Washington, DC, Typing Schools with Typing Classes
There are three 2-year, public colleges near the nation's capital that offer classes in typing; all of which are approximately 30 minutes driving time from downtown. All three schools offer introductory keyboarding classes; two of the colleges have more extensive options to help students improve speed and accuracy and, in some cases, learn about document formatting. Descriptions of the classes, which may be part of a degree program, can be found in the paragraphs below. Additional details, like program costs and financial aid, are provided in the comparison table.
- Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) is located about 17 miles from Washington, DC, and offers sequential courses in keyboarding.
- Students can find an introductory and a refresher course at Montgomery College, which at 23 miles, is the furthest away from downtown.
- Prince George's Community College (PGCC), located about 18 miles from Washington, DC, offers six courses in keyboarding, as well as an introduction to Microsoft Word.
Comparison of Schools
In the table below, keyboarding professionals will find information about campus locations and student enrollment. In addition to the cost of attendance, it also includes retention and graduation figures.
| Northern Virginia Community College | Montgomery College | Prince George's Community College | |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | 2-year, public | 2-year, public | 2-year, public |
| Total Enrollment (Fall 2021) | 49,560* | 17,284* | 10,577* |
| Campus Setting | Large suburb | Small city | Large suburb |
| Tuition & Fees (2021-2022) | $5,565 in-state; $11,648 out-of-state* | $5,322 in-district; $10,254 in-state; $14,034 out-of-state* | $3,746 in-district; $6,026 in-state; $8,474 out-of-state* |
| % of First-Year Students Receiving Any Form of Financial Aid (2020-2021) | 61%* | 62%* | 78%* |
| Acceptance Rate (2021) | N/A - open admissions* | N/A - open admissions* | N/A - open admissions* |
| Retention Rate (Fall 2020-2021) | 69% full-time; 52% part-time* | 72% full-time; 46% part-time* | 66% full-time; 48% part-time* |
| Graduation Rate within 150% of Normal Completion Time (Students beginning in Fall 2018) | 33%* | 29%* | 13%* |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics
Northern Virginia Community College
NOVA, founded in 1964, is the state of Virginia's largest educational institution. NOVA hosts approximately 75,000 students annually, including representation from more than 180 countries. Keyboarding classes are part of the Associate in Applied Science - Administrative Support Technology program.
Keyboarding Level 1
Students learn how to use the numeric and alphabetic keyboards. This class emphasizes accuracy, speed and technique. Students also learn how to format tabulations, reports and various types of correspondence.
Keyboarding Level 2
Keyboarding Level I is a prerequisite for enrolling in this course. Students continue to hone their accuracy and speed skills. They also concentrate on skills in document production.
Montgomery College
Montgomery College was founded in 1946. Among its programs is Workforce Development and Continuing Education (WD&CE), which offers a wide variety of year-round courses. Typing courses are offered through the Information Technology Institute of WD&CE.
Introduction to Keyboarding
Students are instructed in proper keyboarding techniques and improve their skills while working at their own pace. The alphabet, numbers and symbols are all included.
Prince George's Community College
PGCC students can earn licensures, letters of recognition and associate's degrees through more than 200 workforce development, continuing education and academic programs. Many of the keyboarding classes at PGCC are non-credit and offered through continuing education.
Introduction to Keyboarding
Students receive training in basic computer parts and placement of the fingers on the keyboard. These non-credit classes concentrate on typing for accuracy and speed.
Keyboarding
Students develop their touch-typing skills using a computer program, Keyboarding Pro 5. Students also learn about word processing and computer basics. Classes are given online and are non-credit.
Keyboarding for Microcomputers
In this non-credit, students work through self-paced instructional modules to learn touch typing. Assistance from instructors is available and students must provide their own flash drive.
Keyboarding: Bus Doc\Reports
This class trains students to use keyboarding skills for documents. Students use self-paced instructional modules, with instructor help available. A flash drive is required for this non-credit course.
Keyboarding for Success
This course provides classroom-based instruction for students who want to hone their keyboarding skills. Students are instructed in appropriate techniques and posture to prepare for doing data entry or typing documents. The class is non-credit.
Intermediate Microsoft Word
This for-credit course teaches students keyboarding techniques for the Word 2016 word processing program. They learn to create and format professional-style documents.
