University of the District of Columbia

Higher Educationudc.edu

The University of the District of Columbia is Washington, D.C.'s only public university and the country's second-oldest HBCU, offering associate through doctoral degrees across six colleges and serving traditional students, transfer, workforce, and graduate learners.

Company typePrivate
Founded1851
HeadquartersWashington, United States
Headcount1,001–5,000
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What University of the District of Columbia does

The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is a public urban land-grant university and the only public higher education institution in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1851 as the Miner Normal School, it is the country's second-oldest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and operates today under President Maurice D. Edington. UDC delivers academic programming across six schools and colleges — Arts and Sciences, Business and Public Administration (AACSB-accredited), Engineering and Applied Sciences, Education and Learning Sciences (newly launched January 2026), Agriculture/Urban Sustainability/Environmental Sciences (CAUSES), the David A. Clarke School of Law, and UDC Community College — supported by a network of campuses including Van Ness (4200 Connecticut Ave. NW), Lamond-Riggs, and an aviation maintenance hangar at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The institution's product portfolio encompasses 81 degree programs spanning associate through doctoral levels, plus workforce development, certificate programs, and the Aviation Maintenance Technology program (160 students annually, 93% placement rate). Recent product launches include an AI and Robotics (AIR) concentration open across all schools and the new School of Education and Learning Sciences. Research infrastructure is anchored by the Water Resources Research Institute (District's only nationally accredited Environmental Quality Testing Laboratory), five CAUSES land-grant centers, the NSF-funded Logistics and International Trade (LIT) Analytics Center, and a growing patent portfolio (6 secured, 6 in progress) developed under VP for Research Victor McCrary, who also chairs the National Science Board.

UDC's revenue model is a hybrid public-funder mix: recurring tuition and fees across degree levels, annual Congressional appropriations ($6.2M in FY2026 for infrastructure and workforce modernization), federal research grants (USDA, NSF, DOE), corporate/foundation philanthropy (GE Aerospace Foundation: $2.5M cumulative, $125K in November 2025), and endowment/managed giving through the UDC Foundation. Go-to-market is direct-to-student via website, campus tours, and community outreach, with articulation agreements funneling transfer students from Montgomery College, NOVA, and DC Public Schools. UDC's stated $435M annual economic impact corresponds to roughly $4 returned for every $1 invested by the District.

University of the District of Columbia firmographics

Firmographics

Name: University of the District of Columbia
Legal name: University of the District of Columbia
Website: https://udc.edu
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1851
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1,001–5,000 employees
Short description: The University of the District of Columbia is Washington, D.C.'s only public university and the country's second-oldest HBCU, offering associate through doctoral degrees across six colleges and serving traditional students, transfer, workforce, and graduate learners.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

University of the District of Columbia industry classification

Industry

Product category: Higher Education
NAICS: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
SIC: Services-Educational Services (8200)
akta.pro industry: PRIMARYEDAHAAAH
Urban/Metropolitan Public Research Universities
Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Public Research Universities
SECONDARYEDAHAAAF
Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools
Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Public Research Universities
SECONDARYEDAHAMAK
Graduate & Professional-Program HBCUs (e.g., law/education/business)
Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)

Keywords

Higher education
Public university
Degree programs
Workforce development
Research university

Where University of the District of Columbia is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Washington
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

University of the District of Columbia business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

Federal and Congressional Funding: UDC receives federal funding through Congress, including $6.2 million in FY 2026 for infrastructure, workforce, and research modernization.
Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from undergraduate and graduate tuition, with financial aid available to support student enrollment.
Research Grants and Sponsored Programs: Funding from federal agencies (USDA, NSF, DOE), foundations (GE Aerospace Foundation), and industry partners for research and workforce development initiatives.
Philanthropy and Alumni Giving: UDC Foundation manages donations and the Eleanor Holmes Norton Legacy Fund provides scholarships to female students pursuing public policy or public interest law.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Annual	Various degree programs across associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

University of the District of Columbia product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The University of the District of Columbia is a public university delivering higher education through six academic colleges/schools and a community college, offering associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and Juris Doctor degree programs as well as certificate and workforce development programs. It also conducts use-inspired research in urban sustainability, water resources, agriculture, AI, and STEM, while supporting workforce credentials such as FAA-approved aviation maintenance training.

Product overview

University of the District of Columbia is the District's only public university and second-oldest HBCU, offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs across six main colleges and schools. The university's product portfolio consists of the College of Arts and Sciences (11 undergraduate, 7 graduate degrees), College of Agriculture Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (with five land-grant centers including CURII, CUAGE, and the Water Resources Research Institute), School of Business and Public Administration (AACSB-accredited, with the LIT Analytics Center), School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, UDC Community College (including Aviation Maintenance Technology), and David A. Clarke School of Law. Recent additions include the School of Education and Learning Sciences (launched January 2026) and an AI and Robotics concentration. The university also operates workforce development programs and annual research events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

School of Business and Public Administration (SBPA) AACSB-accredited school offering bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting, finance, business management, hospitality and tourism management, public administration, and business administration for students seeking careers in business and government.
College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) Land-grant college offering bachelor's through doctoral degrees and community education in agriculture, urban sustainability, and environmental sciences, supported by five land-grant centers for research and outreach.
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) College offering 11 undergraduate major degrees, 7 graduate major degrees, and 2 non-degree certificates across arts, humanities, education, health and social work, sciences, mathematics, and social and behavioral sciences.
School of Education and Learning Sciences (SELS) Newly launched school offering bachelor's and master's degrees in adult education, early childhood education, elementary education, special education, teaching, and human development, addressing District of Columbia educator shortages.
David A. Clarke School of Law Law school offering the Juris Doctor (JD) degree with clinical programs and experiential legal education, focused on public interest law and access to justice, with over 50 years of history.
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) School offering ABET-accredited degree paths in civil engineering, computer science (electrical and computer engineering), and mechanical engineering to prepare students as leaders in technology fields.
UDC Community College Community college at the Lamond-Riggs Campus offering certificate and associate degree programs in business technology, fashion merchandising, law enforcement, nursing, and more.
Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning (WDLL) Division providing workforce credentials, networking, job placement, and training to address unemployment and underemployment in the District of Columbia and surrounding region.
Aviation Maintenance Technology Program FAA-approved program preparing students for careers maintaining and repairing modern aircraft, delivered in a hangar classroom at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, serving around 160 students annually with a 93% graduate placement rate within six months.

Quantifiable outcome

93% of aviation maintenance graduates secure positions within 6 months of completion
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use University of the District of Columbia

Customer profile

Named customers2 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

University of the District of Columbia technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

University of the District of Columbia partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

GE Aerospace FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2025GE Aerospace Foundation awarded UDC $125,000 to support new equipment and hands-on learning resources for its aviation maintenance technology program. The funding enables acquisition of state-of-the-art tools including metal forming tools, wiring trainers, aircraft engine test cell, and industrial grinder to strengthen FAA-approved curriculum.
Saks Fifth AvenueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDynamic partnership providing UDC fashion merchandising students with unique access to the fashion industry. Students participated in hands-on training sessions, styling workshops, visual merchandising exercises, and learned about internships and job opportunities at Saks.
Uniremington (Medellín, Colombia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFulbright Specialist assignment partnering with Mundo Organizacional at Uniremington's School of Business focused on ESG research and sustainable business practices in the Pacific Alliance region. Professor Brandon Schweitzer led workshops and collaborative research on ESG Scores and Firm Performance.
DC Water Resources Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWRRI manages the District's only nationally accredited Environmental Quality Testing Laboratory and has funded more than 40 research projects and trained over 90 undergraduate and graduate students in water resources research.
Montgomery CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArticulation agreements between UDC SBPA and Montgomery College and between UDC SEAS and Montgomery College facilitate seamless transfer pathways for students completing associate degrees.
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArticulation agreement between UDC SEAS and NOVA enables transfer students to continue engineering and applied sciences education at UDC.
DC Public Schools (DCPS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUDC-CC and DCPS Career and Technical Education Program articulation agreement and School of Education partnerships with DCPS and public charter schools for teacher preparation and student-teaching placements.
National Cherry Blossom FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership resulting in dozens of legacy cherry trees gifted to UDC campus, with the university celebrating 15 years of partnership with the festival.
Black Engineer of the Year Awards ConferenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognition partnership where UDC faculty members received awards for seven consecutive years, building institutional reputation in STEM fields.
Arbor Day FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTree Campus Higher Education designation recognizing UDC's campus-wide tree care plan, tree inventory, and sustainability education initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves1 record

University of the District of Columbia competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Howard University: Washington, DC-based HBCU offering comprehensive undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs (including law). Operates in the same DC market with overlapping student demographics and HBCU mission focus, even though Howard is federally chartered/private and UDC is the District's public university.
Morgan State University: A public HBCU in Baltimore, MD serving the DC-metro/Upper Chesapeake region. Comparable as a research-elevated urban HBCU with doctoral programs, and competes for similar students within the DC-metro HBCU pipeline.
Florida A&M University: An HBCU, public, land-grant university offering comprehensive programs from associate through doctoral, with law school (Florida A&M University College of Law). Structurally analogous to UDC as an urban HBCU land-grant with comprehensive professional schools.
Alabama A&M University: An HBCU, public, land-grant research university in Huntsville offering associate through doctoral degrees including engineering, business, and education programs. Direct structural match as an HBCU land-grant with workforce development focus.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore: An HBCU, public, 1890 land-grant university on Maryland's Eastern Shore, with programs in agriculture, sciences, business, and education. Shares HBCU + land-grant + public research university structure with UDC.
Southern University and A&M College: An HBCU, public, land-grant university system in Louisiana offering comprehensive associate-through-doctoral programs including the Southern University Law Center. Directly mirrors UDC's combination of HBCU, land-grant, and law school under a single public institution.
Tennessee State University: Nashville-based public HBCU and 1890 land-grant university offering undergraduate through doctoral programs in agriculture, business, engineering, and education. Highly comparable structure and operational scale to UDC.
Bowie State University: Maryland's oldest HBCU and a public university serving the DC-metro region. Overlaps with UDC in DC-area HBCU market, public university structure, and similar workforce-oriented programming.
Coppin State University: A public HBCU in Baltimore, MD serving a similar urban, predominantly minority student population in the DC-metro area. Comparable scale, public funding model, and urban HBCU mission overlap with UDC.

Broad incumbents

George Mason University: A large public research university in the DC-metro area (Northern Virginia) with R1 classification. Operates broadly in the same geography and competes for non-traditional and transfer students, but is far larger and not an HBCU or land-grant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

University of the District of Columbia compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance7 records

University of the District of Columbia financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

University of the District of Columbia leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

University of the District of Columbia subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries8 records

University of the District of Columbia funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

University of the District of Columbia M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of the District of Columbia

What does University of the District of Columbia do?

Is University of the District of Columbia a public or private company?

University of the District of Columbia is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was University of the District of Columbia founded?

University of the District of Columbia was founded in 1851. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.

Where is University of the District of Columbia based?

University of the District of Columbia is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.

How does University of the District of Columbia make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Federal and Congressional Funding is the primary driver. The others are tuition and Fees, research Grants and Sponsored Programs and philanthropy and Alumni Giving.

Who are University of the District of Columbia's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Howard University, Morgan State University, Florida A&M University, Alabama A&M University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Southern University and A&M College, Tennessee State University, Bowie State University and Coppin State University. George Mason University is listed as a broad incumbent.

Does University of the District of Columbia have an API?

No public API is recorded for University of the District of Columbia.

What industry is University of the District of Columbia in?

University of the District of Columbia's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAH, Urban/Metropolitan Public Research Universities, with a secondary code of EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.