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The Catholic University of America

Washington, District of Columbia · Private nonprofit · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$29,561What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
83%
Graduation rate
80%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
3,154
In-state tuition
$58,378Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$58,378
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$73,250Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$29,561

Better than 21% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

80%

Better than 88% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$73,250

Better than 85% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$26,000

Better than 28% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$75,481

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$29,561

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for The Catholic University of America
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time80%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return87%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$26,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$73,250

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at The Catholic University of America by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$81,04477
Civil Engineering$77,50115
Mechanical Engineering$76,40932
Accounting and Related Services$69,91515
Finance and Financial Management Services$64,618Not reported
Business Administration, Management and Operations$57,490164
Marketing$52,3921
Political Science and Government$44,61764
Architecture$44,61543
Communication and Media Studies$43,25923
Psychology, General$24,10652
Music$23,85627
PhilosophyNot reported30
HistoryNot reported21
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringNot reported21
Business/Commerce, GeneralNot reported18
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported15
Biology, GeneralNot reported15
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringNot reported12
CriminologyNot reported11
Computer ScienceNot reported10
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsNot reported10
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported9
Social WorkNot reported8
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported8
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported8
SociologyNot reported7
EconomicsNot reported7
PhysicsNot reported6
MathematicsNot reported5
Education, GeneralNot reported4
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported3
Applied MathematicsNot reported2
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported2
AnthropologyNot reported2
ChemistryNot reported2
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported2
Environmental Control Technologies/TechniciansNot reported1
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported1
Computer EngineeringNot reported1
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported1
ArcheologyNot reported1
Medieval and Renaissance StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Materials SciencesNot reportedNot reported
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
International BusinessNot reportedNot reported
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported
Social Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsNot reportedNot reported
Area StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Management Information Systems and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Human Resources Management and ServicesNot reportedNot reported

All 53 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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