About Catholic University of America

Founded in 1887, Catholic University of America. is a Private college. Located in District of Columbia, which is a city setting in District of Columbia, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 3,241 full time undergraduate students, and 2,835 full time graduate students.

The Catholic University of America Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 7:1. There are 413 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Catholic University of America include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate79%
Application Deadline
Application Fee55
SAT Range
ACT Range

Admissions at CUA are considered Less Selective, with ,26% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 12 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

0% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 0% were in the top quarter, and 0% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Catholic University of America.

0%
“We”re apathetic”
5%
“We know about current events and vote”
84%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
11%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
5%
“We save it for the classroom”
11%
“Sometimes, but not often”
74%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
11%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
11%
“I only go out in groups”
37%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
53%
“I feel extremely safe”
20%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
80%
“We bought the gear”
0%
“We live for the big game”
5%
“It”s not really our thing”
32%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
63%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
0%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
5%
“Available in class”
42%
“They keep regular office hours”
53%
“They”re always available”
37%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
63%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
21%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
53%
“We only party on weekends”
26%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
5%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
47%
“There might be people who do”
47%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

Catholic University of America REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    94 Students rated on-campus housing 3.2 stars. 6 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    74 Students rated off-campus housing 2.9 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    98 Students rated campus food 2.3 stars. 5 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    97 Students rated campus facilities 3.6 stars. 15 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    97 Students rated class size 4.4 stars. 52 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    97 Students rated school activities 3.6 stars. 27 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    99 Students rated local services 3.8 stars. 34 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    98 Students rated academics 3.4 stars. 26 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Catholic University of America?

17 Students rated Catholic University of America

Francesca

The Catholic University of America is such a joyful community and plenty of opportunities to get involved. The academics are stellar and the professors are highly educated and qualified in their respective fields. On the flip side, housing and meal plans are outrageously expensive, and the immediate neighborhood is not safe (though the campus itself is very safe).

Magdalena

An awesome place to go to school! A ton of opportunities to do whatever interests you, there's always something to do. Classes are great, and there are a ton of options.

Jenny

While there are lots of masses here every weekend. CUA definitely is not short on parties

Anna

I am primarily here for the music program. The music faculty are incredible, and active in the music world. They provide students with countless opportunities for growth and improvement, including free master classes, scholarship nominations, invitations to perform in venues like embassies and the Kennedy Center. I chose the school because of its strong music program, but have not been disappointed with the academics, specifically in philosophy. The professors are creative, knowledgeable, and experts in their fields (many of them have published research and studies), yet they are always available for student meetings and office hours. The small class sizes allow students to build relationships not only with their peers, but to develop rapport with professors that helps lay the foundation for getting wonderful recommendations, internships, and even job opportunities. Additionally, the city of DC is an excellent location for students, with endless events and opportunities available.

Catholic University of America FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Catholic University of America?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Catholic University of America is 79%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    I feel that one of the most important things in finding a college is making sure you like the dorm rooms. I don't think students always realize how much time they will be spending in their dorm room but it is really important to like where your living. It is also important to like the food, and keep in mind that often times schools make "special" food on designated visiting days because they want to impress the prospective student's and the families, what I would suggest is just go on a random day for a tour and try the food then. Also, the campus has to be the right size and type for the person. Whether its a huge campus, medium or small, or if its an urban campus spread throughout the city, it is important to visit each school first hand to see if you really like the campus or not.

    Read all  104 answers
  3. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    the fact that i am required to take philosophy classes

    Read all  27 answers
  4. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish that I had known how much tuition increases each year. It's approximately 5{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}, which is difficult for me. I also wish that I had known that one's scholarship award can not increase because of good grades, and that very little scholarships are available through the university.

    Read all  23 answers
  5. Describe the students at your school.

    My classmates are a passionate group of people who dedicate their time to the different organizations on campus to help better serve the student population and also give back to the community around us while pursuing their academic goals.

    Read all  21 answers
  6. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    Outside my window I view the majestic Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic Church in the United States and live on the largest college campus, 193 acres, in Washington, D.C. Examine the heart of the nation?s capital politically, socially, educationally, culturally and professionally by reading books or traveling the metrorail, a stop across from campus, learning about the rich culture and history of America. Our fortuity to visit the many memorials, monuments, Capitol Hill, Library of Congress, Union Station is such a privilege and unique opportunity all less than 10 minutes away.

    Read all  19 answers
  7. What kind of person should attend this school?

    Anyone who wants to get a good education, especially those who want to work hard for it. People who are friendly and caring. Catholic students devoted to their faith or interested in learning more about their faith.

    Read all  18 answers
  8. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    having to walk uphill to get everywhere

    Read all  16 answers
  9. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    My school is obviously best know for it's faith; as THE Catholic University of America, most of our students are Roman Catholic but a small percentage are Jewish, Muslim, and other religions. Many Catholic students find themselves at home and well-accepted at CUA but students of other Christian denominations and religions also have plenty in common with the majority of the student body. Academically, we have very strong Architecture, Nursing, Engineering, and Music programs.

    Read all  14 answers
  10. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    Someone who should not attend this school is someone who wants a very large school with a very constant spirited and busy environment. This school is pretty small and very career focused. There are not really the average sororities and fraternities here like a larger state universities. It is in the Washington D.C. area so if a person does not like the city this is not where to be. Also this is Division III so for an athlete it may depend on what they're looking for on the athletic collegiate level.

    Read all  14 answers
  11. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Catholic University was the perfect school for me because of the small class size, the friendliness of the people, the beauty of the campus, the accessibility to downtown D.C., the drama department, and the lifelong friendships that I made there.

    Read all  13 answers
  12. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    My school has innovative, intelligent professors in my field of study. My school is also located in a fascinating and historical city, where there are limitless fun things to explore and engage in! My school also has strong research internships and job placement options simply due to its location alone!

    Read all  13 answers
  13. What's unique about your campus?

    Its location. The city of Washington D.C. has a lot to offer and I can always find something new to do!

    Read all  13 answers
  14. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    I could not say enough about my experiences at CUA. Coming from suburban NJ to a big city like DC had me thinking that I would be overwhelmed and that I would have a lot of growing to do in a few short months. Luckily, CUA provided my parents and I with a very smooth transition. Being that our school brings people from all over the country, it was easy to bond with new friends over our experiences of leaving our comfort zone. Academic wise, the course load is challenging, but the professors are always available for assistance and guidence. As a Senior, I wish my time did not have to come to an end so quickly because I feel like there are so many more classes that I want to take and experiences that I want to take away. I will miss the lunches/dinners in the Pryz, the organizations I belong to, and my relationships with faculty, staff, and administration here on campus. The only thing I would change would be the available parking spots for students, even though you don't even really need a car.

    Read all  7 answers
  15. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    Its true... there are many religious students at Catholic University and the school does require each student to take a certain number of theology and philosophy classes. Yet, with a large religious population comes a somewhat healthy party scene. You just have to know that there are some hyper-religious haters who give you a dirty look on your walk of shame.

    Read all  7 answers
  16. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    CUA is known for its students that are active in the community, whether it be supporting a local political candidate on campaign trips, feeding the homeless, tutoring in the schools, playing sports, or preforming a play or musical. The campus comes together for major holidays and events. Homecoming (HoCo) each year, is very popular for current students and alumni. It is a week of celebration, that ends at the Saturday football game. Our sporting events are popular, especially when you know the athletes that are playing, which is unique to our school. Many other places, the athletes are unattainable, here they are the people in your classes or the people that live in your dorm. On the weekends, many students go downtown for various reasons. Being that DC is a college town, there is never a shortage of things to do. There are many organizations on campus that plan events that are alternates to drinking. Friday Nights with the House and Saturdays with Residence/Housing/RA's, include events that take people downtown and bring people/activies to campus too. There is also Program Board, that is an organization on campus that plans events for both the individual classes and the university as a whole. If a person wanted to go out however, there are many places in DC that are historically cool places for CUA students to go. Many of which are 18 to enter 21 to drink, which balances the community and does not exclude those underage. The people and activities at CUA are traditional but also vary as well.

    Read all  6 answers
  17. What are the academics like at your school?

    The course load at CUA is very tough but the ability to meet with professors helps make it much more bareable. The class sizes are small, even in the bigger majors, which allows students and faculty to be on personal levels. You will never feel like another face in the crowd, or a small fish in a big pond. All the students at CUA work very hard and want to be involved both on and off campus in organizations, internships, and jobs that have to do with their major. Not only do we learn about the things we will need in our chosen profession, but we learn how to be professional and responsible. The school works hard to ensure that we are not only being good students, but good citizens and catholics as well. Even though the work is tough, it is easy to be involved on campus in either organizations or athletics. You have the true college experience of work and play.

    Read all  6 answers
  18. What are your classes like?

    i LOVE my classes this semester! I really appreciate the liberal arts education I am receiving. This semester, I take French, Math, Social Research Methods, Contemporary Moral Issues, and the Sociology of Crime. All are very interesting classes with a manageable course load. My teachers are very helpful as well!

    Read all  2 answers
  19. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    Lots of rich dumb white kids

    Read all  1 answers
  20. What do students complain about most?

    Students at Catholic complain most often about the food. I'll be honest- the food isn't the greatest quality. But you just have to make the best of it and make smart decisions. I know many people who get sic of the food and waste their money eating out all of the time. Although the food may not be the best, you need to switch up what you get once in a while. Instead of fries with every meal, try a salad. Rather than wait for a cheeseburger, try the wrap of the day. Trying new things does a wonder!

    Read all  1 answers
  21. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    pretty much

    Read all  1 answers

Student Body

Students

55%

female

45%

male

3,241

Total Undergrad Enrollment

2,835

Total Grad Students

97%

Out-Of-State

2%

In-State

1%

International

Organizations

89

Student Organizations

1

Fraternities

2

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

31%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
4%
% Black or African-American
5%
% Hispanic/Latino
13%
% White or Caucasian
65%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

95% of students attending Catholic University of America receive some sort of financial aid. 14% were awarded federal grants. While 58% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$42,536

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$838

Books and Supplies

$13,820

Room and Board

57,194

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$32,066
$30 - $48K
$29,900
$48 - $75K
$32,876
$75 - $110K
$32,454
$110K & UP
$36,729

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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