
Trinity Washington University was founded in 1897 in Washington, DC, by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur as a college for women. Its history helps explain its present structure: a women's undergraduate liberal arts college alongside professional and graduate programs that serve a broader student population.
Originally known as Trinity College, the institution expanded beyond its traditional undergraduate model as it developed programs for working adults and students preparing for careers in fields such as education, nursing and business. It adopted the name Trinity Washington University in 2010. Prospective students should pay attention to the school or program offering a credential, since Trinity's undergraduate women's college and its other academic divisions serve different applicant groups.
Trinity Washington University organizes its academic programs across a women's College of Arts and Sciences and schools focused on professional and graduate education. Its offerings include undergraduate and graduate credentials, so admission rules and course schedules depend on the program.
The College of Arts and Sciences includes liberal arts and science fields such as biology, psychology, communication and political science. Other areas of study include nursing and health professions, education, business and professional studies. Applicants comparing programs should check the current academic catalog for the exact credential, required courses and any separate clinical, fieldwork or licensure requirements. A general university admission decision does not necessarily establish eligibility for a selective professional program.
Trinity Washington University's main campus is in northeast Washington, DC, near the Brookland neighborhood. It offers an urban setting with access to the region's employers, schools, health-care organizations and public institutions.
Brookland is served by Metrorail, and students can also consider bus connections when planning a commute. Travel time will depend on where classes, clinical placements or internships take place; those activities may not all be on the main campus. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a practical regional airport for students traveling from farther away.
Trinity Washington University describes its mission in terms of education, opportunity and service, drawing on its Catholic heritage and the educational tradition of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Its continuing commitment to women's education is especially visible in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The university also emphasizes access for students pursuing professional education and for learners whose circumstances differ from those of a traditional residential undergraduate. These are institutional priorities, not a guarantee of any individual academic or career outcome. Applicants who want to understand how the mission affects their experience should compare the curriculum and student services of the particular Trinity school they would attend.
Name of the institution
Trinity Washington UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Catholic (Roman Catholic Church)School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
Only WomenCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1897Trinity Washington University 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
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.