UDC’s Climb Displays Renewed Focus On Fairness And Excellence

[ad_1] by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors November 15, 2025

The College of the District of Columbia soars in HBCU rankings, redefining entry.

Written by Sean Mitchell

The College of the District of Columbia (UDC), Washington, D.C.’s solely public college and the nation’s solely city land-grant HBCU, has achieved a serious milestone — rating #18 amongst all Traditionally Black Faculties and Universities (HBCUs) and #9 amongst public HBCUs within the U.S. Information & World Report 2025 rankings.

The leap marks UDC’s highest placement to this point, reflecting important beneficial properties in scholar success, analysis innovation, and affordability. The college credit its centered technique on increasing entry and aligning applications with the workforce wants of Washington, D.C.

“This recognition displays the unimaginable progress we’ve made towards delivering a high-quality, inexpensive training that empowers our college students and serves our metropolis,” mentioned UDC President Maurice D. Edington in a college assertion. “We’re proud to signify what an city, public HBCU can obtain when given the chance to develop.”

The college’s rise isn't any small feat. Simply 5 years in the past, the college ranked within the decrease third of the U.S. Information HBCU checklist. Since then, new educational applications, elevated analysis funding, and focused investments in scholar assist have pushed enchancment.

Key initiatives embody the launch of UDC’s new Workforce Improvement and Lifelong Studying (WDLL) division, which has skilled greater than 20,000 D.C. residents in high-demand fields similar to cybersecurity, inexperienced infrastructure, and healthcare. The growth of undergraduate analysis by way of the College of Engineering and Utilized Sciences additionally positioned UDC as a hub for utilized innovation.

In interviews with native media, Edington emphasised the college’s mission-driven method: “We're an anchor for Washington, D.C.—a spot the place training, fairness, and group meet.”

College students say the college’s tradition and affordability are key to its success. “I might’ve gone out of state, however UDC provided me the identical high quality of training for a fraction of the price,” mentioned senior biology main Aaliyah Inexperienced. “It feels good understanding my college is lastly getting the popularity it deserves.”

The typical in-state tuition at UDC is beneath $7,000, making it one of the crucial inexpensive four-year establishments within the area. Mixed with a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and sturdy internship pipelines with native businesses, the college’s choices are more and more aggressive. Specialists say UDC’s rise additionally alerts a shift in how city HBCUs are perceived.

“UDC’s progress reveals that public funding and visionary management can remodel outcomes for traditionally underfunded establishments,” mentioned Dr. Crystal Moore, a better training coverage analyst on the Brookings Establishment.

“It’s not nearly rankings — it’s about entry and impression.”

As D.C. continues to evolve economically and demographically, UDC’s development represents greater than educational success — it’s a narrative of resilience and reinvention.

“When our college students succeed, town succeeds,” mentioned Edington. “We’re constructing the subsequent technology of leaders proper right here within the nation’s capital.”