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The Catholic University of America

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.

Located in Washington, DC and set in an urban environment, The Catholic University of America is a private university. This school uses 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. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 15.

Here are some up-to-date information on important things to consider 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

If you discover as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly improve. Here are the most important facts you should know about admission policy and requirements 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. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission.

Average Test Scores

Deadlines

The closing date for applications to The Catholic University of America is February 1. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is July 15.

Retention Rate

The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university newcomers who return for their sophomore year. 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%, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.

The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 80%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.

Student Body

Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.

Main Student Body

In 2025, the school enrolled 5,243 students.

The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 89.35% for that year. There was a total of 3,177 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 92 international students. The school reported to have a total of 74 transfer students.

Student Population Gender Ratio

With a coeducational student body, the school had 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. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.

In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 104, and the number of Afro-American students was 275. 704 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 160 as multirace. The school also had 2 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 139 students whose ethnicity is unknown.

Cost

Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for The Catholic University of America.

Tuition and Fees

Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.

Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $58,920 in 2025. The Catholic University of America is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,496.

Books and Supplies

When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The approximate price of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,248.

Boarding

Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?

The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at The Catholic University of America was $20,374 in 2025. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 came to $11,924 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $11,924.

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 many students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at The Catholic University of America.

The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 455 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $44,245.83 in financial help.

Need-based

Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.

There were 1,713 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 1,717. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $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 aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.

1,644 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 444 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $5,083,080 while the state aid is $740. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need 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

The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.

According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at The Catholic University of America was 11:1: that means 11 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 589 faculty members. This number included 319 men and 270 women.

Student Population Diversity Graph

0
100
0
100

Campus Life

It is not all about learning and grades at The Catholic University of America: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at The Catholic University of America.

Its campus is 173 acres in size.

Student Organizations

Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.

The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 100. 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 organizations among the students at The Catholic University of America are Habitat for Humanity and Cardinals for Life.

For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a passion for media and communication? The Catholic University of America publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.

Student Services

The Catholic University of America has a number of services important for a comfortable and secure life on campus.

There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.

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 everything most students need.

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 a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.

Job Placement

Having an understanding of the anticipated earnings after completing your education can be important in evaluating if a certain institution is compatible with your professional goals.

The average annual salary for graduates employed six months after graduation from this institution is 62,117 USD.

$62,117

Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation

FAQ

The Catholic University of America is located in Washington, DC.

The overall full-time tuition per academic year for The Catholic University of America is 58,920 USD, based on the most recent data.

The most recent reported acceptance rate for The Catholic University of America is 82%.

The most recent data indicate that 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

School Website

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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