Washington, D.C. is a unique place to study nursing. The District combines major hospitals, federal health agencies, public policy organizations, community health needs, and a compact but competitive nursing education market.

That makes D.C. attractive if you want more than a basic path to RN licensure. You can build a nursing career connected to clinical care, leadership, public health, health policy, advocacy, research, or urban health equity.

But D.C. also has a small number of prelicensure nursing programs, and outcomes vary. Before you apply, compare the exact program’s D.C. Board of Nursing approval status, accreditation, NCLEX performance, degree pathway, cost, and clinical fit.

How to choose a nursing school in D.C.

A nursing program is only a good choice if it can help you graduate, pass the NCLEX, become licensed, and move toward the kind of nursing career you want.

Use these screening factors before you apply.

1. D.C. Board of Nursing approval

Start with DC Health’s approved nursing schools page. It links to the current approved nursing schools list and NCLEX pass-rate reports.

Official source:

The 2025 approved list includes registered nursing programs at Catholic University, Georgetown University, Howard University, Saint Michael College of Allied Health, Trinity Washington University, and University of the District of Columbia. The same list marks UDC with an asterisk for conditional approval.

Official source:

2. NCLEX-RN pass rate

NCLEX performance is one of the clearest public signals of licensure readiness.

The D.C. Board’s 2024 NCLEX-RN report lists these first-time pass rates:

ProgramPathway listed by DC Board2024 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate
Georgetown University School of NursingBSN and CNLBSN 100%; CNL 92.31%
The Catholic University School of NursingBSN96.34%
Saint Michael College of Allied HealthADN94.70%
Howard University Division of NursingBSN85.71%
Trinity Washington UniversityBSN84.78%
University of the District of ColumbiaADN73.63%

The D.C. report notes that the required pass rate for District of Columbia nursing programs is 80.00%.

Official source:

3. Accreditation

Look for recognized nursing accreditation such as:

  • CCNE for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs
  • ACEN for associate, diploma, baccalaureate, and graduate nursing programs

Use the official accreditation directories, not only school marketing pages.

Official sources:

4. Degree pathway

D.C. applicants usually compare these routes:

  • Traditional BSN
  • Accelerated BSN for students with a prior bachelor’s degree
  • Entry-level master’s for non-nurses with a prior bachelor’s degree
  • ADN / AASN
  • RN-to-BSN after licensure

5. Clinical access and commute

D.C. clinical placements can be excellent, but the region is dense and competitive. Ask about actual clinical sites, travel distance, Metro access, parking costs, simulation hours, and whether clinical placements can be in Maryland or Virginia.

6. Cost and debt

D.C. has a high cost of living. Private nursing programs can also be expensive. Compare total cost, not only tuition.

Include:

  • Tuition and fees
  • Nursing program fees
  • Simulation and lab fees
  • Books and software
  • Background checks
  • Drug screens
  • Immunizations and titers
  • Uniforms
  • Transportation and parking
  • Lost work time
  • NCLEX and licensure costs

ADN vs BSN vs entry-level master’s in D.C.

ADN / AASN

An ADN or AASN can be a faster and lower-cost route to RN licensure. In D.C., the main in-District ADN options to compare are Saint Michael College of Allied Health and UDC Community College.

Best for: Students who want a shorter route to RN licensure and plan to complete a BSN later.

Reality check: Some major hospital systems prefer or require BSN preparation for certain new-graduate roles, specialty units, leadership tracks, or advancement.

BSN

A BSN is the most common route for students who want a four-year nursing education and stronger long-term mobility.

Best for: Students targeting academic medical centers, children’s hospitals, public health, leadership, graduate school, military nursing, or policy-oriented careers.

Entry-level master’s

Entry-level master’s programs are for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to enter nursing at the graduate level.

Best for: Career changers who want graduate-level preparation and may be interested in leadership, advanced education, or clinical systems work later.

Best BSN and entry-level master’s nursing programs in Washington, D.C.

This is an editorial shortlist based on D.C. Board approval, NCLEX outcomes, accreditation signals, official school program pages, pathway options, and student fit. It is not a third-party ranking.

1. Georgetown University School of Nursing

Location: Washington, D.C. School type: Private university Pathways: BSN, Accelerated BSN, Master of Science Entry to Nursing, graduate nursing options Best for: Students who want a selective private university with strong policy, leadership, and academic medical center connections

Georgetown is one of D.C.’s strongest nursing options for students who want a traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, or graduate-entry pathway. Its School of Nursing lists registered nursing program choices including BSN, accelerated BSN, and Master of Science Entry to Nursing.

Official program links:

NCLEX signal: The D.C. Board’s 2024 NCLEX-RN report lists Georgetown at BSN 100% and CNL 92.31%.

Why students choose it

  • Strong D.C. location
  • BSN, ABSN, and entry-level master’s options
  • Strong fit for students interested in policy, leadership, public health, or graduate pathways
  • Strong 2024 NCLEX outcomes in the D.C. report

Watchouts

  • Private university cost
  • Competitive admissions
  • Accelerated and entry-level master’s pathways can be intense
  • Applicants should confirm current program format, clinical placement model, and total cost

2. The Catholic University of America Conway School of Nursing

Location: Washington, D.C. School type: Private university Pathways: Traditional BSN, 12-month accelerated BSN, graduate nursing options Best for: Students who want a D.C. BSN or second-degree accelerated pathway with strong recent NCLEX performance

Catholic University’s Conway School of Nursing offers a traditional four-year BSN and a 12-month accelerated second-degree BSN pathway. Its official page describes the ABSN as a full-time program for people with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field.

Official program links:

NCLEX signal: The D.C. Board’s 2024 report lists Catholic University’s BSN first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate at 96.34%.

Why students choose it

  • Strong 2024 NCLEX-RN pass rate
  • Traditional BSN and 12-month ABSN options
  • D.C. location
  • Private university environment with a mission-driven identity

Watchouts

  • Private university cost
  • ABSN pace is demanding
  • Applicants should confirm prerequisites, clinical schedule, and total program cost

3. Howard University Division of Nursing

Location: Washington, D.C. School type: Private nonprofit HBCU Pathways: BSN, RN-to-BSN, graduate nursing options Best for: Students who want an HBCU nursing environment with a mission focus on equity, urban health, and culturally responsive care

Howard University’s Division of Nursing is part of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences. Its undergraduate nursing page describes outcomes focused on safe, holistic care, ethical and professional standards, critical thinking, and care for individuals, families, and communities.

Official program links:

NCLEX signal: The D.C. Board’s 2024 report lists Howard University’s BSN first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate at 85.71%, above the D.C. required program benchmark of 80%.

Why students choose it

  • HBCU legacy and mission
  • D.C. urban health environment
  • BSN and RN-to-BSN options
  • Strong fit for students interested in equity, community health, and historically underserved populations

Watchouts

  • 2024 NCLEX rate is above D.C.’s benchmark but lower than Georgetown and Catholic in the same report
  • Applicants should review multi-year trends, student support, attrition, and clinical placement before applying

4. Trinity Washington University School of Nursing and Health Professions

Location: Washington, D.C. School type: Private university Pathways: Pre-licensure BSN, RN-to-BSN Best for: Students looking for a D.C. BSN option with traditional and adult-learner pathways

Trinity Washington University offers a pre-licensure BSN and an RN-to-BSN. Its academic catalog describes the pre-licensure BSN as combining academic structure and clinical preparation for nursing practice.

Official program links:

NCLEX signal: The D.C. Board’s 2024 report lists Trinity Washington University’s BSN first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate at 84.78%, above the D.C. required program benchmark of 80%.

Why students compare it

  • D.C. location
  • Pre-licensure BSN and RN-to-BSN options
  • Adult learner and part-time pathway information available through Trinity pages
  • Mission-centered educational environment

Watchouts

  • 2024 NCLEX rate is above the D.C. benchmark but should be compared with multi-year trends
  • Applicants should verify current approval status, accreditation status, total cost, and clinical placement model

5. George Washington University School of Nursing

Location: Ashburn, Virginia for ABSN; D.C. presence for graduate nursing administration School type: Private university Pathways: Accelerated BSN in Virginia, RN-to-BSN, graduate nursing options Best for: D.C.-area career changers willing to study in Northern Virginia

GW is often included in D.C.-area nursing conversations, but applicants should understand the regulatory distinction. DC Health’s 2025 approved nursing schools list includes George Washington University Graduate School of Nursing for APRN, not a D.C.-regulated RN prelicensure program. GW’s accelerated BSN is located at the Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn, Virginia.

Official program links:

Why students compare it

  • 15-month / four-consecutive-semester accelerated BSN format
  • Strong D.C. regional brand
  • Useful option for career changers in the DMV area
  • Clinical opportunities in the broader region

Watchouts

  • Not an in-District RN prelicensure program in the D.C. Board list
  • Applicants should verify Virginia Board approval and NCLEX data through Virginia sources
  • Commute to Ashburn may be substantial for D.C. residents

Best ADN / AASN nursing programs in Washington, D.C.

D.C. has fewer ADN options than many states, but there are two key in-District pathways to compare.

1. Saint Michael College of Allied Health

Location: Washington, D.C. School type: Private allied health college Pathways: ADN and PN according to D.C. Board approved-program listing and school pages Best for: Students seeking an in-District associate degree pathway with a strong 2024 NCLEX-RN result

Saint Michael College of Allied Health appears on the 2025 D.C. Board approved nursing schools list as an ADN program and on the D.C. practical nursing list.

Official program links:

NCLEX signal: The D.C. Board’s 2024 NCLEX-RN report lists Saint Michael College of Allied Health’s ADN pass rate at 94.70%. The same report lists its practical nursing NCLEX-PN pass rate at 90%.

Why students compare it

  • In-District ADN option
  • Strong 2024 NCLEX-RN pass-rate signal
  • Also listed for PN in the D.C. practical nursing section

Watchouts

  • Confirm current accreditation, total cost, clinical sites, transfer options, and graduate outcomes
  • Ask about RN-to-BSN transfer planning before enrolling

2. University of the District of Columbia Community College AASN

Location: Washington, D.C. School type: Public university / community college Pathway: Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Best for: D.C. residents seeking a public in-District nursing pathway, with careful outcome review

UDC Community College’s AASN program is important because it is a public local pathway for D.C. residents. UDC’s nursing page says the AASN program is ACEN-accredited and approved by the D.C. Board of Nursing.

Official program link:

NCLEX and approval signal: The D.C. Board’s 2024 NCLEX-RN report lists UDC’s ADN first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate at 73.63%, below the D.C. required program pass-rate benchmark of 80%. The 2025 approved-school list marks UDC with an asterisk for conditional approval.

Why students compare it

  • Public in-District pathway
  • Important workforce pipeline for D.C. residents
  • ACEN accreditation stated on UDC’s program page
  • Potential lower-cost route compared with private options

Watchouts

  • Below-benchmark 2024 NCLEX-RN result
  • Conditional approval notation in the 2025 D.C. approved-school list
  • Applicants should ask direct questions about remediation, current Board status, student support, attrition, and NCLEX improvement plans

Other D.C. nursing programs to verify

Practical nursing programs

The 2025 D.C. approved-school list includes practical nursing programs at:

  • Saint Michael College of Allied Health
  • Strayer University

This article focuses on RN prelicensure pathways, but LPN/PN applicants should use the same screening logic: Board approval, NCLEX-PN pass rate, cost, accreditation, clinical placement, and transition options.

Nursing career outlook in Washington, D.C.

D.C. can be an attractive market for nurses because of its dense healthcare ecosystem, high-acuity hospitals, public health organizations, federal agencies, and policy environment.

For wage context, O*NET’s BLS-based wage page lists registered nurses in the District of Columbia at:

  • $104,550 annual median wage
  • $50.27 hourly median wage
  • 10th percentile: $81,880 or less annually
  • 90th percentile: $135,620 or more annually

Official source:

Nationally, BLS reported a 2024 median annual wage of $93,600 for registered nurses.

Official source:

D.C. licensure and the Nurse Licensure Compact

D.C. has not enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact.

However, DC Health issued an August 4, 2025 notice describing an enhanced endorsement pathway for RNs and LPNs who hold an active multistate compact license in good standing. The notice states that the pathway leverages the NLC but that the District of Columbia has not enacted the NLC.

Official source:

That means you should not assume your compact license automatically authorizes independent practice in D.C. Confirm the current D.C. Board requirements before accepting work.

D.C. nursing school application checklist

Before applying, build a spreadsheet with:

  • School name
  • Exact program and campus
  • Board approval status
  • Conditional/probationary status, if any
  • Accreditation status
  • NCLEX pass rate by year
  • Cohort size
  • Prerequisites
  • GPA requirements
  • Entrance exam requirements
  • Application deadline
  • Tuition and fees
  • Estimated living/commute cost
  • Clinical placement locations
  • Simulation hours
  • Attrition or completion rate
  • Student support resources
  • RN-to-BSN or graduate pathway options

Questions to ask each nursing program

Approval and accreditation

  • Are you currently approved by the D.C. Board of Nursing?
  • Are you fully approved, conditionally approved, or under any Board action?
  • Is the program accredited by CCNE or ACEN?
  • When is the next accreditation review?

NCLEX and outcomes

  • What were your first-time NCLEX pass rates for the last three years?
  • How many students tested each year?
  • What is your graduation or completion rate?
  • What percentage of admitted students finish the nursing sequence?
  • What remediation is provided for students at risk?

Clinical placement

  • Which hospitals and clinical agencies do students use?
  • Are clinicals guaranteed by the school?
  • How far do students travel?
  • Are evening or weekend clinicals required?
  • How much simulation is included?

Cost and support

  • What is the total estimated program cost?
  • What fees are not included in tuition?
  • Are scholarships available?
  • How many hours can students realistically work?
  • What tutoring, test-prep, and skills-lab support is available?

Suggested shortlists by student goal

If you want the strongest D.C. NCLEX signal

Start with:

  • Georgetown University
  • The Catholic University of America
  • Saint Michael College of Allied Health

If you want a BSN in D.C.

Compare:

  • Georgetown University
  • The Catholic University of America
  • Howard University
  • Trinity Washington University

If you already have a bachelor’s degree

Compare:

  • Georgetown Accelerated BSN
  • Georgetown Master of Science Entry to Nursing
  • Catholic University ABSN
  • George Washington University ABSN in Ashburn, Virginia

If you want an ADN / AASN in D.C.

Compare:

  • Saint Michael College of Allied Health
  • UDC Community College

If you are budget-conscious

Compare:

  • UDC Community College, with careful Board-status and NCLEX review
  • Nearby Maryland and Virginia community colleges, if eligible
  • ADN-to-BSN and RN-to-BSN routes
  • Scholarship and employer tuition assistance options

Frequently asked questions about nursing schools in Washington, D.C.

What is the best nursing school in Washington, D.C.?

There is no single best program for every student. Georgetown and Catholic had the strongest 2024 D.C. Board NCLEX-RN results among BSN/entry-level pathways. Saint Michael had a strong 2024 ADN result. Howard and Trinity are also D.C. BSN options. UDC is a public ADN pathway but should be reviewed carefully because of its 2024 NCLEX rate and 2025 conditional-approval notation.

Which D.C. nursing school had the highest 2024 NCLEX-RN pass rate?

According to the D.C. Board’s 2024 NCLEX-RN report, Georgetown’s BSN pathway had a 100% first-time pass rate. Saint Michael’s ADN program reported 94.70%, Catholic’s BSN reported 96.34%, Georgetown CNL reported 92.31%, Howard’s BSN reported 85.71%, Trinity’s BSN reported 84.78%, and UDC’s ADN reported 73.63%.

Are there ADN programs in Washington, D.C.?

Yes. The 2025 D.C. approved nursing schools list includes Saint Michael College of Allied Health and University of the District of Columbia for ADN pathways.

Is UDC’s nursing program approved?

The 2025 D.C. approved nursing schools list includes University of the District of Columbia for ADN and marks it with an asterisk for conditional approval. Applicants should verify the current status directly with DC Health before applying.

Is George Washington University’s ABSN a D.C. nursing program?

GW is a D.C.-area school, but its accelerated BSN is located at the Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn, Virginia. DC Health’s 2025 approved nursing schools list includes GW Graduate School of Nursing for APRN, not an in-District RN prelicensure program. For ABSN NCLEX and approval data, use Virginia sources.

Is D.C. part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

No. D.C. has not enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact. DC Health announced an enhanced endorsement pathway for active multistate compact license holders, but that is not the same as D.C. being a compact jurisdiction.

How much do registered nurses make in D.C.?

O*NET’s BLS-based wage data lists registered nurses in the District of Columbia at a median annual wage of $104,550 and a median hourly wage of $50.27.

Should I choose an ADN or BSN in D.C.?

Choose an ADN/AASN if you need a shorter, potentially lower-cost route to RN licensure and have a BSN completion plan. Choose a BSN if you want stronger long-term mobility, broader preparation, or access to more competitive hospital roles. Consider an entry-level master’s only if the cost and career goal make sense.

How do I verify a D.C. nursing school?

Use DC Health’s Approved Schools of Nursing page and the latest approved-school PDF. Also check the latest NCLEX pass-rate PDF, CCNE or ACEN accreditation directories, and the school’s official program page.

What should I ask before applying?

Ask about current Board status, accreditation, NCLEX pass rates for the last three years, attrition, total cost, clinical placements, simulation hours, student support, and licensure preparation.

Final thoughts

Washington, D.C. offers a distinctive nursing education environment where clinical care, public health, policy, and leadership are close together. That can be a major advantage if you want a career with both bedside and systems-level impact.

But D.C. is also a small and competitive market. Do not choose a program based only on reputation, speed, or location. Compare the exact pathway, Board status, accreditation, NCLEX trend, student support, clinical access, cost, and licensure fit.

A strong D.C. nursing school should do more than help you get admitted. It should help you graduate, pass the NCLEX, become licensed, and start the nursing career you actually want.

Sources and references