
Strayer University traces its origins to Strayer's Business College, founded in Baltimore in 1892 by S. Irving Strayer. The school initially focused on business education and later expanded into degree programs for working adults. Its present-day university identity reflects that shift from vocational instruction to undergraduate and graduate education.
Strayer University-District of Columbia is the university's Washington, DC, location, not a separate university with its own founding history. Prospective students comparing historical claims, accreditation, or degree offerings should distinguish university-wide information from services and courses available at this location.
Strayer University offers career-oriented programs in business, technology, education, and related fields. Its academic offerings include associate, bachelor's, and graduate credentials, but students should verify which courses are available in person at the District of Columbia location rather than assuming every university program is taught there.
Fields represented in university program and outcomes information include business administration, accounting, information science, computer and information sciences, criminal justice, and educational administration. The Jack Welch Management Institute is associated with Strayer's graduate business education. A prospective student should check the current catalog for the exact degree name, required courses, delivery format, and any prerequisites; a program's availability online does not establish that every class meets at the DC location.
Strayer University-District of Columbia is located in Washington, DC, an urban setting suited to students who commute or combine classes with work. The institution does not provide undergraduate housing, so travel time and the cost of living locally matter when planning attendance.
Washington's Metrorail and bus systems may offer alternatives to driving, depending on a student's starting point and the location and hours of a particular class. Applicants considering in-person study should confirm the current teaching address, campus access hours, and whether their required courses meet there, online, or at another Strayer location.
Strayer University presents its educational purpose in terms of accessible, career-relevant higher education, particularly for adults balancing study with work and other responsibilities. That is the institution's stated approach, not evidence that a particular program will produce a specific job or salary.
For prospective students, the practical questions are whether the available course schedule fits their obligations and whether a degree's curriculum matches their goals. The current academic catalog and program requirements are more useful for answering those questions than a general mission statement.
Name of the institution
Strayer University-District of ColumbiaLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
QuartersFoundation year
1892Strayer University-District of Columbia is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.