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Washington , DC
The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private, pontifical research university located in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1887 and is recognized as the only institution of higher education founded by the United States bishops. As the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States, CUA has a deep commitment to blending academic rigor with the Catholic intellectual tradition.
CUA offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across its 12 schools and colleges, including arts and sciences, theology and religious studies, architecture and planning, law, engineering, and nursing. The university prides itself on fostering an inclusive and values-based community that welcomes students of all faiths. CUA's faculty members are renowned scholars who engage in groundbreaking research and provide students with a comprehensive education.
Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., CUA provides students with a unique opportunity to engage with the nation's capital. The university's campus is just a few miles away from iconic landmarks such as the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and numerous museums and cultural institutions. CUA students have access to internships, research opportunities, and networking connections that are unmatched in many other institutions. The campus itself features beautiful architecture, lush green spaces, and state-of-the-art facilities, fostering an environment that encourages personal and academic growth.
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, DC and set in an urban environment. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 82%. The freshman retention rate at The Catholic University of America is 87% and the six-year graduation rate is 80%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is February 1. The transfer application deadline is July 15.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most important things about The Catholic University of America.
Quick Facts
3,177
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$58,920
Tuition
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
80%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Here are the most important information you have to know about admission at The Catholic University of America.
In 2025, the school accepted 5,558 new students.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.5. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into The Catholic University of America.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to this school is February 1. When submitting your application as a transfer student, the application deadline is July 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for The Catholic University of America was 87%, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 80%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the right match for you is not a simple task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better understanding of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 5,243 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 89.35. There was a total of 3,177 undergraduate students, including 92 international students. 74 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,966 male and 2,023 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 104 Asian students and 275 Afro-American students in 2025. 704 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 160 as multirace. The school also had 2 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 139 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for The Catholic University of America is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition in 2025 was $58,920 for full-time domestic students. The Catholic University of America is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $1,496 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,248.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at The Catholic University of America was $20,374 per academic year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 reached $11,924 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $11,924.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 58,920 |
| Room and Board | $ 20,374 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,248 |
| Total Expense | $ 80,542 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for a number of students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at The Catholic University of America.
According to the most recent data, 455 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $44,245.83.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
1,713 students obtained some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 1,717. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $5,083,080, and state $309,851. The students of The Catholic University of America received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $84,933,792, and external in the amount of $946,860.
$31,248
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,644 students overall (including freshmen) at The Catholic University of America in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 444 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $5,083,080 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $740. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $20,888,667. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $191,544 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at The Catholic University of America was 11:1. That means that there were 11 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 589 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 319 men and 270 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at The Catholic University of America is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about campus life at The Catholic University of America.
Its campus spans 173 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
According to the most recent information, there are 100 open-membership organizations at The Catholic University of America. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Centerstage Theatre Company, followed by Filipino Organization of Catholic University Students and Program Board. Other popular student organizations at this school are Habitat for Humanity and Cardinals for Life.
For those drawn to acting, there is a drama club where you can participate. For students looking to explore media and communication, The Catholic University of America publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At The Catholic University of America, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of The Catholic University of America.
All in all, campus life at The Catholic University of America is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at The Catholic University of America.
Career Counselling
At The Catholic University of America, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Finding out some information about the expected post-graduation salary can help you decide if a particular school suits your career objectives.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this school is 62,117 USD.
$62,117
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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The Catholic University of America is located in Washington, DC.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for The Catholic University of America is 58,920 USD, based on the most recent data.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for The Catholic University of America is 82%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for The Catholic University of America is 87%.
Contact Information
The Catholic University of America
620 Michigan Ave., N.E.
Washington , DC
20064
202 319-5000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
