The Capital Region College Tour: 4 Days Across 9 DMV Campuses
Want to see the intersection of global power and academic prestige? There is no better place to do so than the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia).
Quick Geography Note:
If you’re thinking that three states sounds like far too wide a scope for touring colleges, it’s important to note that the DMV covers D.C., Northern Virginia (NoVA), and surrounding Maryland counties, but it usually does not include the entire states of Maryland or Virginia. No one living in Blacksburg or Richmond would say they live in the DMV. The key areas include D.C., Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, Reston in Virginia, and Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Rockville in Maryland.
Within a 30-mile radius, you can transition from the cobblestone streets of a historic Jesuit hilltop to the high-tech research hubs of a Big Ten flagship. The DMV offers a unique city-as-your-classroom experience where internship opportunities are often just a short Metro ride away. Because the geography is compact and the Metro is world-class, this is one of the most efficient college tours you can take. We’ve mapped out a 4-day itinerary to help you sample the distinct political pulse of each campus.
Day 1: The District Power Players
Start your trip in the heart of Washington, D.C., where the line between the campus and the federal government is famously thin. These campuses are all in D.C., so plan to rely on Metro, rideshare, and walking rather than driving between stops.
Georgetown University
The Hilltop feels like a self-contained, elite village overlooking the Potomac. If you’re into soaring spires and red-brick Collegiate Gothic architecture, you’re in for a treat. The iconic Healy Hall looks like it was plucked straight out of a European capital, but more importantly, it’s a National Historic Landmark. If you’re looking at schools in the DMV because you see a future for yourself in policy or international relations, don’t skip a visit to the Walsh School of Foreign Service to get a glimpse of the first school of international affairs in the U.S.
The neighborhood surrounding it is one of the most historic and upscale in the country, featuring cobblestone side streets, the bustling high-end shops of M Street, and the scenic Georgetown Waterfront. Beyond the location, Georgetown is grounded in the Jesuit value of cura personalis (care for the whole person). This translates to a campus culture that is high-achieving but deeply committed to social justice and community service.
Transit Note: You won’t find a Metro stop in the heart of Georgetown (a legendary point of local debate). Plan to use the GUTS (Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle) or wear comfortable shoes for the walk from the Rosslyn or Foggy Bottom stations.
The George Washington University (GWU)
GWU is for the student who wants the city to feel immediate—Foggy Bottom drops you into the middle of embassies, policy shops, and federal institutions from day one. There are no gates; the city is the quad. Foggy Bottom is blocks from the White House, State Department, World Bank, and IMF, so you’ll be walking past these just to get to class. Check out the Kogan Plaza and find the Unofficial Mascot—the bronze Hippo. While you’re there, ask your tour guide about the Mount Vernon Campus shuttle; GWU has a second, more traditional campus just a few miles away for students who want a greener feel.
GWU’s biggest draw is its proximity to power. Students here intern at the State Department between classes, and the Elliott School of International Affairs frequently hosts world leaders and ambassadors—get ready for global events to feel like local news!
Howard University
Known as The Mecca, Howard is a premier HBCU with a legacy of leadership that permeates the campus. Howard students are known for being deeply socially conscious and intensely ambitious. It’s a place where Black excellence is the standard. While famous for its political influence, Howard is a top-tier research institution. Its programs in Communications (The Cathy Hughes School) and Business are world-renowned, and its School of Law has produced some of the most influential legal minds in American history, such as Thurgood Marshall (the first Black Supreme Court Justice) and Douglas Wilder (the first elected Black governor in the U.S.). The Yard is where Howard feels most like Howard—it’s the social center of campus, but it’s also layered with the history of Black student leadership, performance, protest, and Greek life.
Visiting the Founders Library and its iconic clock tower is a must. The tower, modeled after Independence Hall, is a symbol of Black intellectual freedom. More importantly, the library was where the legal strategies for Brown v. Board of Education were crafted—we cannot stress enough how exciting it is to stand in a place where the course of American history was changed.
Day 2: The Global & Green Hubs
Today is about the schools that offer the best of both worlds through their traditional campus layouts while still being minutes from the action. This is a lighter D.C. day and works well if you want a slower pace or more time for info sessions.
American University (AU)
AU is one of those rare D.C. campuses that makes people exhale a little when they arrive. An arboretum in the city, this medium-sized private university is known for being politically active and globally minded. You get a mix of a research university and a more personal undergraduate experience, as well as a classic quad layout that feels much more suburban than GWU.
Visit the School of International Service (SIS) building—it’s LEED Gold certified and stunning. While you’re touring, ask about the Washington Semester Program, which dates back to 1947 and allows students to earn credit while completing internships and seminars in the city. AU is a school for students who want strong academics plus internships, policy/global affairs exposure, and a college experience that feels connected to the real world. Visit the site of JFK’s 1963 commencement speech, “A Strategy of Peace,” where he called for an end to the nuclear arms race. It’s a reminder of AU’s long-standing connection to global diplomacy.
Admissions Tip: AU’s current Common Data Set marks level of applicant’s interest as Very Important in first-year admissions, meaning it’s one of those schools where demonstrated interest really matters. Make sure to attend the official info session and ask questions while on your tour so that they know you were there.
The Catholic University of America (CUA)
At 176 acres, this is the largest and one of the greenest campuses in D.C. As the oldest Catholic research university in the country, CUA gives you the Romanesque architecture and wide-open lawns of a true college town tucked away in the Brookland neighborhood (often called “Little Rome”). It has its own Metro stop right at the campus gates—perfect for students who want easy Red Line access to downtown D.C. As the only higher education institution founded by U.S. bishops, it has a unique National University status. If you’re interested in architecture, engineering, nursing, theology, or philosophy, this is one of the more distinctive academic environments in the region.
If you want one of the most visually impressive stops on the whole trip, check out the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which sits right next to campus. Even if you aren’t religious, the mosaic work is breathtaking.
Day 3: Maryland’s Big Ten Flagship
Head just across the border into Prince George’s County to see how scale and spirit collide. Today is best done by car, especially if you plan to add Hopkins as an optional Baltimore stop.
University of Maryland, College Park (UMD)
If you want some massive Big Ten energy, you can’t miss out on UMD. Everything here is big—the research, the stadium, and the opportunities. It has a classic public Ivy aesthetic, with red brick and white columns everywhere you look. On your tour, visit the Discovery District; it’s a massive research and innovation hub that connects students directly to 60+ companies and organizations, including tech giants and federal agencies like the FDA, NOAA, USDA, and IARPA.
For good luck, students rub the nose of Testudo (the Diamondback Terrapin statue) in front of McKeldin Library—even if you’re not attending (yet!), it couldn’t hurt to give the statue’s schnozz a quick stroke to boost your chances of acceptance! During finals week, students leave Testudo offerings ranging from coffee to old sofas, TVs, and bikes. If Testudo likes your gift, you might just get that A.
Johns Hopkins University
We want to note that JHU is in Baltimore and, therefore, not technically part of the DMV. It’s about a one-hour drive from D.C. and College Park, Maryland. However, if you somehow have time after visiting the small city that is UMD, it’s close enough to warrant a visit if you’re already in the area.
Hopkins feels different from the D.C. schools right away. The Homewood campus is all red brick, tree-lined paths, green quads, and an iconic clock tower—a traditional campus in the middle of a city. While known for being a top choice for pre-med, JHU is also a powerhouse for International Studies and Engineering. It’s a school for intense researchers who want to start working in a lab as a freshman. Johns Hopkins calls itself America’s first research university, and more than 80% of undergraduates complete at least one formal research experience. If you love the idea of serious academics, lab work, and being surrounded by deeply curious students, this is the bonus stop to make.
Day 4: Northern Virginia Innovation
Finish your tour in NoVa, where the focus is on rapid growth and professional preparation. These Northern Virginia campuses pair well because they show two very different sides of the Arlington/Fairfax college experience.
George Mason University (GMU)
George Mason, a modern and sprawling campus in Fairfax, is one of the fastest-growing research universities in the country. It serves as a primary pipeline for the region’s workforce; as a leading producer of tech graduates in Virginia, Mason is a key driver of the Northern Virginia Innovation District or “Silicon Valley of the East” reputation.
Look for the little Starship delivery robots rolling across the quads—GMU was the first campus in the country to use these autonomous robots to deliver food to students! On your tour, ask about the Arlington Campus (Mason Square), which is home to the Schar School of Policy & Government and connects the university to Arlington’s growing technology corridor and startup ecosystem.
Marymount University
This hilltop campus in Arlington is small, professional, and personal, with a great view of the DC skyline to boot. It’s perfect for students who want a tight-knit community with easy access to the capital. What makes Marymount unique is that it combines small-campus support with unusually direct access to professional opportunities in Arlington and D.C. Students interested in tech policy and cybersecurity may be especially interested to know that the Ballston Center includes a Cybersecurity Lab with hands-on equipment and virtualized systems. All students complete an internship experience. The university’s growing Ballston presence strengthens its career-oriented feel, especially in fields like nursing, business, and cybersecurity. It’s an excellent practical choice for career-oriented students.
How to Assess Each School
We recommend using every college tour as a test of the type of college you’re interested in, but if these colleges are currently on your preliminary college list, it’s a good idea to take notes and ask yourself these questions after the tour.
Urban vs. Enclave: Did you like the open-street feel of GWU or the gated hilltop of Georgetown?
Internship Commute: Are you okay with a 45-minute Metro ride from College Park, or do you want to be able to walk to your internship at the State Department from your dorm?
Scale: Did you feel energized by the 30,000+ students at UMD, or did the smaller community at Marymount feel like home?
Parent Advice
Parents, your job title for this trip is Chief Logistics Officer. In the DMV, parking is a nightmare, and traffic is legendary. If you’re not from here, the local driving style may feel… energetic. To keep your cortisol levels in check, learn the SmarTrip app and, for the D.C. portion of the trip, skip the car and use the Metro instead. It will save you hours of frustration and give your student a real taste of what life is like for a D.C. intern.
Let your student lead the way through the Metro stations. If they can navigate the Red Line to get to an info session on time, they can handle college.
Final Thoughts
As with many of the guides in our college tour series (Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania), the real value of a DMV college tour is the chance to compare very different versions of college life in just a few days. We hope students will use this guide to gain a clearer sense of what kind of college life actually fits them: city streets or enclosed quads, fast internship access or a more traditional campus experience, flagship scale or a smaller community. That’s what makes the DMV such a valuable place to tour campuses. In just a few days, families can compare radically different campus environments without ever leaving the region.
