The Catholic University of America
Private nonprofit four-year university in Washington, DC that costs an average of $32,543 a year after financial aid, admits 83% of applicants and graduates 76% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$32,543
Acceptance rate
83%
Graduation rate
76%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$81,308
Private nonprofitLarge city3,154 undergraduates
Cost of The Catholic University of America
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $77,564 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $60,414 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $19,030 |
| Books and supplies | $1,248 |
| Average net price after aid | $32,543 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $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 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with The Catholic University of America's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 83% |
|---|---|
| Test scores | Neither required nor recommended |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 76% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 87% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $70,086 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $81,308 |
| Rank in District of Columbia (earnings) | 4th of 9 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $25,469 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $289 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 26% |
| Students with federal loans | 48% |
Majors and programs at The Catholic University of America
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (54)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 156 | $87,466 | $26,755 |
| Civil Engineering | 27 | $76,799 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 47 | $74,262 | $27,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 25 | $73,095 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 290 | $70,441 | $25,000 |
| Marketing | 1 | $70,046 | — |
| Economics | 13 | $67,423 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | $66,279 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 38 | $59,810 | $26,000 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | — | $59,262 | $25,000 |
| Psychology | 116 | $49,511 | $25,804 |
| Political Science and Government | 94 | $49,259 | $23,250 |
| Biology | 29 | $44,532 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 19 | $44,154 | — |
| Music | 54 | $27,163 | $27,000 |
| Anthropology | 4 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 2 | — | — |
| Archeology | 1 | — | — |
| Architecture | 85 | — | — |
| Area Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 5 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 33 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | 21 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 8 | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 2 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 25 | — | — |
| Criminology | 24 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 8 | — | — |
| Education | 7 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 16 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 22 | — | — |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | 1 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 18 | — | — |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | — | — |
| History | 43 | — | $24,949 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | — | — |
| International Business | — | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 6 | — | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services | — | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 18 | — | — |
| Materials Sciences | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | 10 | — | — |
| Medieval and Renaissance Studies | — | — | — |
| Philosophy | 50 | — | $23,000 |
| Physics | 7 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 23 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 12 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | — | — | — |
| Social Work | 13 | — | — |
| Sociology | 17 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 3 | — | — |
Certificate programs (14)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 1 | — | — |
| Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 1 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | 20 | — | — |
| Legal Support Services | 1 | — | — |
| Library Science and Administration | 2 | — | — |
| Materials Sciences | — | — | — |
| Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other | — | — | — |
| Social Work | 1 | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (5)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1 | — | — |
| Human Services | — | — | — |
| Legal Support Services | 4 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 1 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (58)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 23 | $106,867 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 46 | $75,601 | — |
| Business/Commerce | — | $69,245 | $20,500 |
| Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | 64 | $60,116 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Anthropology | — | — | — |
| Architecture | 46 | — | — |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Biology | 1 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 17 | — | — |
| Biotechnology | 3 | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | — | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 24 | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 3 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | 22 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | — | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 15 | — | — |
| Economics | 12 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 15 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 20 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 3 | — | — |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Fire Protection | 1 | — | — |
| History | 4 | — | — |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 2 | — | — |
| Human Services | — | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 13 | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | — | — | — |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 16 | — | — |
| Library Science and Administration | 52 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | — | — | — |
| Materials Sciences | 4 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 1 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 11 | — | — |
| Medieval and Renaissance Studies | 3 | — | — |
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 4 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 1 | — | — |
| Music | 17 | — | — |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | — | — | — |
| Philosophy | 18 | — | — |
| Physics | 14 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 13 | — | — |
| Psychology | 48 | — | — |
| Public Health | 6 | — | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | 6 | — | — |
| Religious Education | 8 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | — | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Social Work | 124 | — | — |
| Sociology | 2 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 11 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 2 | — | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 91 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (31)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | 34 | $73,421 | — |
| Anthropology | — | — | — |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | 5 | — | — |
| Biology | 5 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 8 | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 4 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 3 | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 2 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 10 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 2 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 3 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 4 | — | — |
| History | — | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 5 | — | — |
| Medieval and Renaissance Studies | — | — | — |
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 4 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 1 | — | — |
| Music | 18 | — | — |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | — | — | — |
| Philosophy | 10 | — | — |
| Physics | 10 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 5 | — | — |
| Psychology | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 28 | — | — |
| Religious Education | 2 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 3 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Social Work | 7 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | — | — | — |
Professional degree programs (9)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 235 | $83,745 | $131,353 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | — | $71,500 | $41,000 |
| Social Work | — | $62,805 | $57,254 |
| Library Science and Administration | — | $58,621 | $28,837 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | — | — | — |
| Music | — | — | — |
| Psychology | — | — | — |
| Public Health | — | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (9)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering | — | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 2 | — | — |
| Education | 1 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 1 | — | — |
| Library Science and Administration | — | — | — |
| Medieval and Renaissance Studies | — | — | — |
| Music | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 4 | — | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 11 | — | — |
Similar colleges in District of Columbia
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Washington University | Washington | $12,820 | 100% | $57,561 |
| American University | Washington | $41,302 | 62% | $85,458 |
| Georgetown University | Washington | $33,661 | 13% | $110,516 |
| Howard University | Washington | $33,002 | 41% | $69,682 |
| George Washington University | Washington | $35,760 | 47% | $96,691 |
| Gallaudet University | Washington | $27,398 | 58% | $49,334 |
| NewU University | Washington | — | — | — |
About The Catholic University of America
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Washington, DC |
| Setting | Large city |
| Undergraduates | 3,154 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 11 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Website | catholic.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is The Catholic University of America's acceptance rate?
The Catholic University of America admits 83% of applicants.
How much does The Catholic University of America cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $77,564 a year (tuition and fees: $60,414). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $32,543 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $27,245.
How much do The Catholic University of America graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $81,308 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 4th of 9 similar colleges in District of Columbia. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($87,466 a year after graduation).
What is The Catholic University of America's graduation rate?
76% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 87% of first-year students return for a second year.