10-yr median earnings
$73,250
Federal aid recipients only
Private Nonprofit · Washington, District of Columbia
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private nonprofit institution in Washington, District of Columbia. as a private nonprofit, published Scorecard outcomes cover federal-aid recipients at this campus — endowment and sticker price sit outside those cohort fields.
- $73,250
- 10-yr median earnings
- 82.8%
- Acceptance rate
- $29,561
- Avg net price / yr
- 80.4%
- 150%-time completion
The verdict
The Catholic University of America pairs top-10% former-student earnings with open admission.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
- Top 6%
- former-student earnings, US
- 82.8%
- acceptance rate
- 80.4%
- 150%-time completion
- +16%
- earnings, 6→10 yrs
City: Large
Carnegie: R2
Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.
How to read this The Catholic University of America profile
Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.
Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.
Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.
College Value Score
C+
College Value Score
62/100
The Catholic University of America
A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.
Earnings A+
$73,250
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price F
$29,561
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate A
80.4%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$26,000
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment A+
83.3%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention B+
86.5%
First-year students returning for year two
Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.
Avg net price
$29,561
After grants and scholarships
150%-time completion
80.4%
Full-time, first-time cohort
150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 80.4%
Four-year-institution cohort
College ROI Quadrant - The Catholic University of America vs peers
Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.
How The Catholic University of America ranks nationally
Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.
The Catholic University of America: former-student earnings vs. every US college
10-year median earnings, College Scorecard
$73,250 Top 6% higher than 94% of 5,103 US colleges
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
| Metric | The Catholic University of America | National rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $73,250 | #303 of 5103 | 94th |
| Average net price | $29,561 | #4446 of 5020 | 11th (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 80.4% | #694 of 4858 | 86th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,154 | #1052 of 5462 | 81st |
National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.
Quick Facts
3,154
Undergraduate enrollment
82.8%
Acceptance rate
-
SAT average
80.4%
150%-time completion
$73,250
10-yr median earnings
86.5%
First-year retention
How The Catholic University of America ranks in District of Columbia
State rank among 17 reporting District of Columbia colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.
| Metric | The Catholic University of America | State rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $73,250 | #4 of 17 | 76th |
| Average net price | $29,561 | #8 of 13 | 38th (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 80.4% | #4 of 15 | 73rd |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,154 | #7 of 19 | 63rd |
Highest former-student earnings in District of Columbia
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University | $103,494 | $40,815 |
| 2 | George Washington University | $90,873 | $36,586 |
| 3 | American University | $77,370 | $41,943 |
| 4 | The Catholic University of AmericaThis school | $73,250 | $29,561 |
| 5 | Howard University | $63,066 | $50,539 |
| 6 | Arizona State University - Washington D.C. | $62,668 | - |
| 7 | The Chicago School at Washington DC | $56,899 | - |
| 8 | Trinity Washington University | $53,804 | $9,302 |
| 9 | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas | $46,441 | $27,320 |
| 10 | University of the District of Columbia | $44,236 | $10,648 |
| 11 | Gallaudet University | $43,101 | $15,845 |
| 12 | ECPI University-Manassas | $42,837 | - |
Admissions
| Admission Rate | 82.8% |
Costs & Financial Aid
Net price by family income at The Catholic University of America
Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket
- $0 – $30k
$0 – $30k
$17,358 net price / yr
- $30k – $48k
$30k – $48k
$17,895 net price / yr
- $48k – $75k
$48k – $75k
$24,723 net price / yr
- $110k+
$110k+
$37,651 net price / yr
What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at The Catholic University of America - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.
Tuition & Net Price
| In-State Tuition | $58,378 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $58,378 |
| Average Net Price | $29,561 |
20.3%
Pell Grant Rate
47.8%
Federal Loan Rate
$26,000
Median Debt
$276/mo
Monthly Payment
Net price at The Catholic University of America swings rather than trends
Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $32,731 to $35,188 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as -3.8%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.
Lowest year
$32,731
Highest year
$35,188
Most recent (2023)
$32,798
11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
2013 · $34,0862023 · $32,798
Over the same years, enrollment went -15.9% (3,641 → 3,063 students).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.
Student Demographics
Race & ethnicity
Student body at a glance
58.0%
Female
10.1%
First Generation
Outcomes
86.5%
Retention Rate
$63,217
Median Earnings (6yr)
80.7%
Earning Over $25K
83.3%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)
Outcomes & debt snapshot
| Measure | Cohort / horizon | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of normal time | First-time, full-time | 80.4% |
| First-year retention | First-time, full-time freshmen | 86.5% |
| Median earnings | 6 years after entry | $63,217 |
| Median earnings | 10 years after entry | $73,250 |
| Share earning over $25,000 | Working, not enrolled | 80.7% |
| Loan repayment rate | Completers, 3 years after leaving | 83.3% |
| Median federal student debt | At completion | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly payment | Standard 10-year plan | $276/mo |
Programs & Earnings
Field-of-study summary by credential
| Credential | Programs | Award count | Avg earnings | Top earnings | Avg debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 25 | 744 | $76,516 | $114,909 | $25,798 |
| Master's | 7 | 134 | $84,316 | $114,102 | $47,875 |
| First Professional | 6 | 113 | $89,561 | $112,809 | $86,982 |
| Doctoral | 3 | 30 | $82,608 | $82,608 | - |
Top programs at The Catholic University of America by completer earnings
Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file
- Accounting and Related Ser…
Accounting and Related Services
$114,909 median earnings
- Registered Nursing, Nursin…
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
$114,102 median earnings
- Law
Law
$112,809 median earnings
- Business Administration, M…
Business Administration, Management and Operations
$111,378 median earnings
- Business/Commerce, General
Business/Commerce, General
$103,834 median earnings
- Finance and Financial Mana…
Finance and Financial Management Services
$98,856 median earnings
- Registered Nursing, Nursin…
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
$96,949 median earnings
- Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering
$93,821 median earnings
What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.
| Program | Credential | Completers | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's | 23 | $114,909 | $25,725 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Master's | 14 | $114,102 | $61,500 |
| Law | First Professional | 113 | $112,809 | $147,964 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | First Professional | - | $111,378 | - |
| Business/Commerce, General | Master's | 0 | $103,834 | $34,250 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's | 4 | $98,856 | $24,620 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's | 66 | $96,949 | $26,976 |
| Civil Engineering | Bachelor's | 19 | $93,821 | $24,625 |
| Economics | Bachelor's | 29 | $91,962 | - |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's | 40 | $90,355 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's | 135 | $87,907 | $25,500 |
| Marketing | Bachelor's | 6 | $85,029 | $27,000 |
| Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | Doctoral | 20 | $82,608 | - |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | Bachelor's | 14 | $81,519 | - |
| Architecture | First Professional | - | $78,902 | - |
Nearby Schools
Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family
Washington, DC
Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies
Washington, DC
Bennett Career Institute
Washington, DC
176 students
Trinity Washington University
Washington, DC
1,414 students
Gallaudet University
Washington, DC
812 students
Explore Data-Matched Colleges
Independent Scorecard matches among reporting colleges — not recommendations from the institution or a counselor.
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Other Private Nonprofit institutions closest in reported enrollment, preferring the same Carnegie classification.
Similar Reported Net Price
Other Private Nonprofit institutions with the nearest reported average net price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at The Catholic University of America? ▼
The Catholic University of America is a private nonprofit institution in Washington, District of Columbia. The acceptance rate is 82.8%. Undergraduate enrollment is 3,154 students.
How much do The Catholic University of America former students earn? ▼
Federally aided former students at The Catholic University of America who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $73,250 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $63,217.
How much does The Catholic University of America cost? ▼
The average net price at The Catholic University of America is $29,561. In-state tuition is $58,378 and out-of-state tuition is $58,378. Median student debt at graduation is $26,000.
What is the graduation rate at The Catholic University of America? ▼
The Catholic University of America has a 80.4% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 86.5%.
Is The Catholic University of America worth the student debt? ▼
The median student debt at The Catholic University of America is $26,000, while former students earn a median of $73,250 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 35% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 83.3% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $276.
Sources & methodology
Private-nonprofit profiles emphasize Scorecard cost-after-aid and completion alongside IPEDS Carnegie class. Endowment, gifts, and sticker price are not Scorecard fields on this page.
Figures are the Mar–Jul 2026 federal retrievals. Nonprofit campuses vary widely in aid practice — net price here is the Title-IV-recipient cohort average, not an individual award letter. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.
- College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education - former-student earnings, cost & completion (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics - enrollment, admissions, Carnegie class & demographics (nces.ed.gov/ipeds).
- U.S. Treasury / IRS earnings linkage - median earnings 6 & 10 years after enrollment for federal-aid recipients (irs.gov).
- College Scorecard, Field of Study - program-level (credential) earnings & debt (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- Federal Student Aid (Title IV / NSLDS) - U.S. Department of Education - net price, student debt & aid-recipient repayment outcomes (studentaid.gov).
Where to go next from The Catholic University of America
- Compare The Catholic University of America against schools with similar outcomes at a lower average net price.Find similar schools that cost less
- Browse every reporting college in District of Columbia side by side.Browse District of Columbia
- See how fields of study differ on former-student earnings and debt.Explore programs
Nonprofit Scorecard medians describe federal-aid recipients who were working and not enrolled — they are not sticker-price ROI and not advice.
Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Private-nonprofit profiles compile Scorecard net-price and earnings cohorts with IPEDS structure fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.