Washington, District of Columbia has a population of about 672,079. The city’s median household income is $106,287 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 63.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited psychology programs within 100 miles of Washington. In the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, the top-earning psychology-related role is School Psychologist at a median $105,620 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer psychology programs. Distances are calculated from Washington city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Chicago School at Washington DC | Washington, DC | 0.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| NewU University | Washington, DC | 0.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Gallaudet University | Washington, DC | 1.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Howard University | Washington, DC | 1.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Trinity Washington University | Washington, DC | 1.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all District of Columbia schools on the District of Columbia psychology page.
Washington is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (BLS area code 47900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to District of Columbia statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $99,590 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $91,451 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | N/A | DC statewide | – |
| School Psychologist | $105,620 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $96,988 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $76,230 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $70,000 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $95,100 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $87,328 |
| Substance Abuse and Mental Health Counselor | $63,170 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $58,007 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $78,010 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $71,635 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | $77,600 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $71,258 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 672,079 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $106,287 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 63.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Psychology-related employment in District of Columbia County | 23,093 workers, 3,975 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 psychology programs within 100 miles of Washington. The closest is The Chicago School at Washington DC in Washington, DC (0.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Trinity Washington University (1.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying psychology-related roles near Washington are: School Psychologist ($105,620), Clinical and Counseling Psychologist ($99,590), Marriage and Family Therapist ($95,100). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with District of Columbia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Alexandria, VA is 7.0 miles from Washington and has its own set of local psychology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Washington’s median household income of $106,287 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Washington while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and District of Columbia public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
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