The Catholic University of America
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · offers Graduate degrees
83%Acceptance rate
$29,561Average net price / year
79%Graduation rate
$73,250Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$26,000Median debt at graduation
3,154Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $58,378
- Total cost of attendance
- $75,481
- Room & board
- $18,200
- Books & supplies
- $1,216
- Average net price
- $29,561
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $17,358
- $30–48k
- $17,895
- $48–75k
- $24,723
- $75–110k
- $28,295
- $110k+
- $37,651
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 82.8%
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 79%
- First-year retention
- 87%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $63,217
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $73,250
- Median debt (graduates)
- $26,000
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 20%
- Students with federal loans
- 48%
Programs: what graduates earn
36 of 171 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 77 | $81,044 | $26,976 |
| Civil Engineering | 15 | $77,501 | $24,625 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 32 | $76,409 | $27,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 15 | $69,915 | $25,725 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 0 | $64,618 | $24,620 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 164 | $57,490 | $25,500 |
| Marketing | 1 | $52,392 | $27,000 |
| Political Science and Government | 64 | $44,617 | $25,000 |
| Architecture | 43 | $44,615 | $26,712 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 23 | $43,259 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | 52 | $24,106 | $26,000 |
| Music | 27 | $23,856 | $23,546 |
| Social Work | 8 | $65,185 | $25,500 |
| History | 21 | $52,980 | $25,000 |
| Sociology | 7 | $42,378 | — |
| Economics | 7 | $91,962 | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 8 | $52,638 | — |
| Philosophy | 30 | $49,378 | $26,759 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 10 | $47,664 | — |
| English Language and Literature, General | 15 | $61,898 | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 21 | $81,519 | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 9 | $54,993 | — |
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 11 | $111,840 | $61,500 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 0 | $75,162 | $34,250 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 29 | $70,993 | — |
| Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | 23 | $55,582 | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 51 | $49,052 | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 0 | $83,282 | — |
Doctoral degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 19 | $133,420 | — |
| Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | 19 | $60,324 | — |
First professional degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 107 | $77,441 | $147,964 |
| Architecture | — | $65,611 | — |
| Library Science and Administration | — | $62,949 | $41,000 |
| Social Work | — | $59,489 | $71,981 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | $98,232 | — |
| Architecture and Related Services, Other | — | $63,609 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 3,154
- Graduate students
- 2,349
- Part-time
- 6%
- Women / men
- 54% / 46%
- White
- 54%
- Hispanic
- 22%
- Black
- 9%
- Asian
- 3%
- International
- 3%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 11:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $101,268 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 53%
- Accreditor
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- Website
- www.catholic.edu
- Also known as
- NA
Most popular fields
- Architecture – 6% of degrees
- Communication & Journalism – 2% of degrees
- Education – 4% of degrees
- Engineering – 8% of degrees
- Biological Sciences – 2% of degrees
- Philosophy & Religious Studies – 6% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at The Catholic University of America?
82.8% of applicants were admitted.
How much does The Catholic University of America cost?
The average net price after grants is $29,561 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $58,378 and the full cost of attendance is $75,481.
How much do The Catholic University of America graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $73,250 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
79% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in Washington
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 11,182 students |
$36,586 | 47% | 84% | $90,873 |
| Howard University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 10,108 students |
$50,539 | 41% | 70% | $63,066 |
| Strayer University-Global Region Washington, DC · Private for-profit · 9,376 students |
$17,833 | — | 14% | $40,092 |
| Georgetown University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 7,569 students |
$40,815 | 13% | 95% | $103,494 |
| American University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 7,266 students |
$41,943 | 62% | 75% | $77,370 |
| University of the District of Columbia Washington, DC · Public · 3,351 students |
$10,648 | — | 33% | $44,236 |
| Trinity Washington University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 1,414 students |
$9,302 | 100% | 49% | $53,804 |
| Gallaudet University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 812 students |
$15,845 | 58% | 47% | $43,101 |
| University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus Washington, DC · Private for-profit · 809 students |
— | — | 33% | $34,961 |
| Bennett Career Institute Washington, DC · Private for-profit · 176 students |
$11,824 | — | 51% | $22,568 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.