Trinity Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia · Private Nonprofit · 99.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 53/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Trinity Washington University is a small Catholic institution in Washington, DC, enrolling 1,414 students - historically a women's college, now co-ed in professional programs. Its ROI score of 53 (Below Average Value) reflects serious structural problems: a 49% completion rate (fewer than half of students graduate), average six-year earnings of $37,400, a 9.4-year payback period, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76. The seven-year repayment rate is 47%: fewer than half of borrowers are actively reducing their principal at the seven-year mark. With 54% of students on Pell grants, Trinity serves a high-need population. The one bright spot is Registered Nursing (37 graduates), where one-year earnings hit $79,349 and four-year earnings reach $106k. That program is a genuine value. But most other programs - business, criminal justice, psychology, health sciences - show debt-to-earnings ratios above 1.0, meaning graduates owe more than a year's salary on average.
Trinity Washington University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $26,610/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $26,610/yr |
| Average net price | $9,302/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $37,208 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,804 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $28,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $299 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,414 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $26,610/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $9,302/year, or roughly $37,208 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,928/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $15,307/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $28,250, which works out to about $299 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,400) and comes to 0.76, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,928 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,554 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,502 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,623 |
| $110,001+ | $15,307 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30k) pay $7,928 per year - about $31,700 over four years. But with a 49% completion rate, many students won't reach graduation, incurring debt without the credential. Among those who do graduate, average earnings of $37,400 at six years means payback still takes over nine years. The net price is accessible, but the completion risk is the real variable.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket pays $8,554 and the 48-75k bracket pays $8,502 - nearly flat across this range, which is relatively unusual. The 75-110k bracket jumps to $13,623. Middle-income families in the $48-75k range get similar pricing to the lowest earners, which is an anomaly likely reflecting how Trinity's aid is structured. Even so, the completion and earnings problems apply equally.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 and average earnings of $37,400 at six years mean even families who pay relatively little still face a long payback unless their student enters the nursing program.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Trinity Washington University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $48,567 | F |
| Registered Nursing | $106,318 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $66,772 | D |
| Psychology | $53,543 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $59,708 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $62,755 | D |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $54,934 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the only program at Trinity Washington that shows strong ROI. With 37 graduates earning $79,349 at one year and $106,318 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 (B grade), this program punches above the institution's overall performance.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates earn $47,385 at one year and $59,708 at four years with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 (D grade) and median debt of $33,564. The DC metro area has dense federal law enforcement and justice sector employment, which could support career trajectories better than the earnings data suggests. However, the D grade and high debt load relative to earnings mean this program does not pay back efficiently. Students targeting federal careers in criminal justice or corrections may find value in the DC location - proximity to federal agencies and the credential - but should plan to manage debt carefully.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 39.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 46.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 41.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 45.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Trinity Washington University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 99.5% |
| Enrollment | 1,414 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 54.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,291 |
Trinity Washington does not report admissions selectivity data in a meaningful sense - the 99.5% admission rate means the school accepts virtually all applicants. There are no SAT or ACT score bands on file. This is effectively open enrollment. The institution's mission centers on access for underserved DC-area students, particularly adult women seeking credentials for career advancement.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Trinity's completion rate is 49%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Washington University (this school) | 53 | $9,302 | $53,804 |
| The Catholic University of America | 77 | $29,561 | $73,250 |
| American University | 74 | $41,943 | $77,370 |
| St. Francis College | 57 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
| Grand View University | 48 | $21,774 | $52,824 |
Who Thrives Here
Trinity serves adult learners, working mothers, and first-generation students from the DC metro area. The institution does not report SAT/ACT data, reflecting an open-enrollment and non-traditional student focus. The 54% Pell grant rate and 99% admissions rate confirm this is primarily a community-of-access institution. Students who complete the nursing program have strong outcomes; students in other fields face an earnings picture that may not justify the debt. Self-directed adults with clear career paths - particularly in nursing - fit best.
Transfer Pathways
Trinity's open enrollment and 99.5% admission rate make it a viable transfer destination for students from DC-area community colleges seeking a bachelor's degree completion pathway. Students already in the healthcare field or working in social services often transfer here to finish credentials. The nursing program accepts qualified transfer students.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Trinity Washington University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $9,302 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $53,804 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 9.4 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 49.3% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 46.9% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $28,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Trinity Washington University: Common Questions
Is Trinity Washington University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Trinity Washington University scores 53/100 on our ROI scale. At $9,302 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $53,804 ten years after entry, so it takes about 9.4 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Trinity Washington University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $9,302 a year, or roughly $37,208 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Trinity Washington University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $53,804 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,004 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Trinity Washington University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.4 years for Trinity Washington University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Trinity Washington University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $28,250, against average earnings of $37,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Trinity Washington University?
The six-year graduation rate is 49.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.