Private schools are traditional colleges and universities that offer a range of one-year certificate, two-year associate's degree, and four-year bachelor’s degree programs. Some also offer postgraduate studies as well. Private universities do not receive subsidies from state governments, so their tuition is generally higher than public universities. However, they offer many benefits that public universities cannot. For instance, class sizes are typically smaller at private colleges. While some public universities can have class sizes in the hundreds for general education and lecture classes, private schools often cap their programs at 25-30 students per class.

The higher price tag of a private university also affords you a certain prestige. For well-established private universities, just the name of your alma mater can open employment doors. The most prestigious employers will often weed out candidates that didn’t attend one of the top colleges or universities. For aspiring nurses, a degree from a respected private school can thrust your name to the top in the interviewing process.

Washington, DC has several big-name private schools, including Georgetown University, the Catholic University of America, and Trinity Washington University. Degrees from these schools will not only provide you the education required to pass your nursing licensure examination; they will also make you a well-rounded and higher-performing nurse in the actual workforce.

If you’re interested in learning more about private nursing schools in the DC area, please see the list we’ve compiled for you below.

District of Columbia

George Washington University
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Graduate Certificate: Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse-Midwifery
  • MSN: Nursing Leadership and Management
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Baccalaureate DNP
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Georgetown University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Howard University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • LPN-to-BSN Bridge Program
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Educator
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nurse Educator
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
The Catholic University of America
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Trinity Washington University
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
School City Programs offered
George Washington University Washington
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Graduate Certificate: Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse-Midwifery
  • MSN: Nursing Leadership and Management
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Baccalaureate DNP
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Georgetown University Washington
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Howard University Washington
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • LPN-to-BSN Bridge Program
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Educator
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nurse Educator
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
The Catholic University of America Washington
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Trinity Washington University Washington
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion