Trinity Washington University

Private · Moderately Selective · DC

Photo: Tirussell (CC BY-SA 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationDC · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads1,414

Student:faculty9:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate26.5%

6-yr grad rate49.3%

Drop-out rate30.8%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$27k

Out-of-state tuition$27k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity99%

Gender diversity97.7%

International0.9%

IdentityRoman Catholic

Overview

Trinity Washington University is a small Catholic university in Washington, DC, founded in the 1890s as one of the nation's first Catholic colleges for women. Its historic women's college continues today, while other divisions of the university are coeducational, giving Trinity a layered identity rather than a single one. It primarily serves students from the DC area, most of them Black and Latina women, and a substantial share are first-generation college students.

Academics

Trinity's strongest programs are in nursing, education, and business, fields that align closely with the career paths of its regional, often working, student population. Programs are generally structured with working and commuting students' schedules in mind alongside traditional-age students living on campus.

After graduation

Trinity has produced a number of alumnae who went on to prominent roles in American politics and public life, a fact the university takes real pride in given its history of educating women, and often women of color, when other doors were closed to them. Its DC location gives students access to internships across government and nonprofit sectors.

Worth knowing

Trinity's identity as a historically women's institution that has since added coeducational programs is worth understanding clearly — a prospective student's experience differs meaningfully depending on which division and program they enter.

trinitydc.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate99.5%

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policynot used

Rec letters1

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying