University of the District of Columbia — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of the District of Columbia charges a net price of $10,648/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $21,296. Median earnings ten years after entry are $44,236, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, University of the District of Columbia does not clear its cost — it ranks #7 of 9 District of Columbia colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $10,648/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $21,296 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $44,236 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$4,124/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,872 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$103,776 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of the District of Columbia's own numbers. Net price $10,648 × 2 years = $21,296 total. Median earnings $44,236 fall $4,124 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $21,296 bill in about 2.1 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do University of the District of Columbia students graduate with?
A median $24,872 in federal loans among completers, or 56% of the $44,236 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of the District of Columbia students graduate?
33% finish their degree — 67% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $21,296 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $64,533 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of the District of Columbia expensive compared with other District of Columbia colleges?
Its $10,648 net price runs $18,913 below the $29,561 median across the 9 District of Columbia colleges we profile, and $37,826 less across the full degree.