The Catholic University of America
Washington, DC 20064
About The Catholic University of America
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 $81,308 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- The Catholic University of America charges about 2.0× the national private non-profit median tuition ($60,414).
- Versus the District of Columbia median, sticker tuition is about 2.9×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 75.86%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $81,308.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at The Catholic University of America is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 525% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
The Catholic University of America awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 94 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Catholic University of America | $60,414 | $32,543 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $30,216 | — | 1,451 |
| District of Columbia (state median) | $20,762 | — | 14 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,860 | $20,660 | 1,347 |
| United States (national median) | $12,200 | $17,569 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 46% below published tuition at The Catholic University of America
Key findings
- The Catholic University of America's average net price ($32,543) is 46% below published tuition ($60,414).
- The Catholic University of America charges about 2.0× the national private non-profit median tuition ($60,414).
- Versus the District of Columbia median, sticker tuition is about 2.9×.
The Catholic University of America tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $60,414
Finding The Catholic University of America charges about 2.0× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $60,414. That is about 2.0× the national private non-profit median ($30,216). Versus the District of Columbia median ($20,762), sticker tuition is about 2.9×. Versus the U.S. median ($12,200), sticker is about 5.0×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at The Catholic University of America versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at The Catholic University of America versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at The Catholic University of America is $32,543.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $32,543 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $11,884 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway The Catholic University of America’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 46% lower after grants and scholarships.
The Catholic University of America: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for The Catholic University of America—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$60,414
Avg. net price
$32,543
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $27,245 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $24,802 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $26,171 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $28,183 |
| $110,001+ | $37,786 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $241,656. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What The Catholic University of America is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General140
- Law128
- Psychology, General89
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse81
- Social Work75
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 17% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is The Catholic University of America a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
The Catholic University of America is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for The Catholic University of America.
Campus
Location
Washington, DC
City / state
- ZIP
- 20064
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is 58% above the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,660 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Mid East
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
3,154
Undergraduates (fall)
- Undergraduates (full year)
- 3,333
- Graduate
- 2,066
- Full-time share
- 94%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$25,469
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 25.84%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for The Catholic University of America.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
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 25.84% 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.
Over a full year, about 3,333 undergraduates enroll. 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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
69.24% 100% Completion Time
75.86% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 69.24% 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
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
The Catholic University of America graduates earn a median of $81,308 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of The Catholic University of America.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $81,308. Median federal loan debt: $25,469. Average net price used in cost models: $32,543.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway The Catholic University of America graduates report median earnings of $81,308 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for The Catholic University of America.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (94 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at The Catholic University of America.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for The Catholic University of America graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for The Catholic University of America—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$365.1M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- District of Columbia median 2.7× the median ($133M)
- Mid East median 8.6× the median ($42.6M)
- U.S. median 14× the median ($26.4M)
- District of Columbia median 1.2× the median ($68,912)
- Mid East median 5.0× the median ($16,427)
- U.S. median 6.8× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 53.0%
- District of Columbia median 4.2 pp below median (57.1%)
- Mid East median 3.9 pp below median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 5.0 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $11,252
- District of Columbia median 1.4× the median ($8,291)
- Mid East median 1.4× the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $22,922
- District of Columbia median 1.7× the median ($13,241)
- Mid East median 2.5× the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 3.1× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
The Catholic University of America at a glance
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private non-profit institution in Washington, DC, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralLawPsychology, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian53.7%Hispanic or Latino22.2%Black or African American8.7%
Schools near The Catholic University of America
Other campuses in Washington, DC when available, plus nearby institutions in District of Columbia.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within District of Columbia, then by similar ownership and admissions.
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.
What is The Catholic University of America's tuition?
The Catholic University of America tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $60,414 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $32,543 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does The Catholic University of America cost?
Reported tuition is $60,414 and average net price is $32,543 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $19,030 annually.
Why is The Catholic University of America's net price so much lower than tuition?
At The Catholic University of America, published tuition is $60,414 while average net price is $32,543—about 46% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains The Catholic University of America's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($32,543), completion (75.9% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($81,308). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
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 $70,086 six years after entry and $81,308 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at The Catholic University of America?
The 150%-time completion rate is 75.9% 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 $25,469.
Is The Catholic University of America public or private?
The Catholic University of America is a private nonprofit institution located in Washington, DC.
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
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.