The Catholic University of America

Washington, DC · SoutheastQuad's selectivityAccessible

Known forDraws students nationallyGenerous aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

Catholic University of America admits about 8 in 10 applicants (83%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 39% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

83%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

6,714

Admitted

5,558

Yield

13%

of admits enroll

Applications +6% since fall 2014 · admit rate 74% → 83%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 3,154 undergrads, where 20% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

3.2K

undergrads · larger than 70% of colleges

Diversity index

0.65

Pell Grant

20%

below the median

First generation

10%

below the median

Large cityNCAA D-III · Landmark ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.57 → 0.65 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (24% of graduates). 11 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 68% of colleges. 53% of faculty are full-time. Spends $22,922 a year on instruction per student.

11 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 68% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $35,573 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $11.3K more than the national median. The 99% who received grants paid $32,705 on average; the other 1% paid the full sticker price of $77,784.

54%

$35.6K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $11.3K above the national median

Full price: $77,784 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: 31% · avg $35K; of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)

Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 54% of full price

Federal loans

48%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −30% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $73,250 ten years after enrolling, more than at 86% of colleges; 75% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.9 years of that salary.

75%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$73.3K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$26K

≈ $276/month for 10 years

Retention

87%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 67% → 79% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 4% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 30%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 6% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 74% to 83%.

Cost
Falling
−30% after inflation
Applications
Steady
+6%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 74% → 83%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.57 → 0.65

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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84% admit · SAT 1270 · 3.2K undergrads

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Palm Beach Atlantic University

82% admit · SAT 1085 · 2.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Southeast

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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott

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Dallas Baptist University

89% admit · SAT 1087 · 2.4K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 131283 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything