Living in Washington, DC

An Educational, Cultural Hub

Washington, DC, is one of the best cities in the world in which to be a student. With a mass of scholars, research agencies, think tanks, international government organizations, and museums, DC is home to a vibrant academic and social culture. The international population allows residents to meet people from across the world and experience elements of a variety of cultures, and – as a hub for students and young professionals – there is always something to do.

A hub for students, young professionals, and innovators, DC is also a city with a rich history, resilient neighborhoods, and proud traditions.

Housing

Georgetown has two offices primarily dedicated to housing for graduate and off-campus students: the Office of Student Living, which maintains resources for off-campus students, and the Office of Neighborhood Life, which works to make living off-campus manageable by serving as a liaison between the city and students and managing the Georgetown Off-Campus Housing Service.

The Office of Neighborhood Life operates the Summer Housing Opportunities Program each June that includes a housing fair and gives students the opportunity to stay free on campus for one weekend to conduct a housing search. In addition, the Student Living Office manages the Off-Campus Housing Listings (new window) to help find rental units and to help match potential roommates and The Corp provides access to Roomr (new window), a landlord review website for the close-by DC neighborhoods of Georgetown and Burleigh. Outside of the university, students have successfully found places to live using Craigslist (new window), PadMapper (new window), ApartmentList (new window), Zillow (new window), and Trulia (new window).

Transportation

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA/Metro) operates the region’s transportation network of buses and subways, helping students travel around DC, Maryland, and Virginia. While there is no subway station located directly in Georgetown, the university operates free shuttles to nearby Rosslyn and Dupont Circle stations, the Law Center, and the Arlington Loop. Many WMATA bus lines also service Georgetown, including the G2, 30N, 30S, 31, 33, 38B, the Dupont-Rosslyn Circulator, and the Georgetown-Union Station Circulator.

DC is often rated one of the best cities in the country for people who do not own a car, and the area around the university has a WalkScore of 91. Main campus is just a short walk from close to 100 restaurants and eateries, hundreds of retail stores, several parks, and ample entertainment. Greater DC is a bicycle-friendly city, each year laying miles of new bicycle lanes and expanding its successful bikeshare program, Capital Bikeshare.

While parking can be a challenge in the Georgetown area, the university has a paid parking garage for commuting students, staff, and visitors, and most apartment complexes offer their own garages, lots, or street parking passes.

Additional Resources

Extensive information and resources for graduate students planning to live in the DC area can be found on Graduate Life, maintained by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. An equally important and valuable resource for all graduate students is the Graduate Student Life Guide.