Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
The Catholic University of America is a private national university located in Washington, District of Columbia. The Catholic University of America is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at The Catholic University of America is in the top 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $71,804 10 years after enrolling, 4th in District of Columbia, and in the top 10% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, The Catholic University of America bachelor students earn 12% more than the national average. The Catholic University of America is ranked 3rd in District of Columbia.
The Catholic University of America’s median net annual cost of $34,684 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at The Catholic University of America sorted by number of graduates - Poli Sci/Government, Registered Nursing, Psychology, Architecture, Business Administration, Music - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$34,684
Average years to graduate
4.2
Finance
Rank: #97
Economic score: 2.2
Accounting
Rank: #208
Economic score: 2.34
Civil Engineering
Rank: #154
Economic score: 2.46
Marketing
Rank: #124
Economic score: 2.97
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Rank: #71
Economic score: 3.07
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #101
Economic score: 3.56
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #273
Economic score: 3.93
Biology
Rank: #545
Economic score: 16.78
Philosophy
Rank: #67
Economic score: 31.72
History
Rank: #373
Economic score: 35.8
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 3 graduate programs at The Catholic University of America - Theological Studies, Registered Nursing, Drama - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.2 years. 73% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at The Catholic University of America is 7% higher than the state average, and 5% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At The Catholic University of America, Pell Grant recipients represent 11% of the measured graduating class, 24% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at The Catholic University of America graduates within 4.2 years.
The Catholic University of America is in the bottom 5% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
The Catholic University of America’s economic mobility score of 9.25 is calculated by adjusting the 1.57 economic score of lower-income students by the 11% pell grant recipients within the student body. The Catholic University of America’s EMS of 9.25 ranks in the bottom 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 25%
The average Title IV recipient at The Catholic University of America pays $34,684 a year, $34,702 less than the $69,386 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $34,684
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At The Catholic University of America, 96% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $34,684 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 56% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $8,941. This is 2% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,308
Pell grants
$4,802
State grants
$2,152
Institutional grants
$30,925
The Catholic University of America's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 86% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 5,895 applicants, of which 5,070 were admitted and 691 enrolled. The Catholic University of America doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
The Catholic University of America does not consider standardized testing in their admissions process.
Full time
99%
83%
Female
58%
59%
First time
88%
59%
In-state
3%
68%
1st generation
10%
35%
White
68%
52%
Black
4%
14%
Hispanic
15%
15%
Asian
3%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
10%
12%