The Catholic University of America
- Graduation Rate
- 80% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $73,250 A
- Top 6% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $29,561 F
- 73% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 83% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.8 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $14.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,627,721.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 80% more than the national college median.
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A 80% graduation rate — 41% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $14.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why The Catholic University of America Matters
The Catholic University of America is a private research university in Washington, DC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 6% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 3,154
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Social Sciences, Engineering
Why students choose The Catholic University of America
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 83% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $29,561 a year after grants and scholarships — 73% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $73,250 ten years after enrolling — 80% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 88% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.81 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Eighty-three percent of applicants are accepted at The Catholic University of America. This high acceptance rate reflects the school’s welcoming approach to students from diverse backgrounds. With an enrollment of 3,154, the university fosters a close-knit campus environment in the heart of Washington, DC.
Graduates from Catholic University earn a median income of $73,250 ten years after graduation, illustrating the potential for upward mobility. While specific data on economic mobility isn't available, the strong graduation rate of 80% suggests that most students successfully complete their degrees, which is a significant factor in long-term financial success.
The net price for attending Catholic University stands at $29,561, with a median debt of $26,000 for graduates. This financial picture is crucial for students weighing their options. Those who thrive here are often engaged in programs like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, and Psychology, which align well with career opportunities in the DC area.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective The Catholic University of America is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into The Catholic University of America? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
The Catholic University of America, located in Washington, District of Columbia, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 83%. The graduation rate is roughly 80%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Retention Rate
- 87%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 53%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,252
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.65
- First-Gen Students
- 10%
- Applicants
- 5,801
- Admitted
- 4,965
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend The Catholic University of America? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at The Catholic University of America is $58,378, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,561. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,358 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $58,378
- Out-of-State
- $58,378
- Avg Net Price
- $29,561
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 20%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 48%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,358
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,895
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $24,723
- Family Income $110K+
- $37,651
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at The Catholic University of America — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is The Catholic University of America Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of The Catholic University of America earn a median of $73,250, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $63,217
- 8 Years
- $70,095
- 10 Years
- $73,250
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.35x
- Earning > $25K
- 81%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (563)
- 68%
- 100% (563)
- 68%
- 100% (563)
- 68%
- 100% (563)
- 68%
How The Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is The Catholic University of America Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, The Catholic University of America delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $29,561/year ($118,244 total). Graduates earn $73,250 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,745,965 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,627,721 (14.8× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 80% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $118,244
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,745,965
- Net Return
- $1,627,721
- ROI Multiple
- 14.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $29,561
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 80%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does The Catholic University of America Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
The Catholic University of America is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.80%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 2.1% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 38.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $133,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.80%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 38.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 2.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $180,700
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields The Catholic University of America awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 29% $69,178 early-career
- Health Professions 13% $82,387 early-career
- Social Sciences 11% $48,083 early-career
- Engineering 8% $84,379 early-career
- Psychology 5% $44,980 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $29,935 early-career
- Education 4% $53,273 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 2% $40,390 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for The Catholic University of America's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into The Catholic University of America? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
The Catholic University of America, located in Washington, District of Columbia, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 83%. The graduation rate is roughly 80%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend The Catholic University of America? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at The Catholic University of America is $58,378, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,561. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,358 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
Is The Catholic University of America Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of The Catholic University of America earn a median of $73,250, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does The Catholic University of America Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
The Catholic University of America is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.80%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 2.1% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 38.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $133,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is The Catholic University of America? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at The Catholic University of America. Its economic connectedness score is 1.81, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to The Catholic University of America.
- Molloy UniversityRockville Centre, NY · Close peer71% grad $77,789 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of ScrantonScranton, PA · Close peer80% grad $74,652 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of PortlandPortland, OR · Close peer80% grad $82,804 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Close peer68% grad $77,449 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Assumption UniversityWorcester, MA · Close peer75% grad $74,895 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of St ThomasSaint Paul, MN · Close peer76% grad $73,739 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is The Catholic University of America? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at The Catholic University of America. Its economic connectedness score is 1.81, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note