Colleges › District of Columbia › The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America says yes to 82.8% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $73,250 median earnings.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
The Catholic University of America sits in Washington proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Roman Catholic affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Accounting and Related Services, where graduates median $114,909 four years out. 20.3% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 3,154 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 86.5% of first-years come back for a second year.
The Catholic University of America won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, The Catholic University of America received 5,874 applications and admitted 4,925 (83.8%), with 861 enrolling.
Leave the SAT prep out of this one — test scores are disregarded entirely. The Catholic University of America's 82.8% admission rate turned on grades and application strength.
How The Catholic University of America compares
| The Catholic University of America | District of Columbia median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 82.8% | 58.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $58,378 | $31,210 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $73,250 | $63,066 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors The Catholic University of America: $73,250 median at year ten, versus $63,066 across District of Columbia institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $58,378 regardless of where you're from. At The Catholic University of America, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 3,154 undergrads, The Catholic University of America is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
79.5% of The Catholic University of America students finish a bachelor's within six years — 24.6 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $58,378 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at The Catholic University of America
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $114,909 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $98,856 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $96,949 |
| Civil Engineering | $93,821 |
| Economics | $91,962 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $90,355 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $87,907 |
| Marketing | $85,029 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $81,519 |
| Political Science and Government | $73,917 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $73,073 |
| Architecture | $69,838 |
| Social Work | $65,185 |
| History | $52,980 |
| Psychology, General | $52,846 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $52,638 |
| Philosophy | $49,378 |
| Music | $46,123 |
Median earnings for these 18 The Catholic University of America programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $73,250 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 35 additional The Catholic University of America programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for The Catholic University of America?
The Catholic University of America doesn't look at test scores; its 82.8% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is The Catholic University of America's acceptance rate?
83.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 4,925 admitted from 5,874 applicants.
How much does The Catholic University of America cost?
At The Catholic University of America, published tuition is $58,378 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is The Catholic University of America's ceiling, not a quote.
What do The Catholic University of America graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $73,250 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in District of Columbia
- American University — 62% admitted
- Gallaudet University — 58.1% admitted
- George Washington University — 47.1% admitted
- Georgetown University — 12.9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.