University of the District of Columbia Washington, D.C

University of the District of Columbia Washington, D.C

The University of the District of Columbia traces its origins to 1851, when Myrtilla Miner opened a school for Black girls, and to a separate normal school for white girls established in 1873. The two merged into the District of Columbia Teachers College in 1955. Federal City College and Washington Technical Institute were created under the 1966 Public Education Act, and the three institutions were consolidated as UDC on August 1, 1977. The university is public, historically Black and a land-grant institution, and it describes itself as the only public university in the city. The main Van Ness campus is in North Cleveland Park, with other sites including Congress Heights and aviation facilities at Reagan National Airport. The David A. Clarke School of Law joined in 1996. The Firebirds compete in NCAA Division II in the East Coast Conference. Fall 2024 enrollment was 4,202 students, 3,610 of them undergraduates.

Key facts

• Founded: 1977 (roots to 1851)
• Location: Washington, D.C.
• Type: Public, historically Black land-grant university
• Enrollment: ~4,202 (fall 2024)
• Known for: Only public university in D.C.; community college and law school