The Catholic University of America Acceptance Rate &
The Catholic University of America is a private research university in Washington, District of Columbia, serving roughly 3,154 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 82.78% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $73,250 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $58,378
- 2024 Average Net Price: $29,561 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 82.78% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 3,154 94.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 79.47%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 10.1%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 1.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 53.0%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,333
- Applicants (IPEDS): 5,874
- Room & Board: $18,200 annual estimate
The Catholic University of America: what the data shows
Common questions about The Catholic University of America, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is The Catholic University of America?
The Catholic University of America is located in Washington, DC (ZIP 20064).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is The Catholic University of America public or private?
The Catholic University of America is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does The Catholic University of America cost?
Published tuition: $58,378.
Average net price after aid: $29,561.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $17,358 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,895 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $24,723 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $28,295 |
| $110,001+ | $37,651 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $233,512.
How hard is it to get into The Catholic University of America?
Admission rate: 82.78%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is The Catholic University of America?
Total enrollment: 3,154 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 3,333 students.
Graduate enrollment: 2,066 students.
About 94% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at The Catholic University of America?
150%-time completion rate: 79.47%.
First-year retention: 86.5%.
What do graduates of The Catholic University of America earn?
Median earnings: $63,217 six years after entry; $73,250 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $26,000.
20.32% of students receive Pell grants.
What is The Catholic University of America known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (140 completions)
- Law (128 completions)
- Psychology, General (89 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (81 completions)
- Social Work (75 completions)
- Architecture (70 completions)
- Theology and Religious Vocations, Other (56 completions)
- Divinity/Ministry (36 completions)
- Political Science and Government, General (36 completions)
- Philosophy (31 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is The Catholic University of America a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 82.78%; completion rate 79.47%; median earnings $73,250 at 10 years; net price $29,561. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$58,378
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at The Catholic University of America was $58,378.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$29,561
2024 Value
In 2024 The Catholic University of America had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $29,561.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$118,244 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$29,561 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$233,512 4-Year Tuition
$18,200 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,216 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$77,794 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$311,176 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for The Catholic University of America.
Financial Aid by Income Level
20.32% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
47.79% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at The Catholic University of America was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for The Catholic University of America in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $38,526 | $38,526 | $34,086 |
| 2014 | $39,726 | $39,726 | $34,770 |
| 2015 | $40,932 | $40,932 | $35,188 |
| 2016 | $42,536 | $42,536 | $34,542 |
| 2017 | $44,060 | $44,060 | $32,731 |
| 2018 | $45,804 | $45,804 | $34,972 |
| 2019 | $47,746 | $47,746 | $34,230 |
| 2020 | $49,416 | $49,416 | $34,684 |
| 2021 | $52,156 | $52,156 | $33,452 |
| 2022 | $54,186 | $54,186 | $33,417 |
| 2023 | $55,834 | $55,834 | $32,798 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
82.78% Acceptance Rate
5,874 Total Applicants
4,925 Students Admitted
861 First-Time Students Enrolled
17.48% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
The Catholic University of America reported total enrollment of about 3,154 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 46% male and 54% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (53.7%), Hispanic or Latino (22.2%), and Black or African American (8.7%). About 20.32% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 10.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
94.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at The Catholic University of America in 2024 is 3,154 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 3,333 students. Graduate enrollment is about 2,066 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
86.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 53.7%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
72.51% 100% Completion Time
79.47% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 72.51% of students graduating from The Catholic University of America completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 52% male / 48% female
- Law: 36% male / 64% female
- Psychology, General: 20% male / 80% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for The Catholic University of America.
Return on Investment
$26,000 Median Student Debt
$73,250 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
35.49% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
519.48% Return on Investment
3.5 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for The Catholic University of America.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 94 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 140 completions
2. Law: 128 completions
3. Psychology, General: 89 completions
4. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 81 completions
5. Social Work: 75 completions
6. Architecture: 70 completions
7. Theology and Religious Vocations, Other: 56 completions
8. Divinity/Ministry: 36 completions
9. Political Science and Government, General: 36 completions
Most popular programs at The Catholic University of America.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for The Catholic University of America graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for The Catholic University of America from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 53.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $11,252
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $22,922
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
The Catholic University of America is a private non-profit institution located in Washington, DC, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Law, Psychology, General. Enrollment is approximately 3,154 students. Student body composition includes White (53.7%), Hispanic or Latino (22.2%), Black or African American (8.7%). The admission rate is 82.78%. The 150%-time completion rate is 79.47%. Approximately 20.32% of students receive Pell Grants. About 10.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Location
Washington, DC 20064
Region: Mid East
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 94 distinct degree programs, The Catholic University of America provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Catholic University of America located?
The Catholic University of America is located in Washington, DC.
What is The Catholic University of America's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at The Catholic University of America is 82.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 5,874 applicants and 4,925 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does The Catholic University of America cost?
Reported tuition is $58,378 and average net price is $29,561 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $18,200 annually.
What is the student body demographics at The Catholic University of America?
The Catholic University of America reports undergraduate enrollment of about 3,333 students, White (53.7%), Hispanic or Latino (22.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend The Catholic University of America?
About 10.1% of students at The Catholic University of America are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of The Catholic University of America earn?
Median earnings are $63,217 six years after entry and $73,250 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at The Catholic University of America?
The 150%-time completion rate is 79.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do The Catholic University of America students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $26,000.
Is The Catholic University of America public or private?
The Catholic University of America is a private nonprofit institution located in Washington, DC.
Is The Catholic University of America an HBCU?
No. The Catholic University of America is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is The Catholic University of America a tribal college?
No. The Catholic University of America is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is The Catholic University of America a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, The Catholic University of America does not meet that proxy (reported share 22.2%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- District of Columbia college profile
- District of Columbia college costs
- District of Columbia colleges by ROI
- Washington, District of Columbia city profile
- Mid East regional profile
- Urban (City) college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in District of Columbia
- District of Columbia college costs
- District of Columbia colleges by ROI
- Washington, District of Columbia city profile
- Mid East regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in District of Columbia
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.