Education & Research

Washington, DC and the surrounding metro area is a national force in higher education and social and economic research. Home to four universities ranked in the nation’s top 100, the District offers a robust talent pipeline to both the public and private sectors of the region. Washington, DC is also home to ‘Think Tank Row’ and has over 14 times the concentration of economists and the average metro area.

DC Notable Rankings and Facts

Most educated city in the U.S.¹

Location for Professional Organizations²

Metro area for Education and Research density³

COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS

EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES

PROGRESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS

Recent Investments

Indiana University: In early 2025, Indiana University completed the purchase of a 56,000SF property in Washington, DC. The property will contain academic, meeting and event spaces, as well as student residences.

In 2024, Brown University opened the doors of it’s Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health in the National Press Building in Downtown Washington, DC.

The Helix: Booz Allen’s Center for Innovation opened in 2022 in Downtown DC to focus on artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, cyber, space, tech scouting, digital twin, and edge computing.

In 2024, George Washington University expanded it’s DC footprint through the acquisition of an additional 160,000 SF downtown property. The building will help the university continue to expand its academic offerings and research programs.

Major Employers

Talent Pipeline

The Washington, DC metro area offers employees with specialized and highly credentialed talent in critical education and research & development fields.

Home to

75+

Universities with a presence in the DC Metro Area.

Location quotient

1.00 = US Average

Social Scientists and Related Workers

3.61

Education and Research Occupations

1.41

Economists

11.17

Business Operations Specialists

1.95

Company Spotlight

The Historically Black College & University (HBCU) will build a National Research Center for Health Disparities that will provide a home to pharmaceutical companies and biomedical research organization specializing in chronic illnesses with an emphasis on solutions for communities of color. In 2025, Howard also became recognized as the 5th R1 university in DC. R1 universities represent the pinnacle of research activity in the United States, playing a crucial role in advancing knowledge across various disciplines.

Resources

Vitality Fund

A multi-year, performance-based incentive program designed to support companies in target industries actively planning to relocate, expand, or retain their physical location in Washington, DC, and to encourage the creation of new jobs.

Creative Open Space and Modernization (COSM)

An incentive program designed to support the growth of large companies that make a long-term commitment to locate in the District. Eligible companies can receive an annual tax rebate for up to five years to offset property taxes and tenant improvements.

DC Department of Employment Services

Offers recruitment and hiring support, and a variety of workforce development and training programs to help District employers including On-the-Job Training and Apprenticeship Programs.

DMPED and WDCEP

The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) is the District government agency that designs and implements strategies to encourage companies to choose, stay, and grow in DC. Washington DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) is a nonprofit, public-private partnership that leads business attraction efforts for DC. DMPED and WDCEP collaborate to advance the Mayor’s economic development strategy, with the primary focus of creating and retaining jobs to further drive sustainable, economic inclusion for the District of Columbia.

Colleges & Universities whose Main Campus is located in Washington, DC:

Colleges & Universities with Satellite Campuses in Washington, DC:

1. Esri Market Profile. (2024). Based on a comparison of the top 25 most populous metropolitan areas. Based on a comparison of
the top 25 most populous metropolitan areas.

2. Destination DC.

3. JobsEQ 2024 Q3 data, comparison of top 25 MSA LQ. LQ = concentration of industry professionals relative to national MSAs average.

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