Skip to content
AlmaSpire

Washington, DC · Private · 3,154 undergraduates · urban

The Catholic University of America

Less selective

It is the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States, combining that identity with direct access to Washington’s civic and professional institutions.

Campus image / © 1887-2026 The Catholic University of America

Institutional profile

Established Solid in career outcomes, and steady in academic standing.
Academic Steady Affordability Steady Career Solid Mobility Emerging Experience Emerging
Academic standing Steady
Affordability Steady
Career outcomes Solid
Mobility Emerging
Student experience Emerging
Admission
83.8% admitted

5,874 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Varies across five income ranges

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
74.8%

$73,250 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets The Catholic University of America apart

Academic design

The curriculum includes substantial liberal-arts and theology study alongside professional majors. Schools in architecture, engineering, nursing, business and theology give students access to both specialized training and a broad core.

Campus pattern

The campus is a spacious residential setting in Washington’s Brookland neighborhood with a Metro station at its edge. Students have easy access to federal agencies, nonprofits, museums, policy organizations and cultural institutions.

Defining feature

It is the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States, combining that identity with direct access to Washington’s civic and professional institutions.

Can I get in?

83.8% admitted

Start with academic preparation, then show why this particular academic and campus environment fits you.

Recent applicant pool

5,874

About 84 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 83.8%
Entering class

Record over scores

No score range is published for the entering class, so the transcript, the course rigor, and the required materials carry the file.

Testingflexible
Return for a second year85.1%
Finish the degree74.8%

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for The Catholic University of America, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What The Catholic University of America weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

The curriculum includes substantial liberal-arts and theology study alongside professional majors. Schools in architecture, engineering, nursing, business and theology give students access to both specialized training and a broad core.

02

Make the fit specific

It is the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States, combining that identity with direct access to Washington’s civic and professional institutions.

03

Account for the tradeoff

Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and make the school-specific case concrete.

Early DecisionNov 1
Early Decision IIFeb 1
Early ActionNov 1
Regular DecisionFeb 1
Fee and waiverNo application fee

Check eligibility for a fee waiver

Major and program admission

Some fields have their own entry path.

The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.

EngineeringAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

NursingAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$85,000
Average annual cost after aid$30,000
Affordability profileSteady

College funding

Scholarships and financial aid

Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.

Open financial aid plan

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at The Catholic University of America

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

It is the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States, combining that identity with direct access to Washington’s civic and professional institutions.

Complete within 8 years74.8%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one85.1%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$73,250

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Business Administration, Management and Operations

Recent graduates164
Median earnings$87,907

Admits separately

Political Science and Government

Recent graduates64
Median earnings$73,917

Psychology, General

Recent graduates52
Median earnings$52,846

Architecture

Recent graduates43
Median earnings$69,838

Admits separately

What is campus life like?

The Catholic University of America beyond the classroom

The campus is a spacious residential setting in Washington’s Brookland neighborhood with a Metro station at its edge. Students have easy access to federal agencies, nonprofits, museums, policy organizations and cultural institutions.

Academics

A defining academic feature

The curriculum includes substantial liberal-arts and theology study alongside professional majors. Schools in architecture, engineering, nursing, business and theology give students access to both specialized training and a broad core.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

The campus is a spacious residential setting in Washington’s Brookland neighborhood with a Metro station at its edge. Students have easy access to federal agencies, nonprofits, museums, policy organizations and cultural institutions.

Distinctive edge

What changes the experience

It is the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States, combining that identity with direct access to Washington’s civic and professional institutions.

3,154 undergraduatesMid-Atlanticurban settingCampus housing available