s mission-driven strategy: “We’re an anchor for Washington, D.C.—a spot the place training, fairness, and group meet.”
College students say the college’s tradition and affordability are key to its success. “I may’ve gone out of state, however UDC provided me the identical high quality of training for a fraction of the price,” mentioned senior biology main Aaliyah Inexperienced. “It feels good figuring out my college is lastly getting the popularity it deserves.”
The typical in-state tuition at UDC is beneath $7,000, making it some of the reasonably priced four-year establishments within the area. Mixed with a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and strong internship pipelines with native businesses, the college’s choices are more and more aggressive. Consultants say UDC’s rise additionally indicators a shift in how city HBCUs are perceived.
“UDC’s progress exhibits that public funding and visionary management can rework outcomes for traditionally underfunded establishments,” mentioned Dr. Crystal Moore, a better training coverage analyst on the Brookings Establishment.
“It’s not nearly rankings — it’s about entry and affect.”
As D.C. continues to evolve economically and demographically, UDC’s progress represents greater than tutorial success — it’s a narrative of resilience and reinvention.
“When our college students succeed, the town succeeds,” mentioned Edington. “We’re constructing the following technology of leaders proper right here within the nation’s capital.”
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