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The Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America

Washington, DC · City · 3,154 students
WebsiteCommon AppForbes rankingScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$29,561
Average net priceYour net price
2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
80%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$73,250
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
83%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education
About

As the national university of the Catholic Church, The Catholic University of America integrates a rigorous liberal arts foundation with strong professional preparation, earning particular acclaim for its programs in theology, philosophy, architecture, nursing, and business. The institution boasts the largest residential campus in Washington, D.C., offering a scenic, 176-acre collegiate environment in the historic Brookland neighborhood with immediate Metro access to downtown. Student culture is defined by a close-knit, faith-centered community deeply committed to service, intellectual inquiry, and high-impact internships across the nation’s capital.

Wikipedia:The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Catholic research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is one of two pontifical universities of the Catholic Church in the United States – the only one that is not primarily a seminary – and the only institution of higher education founded by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Established in 1887 as a graduate and research center following approval by Pope Leo XIII, the university began offering undergraduate education in 1904. In the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, it is classified as an R1 university.

Location
Washington, DC, 20064 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
DCA · Washington DC
6 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$58,378
Housing & food (on campus)$18,200
Books & supplies$1,216
Cost of attendance$75,481
Average net price$29,561
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$58,378
Housing & food (on campus)$18,200
Books & supplies$1,216
Cost of attendance$75,481
Average net price$29,561
Net price by family income · 2023-24
$0–30k
$17,358
$30–48k
$17,895
$48–75k
$24,723
$75–110k
$28,295
$110k+
$37,651
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
80%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
73%
Back for yr 2
87%
Transferred
0%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
75% graduated · 22% transferred · 3% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$63,217
10 yrs after entry$73,250
Debt
Median at graduation$26,000
Monthly payment$276
Middle 50% owe$12k–$27k
90th percentile$33,000
Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs, $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
83%
Test policy
Not required
Per College Scorecard

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Essay prompts

If The Catholic University of America asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 46%Women 54%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
11 : 1
Pell grant
20%
First-gen
10%
Family income
$114,619
Independent
4%
Age at entry
20.0
Part-time
6%
Race & ethnicity
White
54%
Hispanic
22%
Black
9%
Asian
3%
Two or more
5%
Non-resident
3%
Unknown
4%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division III with football · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Field Hockey
    Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Lacrosse
    Men's · Women's
  • Rowing
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$63,217
After 10 yrs
$73,250
Business Administration, Management and Operations164
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing77
Political Science and Government64
Psychology, General52
Architecture43
Mechanical Engineering32
Philosophy30
Music27
Communication and Media Studies23
Biomedical/Medical Engineering21
History21
Business/Commerce, General18
Civil Engineering15
English Language and Literature, General15
Biology, General15
Accounting and Related Services15
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$383M
Full-time faculty
53%
Faculty salary
$11,252/mo
Teaching spend
$22,922
per student
Federal loans
48%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$58M research spending · 86 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, inclusive admissions

Wondering if The Catholic University of America is the right fit for you?

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