Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Washington, District of Columbia
83.8% Acceptance Rate
The Catholic University of America — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
83.8%Acceptance Rate
3.52Avg GPA
$73,198Annual Cost
$73,250Grad Salary
16.7%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
83.8%
Avg GPA
3.52
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Need-Based Aid
16.7% receive Pell
The Catholic University of America is a national research university in Washington, D.C., and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops. Known for its proximity to the nation's capital and its commitment to the harmony of faith and reason, it offers a transformative education that prepares students for leadership in Church and society.
The Catholic University of America Acceptance Rate
Admission at The Catholic University of America is inclusive by design: 83.8% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 83.8% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.52 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.32 – 3.51
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.07
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
The Catholic University of America Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark November 1 for The Catholic University of America (Early Action — other plans are listed below), with decisions typically out by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 95 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Regular Decision
January 15
Decision by: March 15
Regular Decision
January 15
Decision by: March 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
The Catholic University of America GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at The Catholic University of America is 3.52. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.22 and 3.52? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.72–3.92.The Catholic University of America GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map — where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.52 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.32 – 3.51
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.12 – 3.31
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.11
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No separate supplemental essay required beyond the Common App personal statement - one of the few Catholic/DC-area schools with no added "why us" essay.
- Test-optional policy (not test-blind, despite some third-party sites still listing it that way) applies to general admission, but scores factor into Honors Program and merit scholarship review.
- ED I / ED II denials are final at CUA with no deferral to Regular Decision - a structural difference from most peer schools.
- CUA earned R1 (highest) research classification in 2025; Conway School of Nursing and the 5-year School of Architecture and Planning are reviewed separately, with architecture applicants encouraged to submit a design portfolio though it isn't uniformly mandatory at the undergraduate level.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself — a 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average — the trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at The Catholic University of America
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from The Catholic University of America's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
The Catholic University of America Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at The Catholic University of America — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into The Catholic University of America Without SAT or ACT?
The Catholic University of America neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average — otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for The Catholic University of America
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
The Catholic University of America is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Make the Common App essay do double duty - there's no "Why CUA" supplement
CUA requires only the standard Common App personal essay, with no separate supplemental essay for most applicants. Since there's no dedicated space to explain program or mission fit, applicants should choose a Common App prompt and angle that lets them naturally reference a specific CUA program (Politics, Nursing, Architecture, Theology) or the university's Catholic intellectual tradition - generic "I want to study in DC" essays read as interchangeable with every other capital-city school in the pool.
Submit scores even though admission is test-optional
CUA returned to a test-optional policy for general admission after several years fully test-blind, but scores are still considered for the University Honors Program and merit scholarships. A student with an SAT around 1100+ or ACT around 23+ should submit - it's evaluated in these secondary reviews even when general admission doesn't require it.
Book Rome School of Performing Arts auditions early
Applicants to the Rome School of Performing Arts must complete a live audition as part of the application. This is a hard structural requirement that GPA and essays cannot substitute for - audition slots should be booked well ahead of the Nov 1 (ED I) or Feb 1 (RD) deadlines, since popular slots fill first.
Treat Early Decision as irreversible - CUA does not defer denials
CUA offers binding ED I (Nov 1) and ED II (Jan 15), and explicitly does not defer ED denials into the Regular Decision pool - a denial is final. Unlike many peer Catholic universities that auto-defer unsuccessful ED applicants, CUA applicants should only use ED if they are genuinely certain, since there is no second look.
Expert Insight:
Applicants often treat CUA's Catholic identity as background color rather than something admissions actually reads for - the university explicitly evaluates mission fit and how a student's interests connect to its identity as the national university of the Catholic Church. Essays that ignore this and focus purely on DC location or program prestige read as generic rather than fitted to the school.
The Catholic University of America Profile
Full Name
The Catholic University of America
City
Washington
State
District of Columbia
ZIP Code
20064
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a The Catholic University of America Degree Worth It?
At $73,198/year against a $73,250 median graduate salary, The Catholic University of America is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $85,200, and graduates see a 2.97% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from The Catholic University of America Cost?
Listed tuition runs $73,198/year at The Catholic University of America; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At The Catholic University of America, 16.7% receive a Pell Grant and 48.5% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming The Catholic University of America on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a The Catholic University of America Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, The Catholic University of America graduates report a median income of $73,250, about 80% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at The Catholic University of America
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About The Catholic University of America Admissions
The Catholic University of America graduates earn a moderate median salary of $73,250/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at The Catholic University of America runs high — roughly $73,198+/year — so financial aid planning matters.
16.7% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average — The Catholic University of America skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
The Catholic University of America's acceptance rate is 83.8%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted The Catholic University of America students is 3.52, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.22 puts you in the standard applicant pool at The Catholic University of America. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.12 or below makes admission tougher at The Catholic University of America, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
The Catholic University of America's deadline is November 1 (Early Action), with decisions out by December 15.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before November 1, 2026 — that's The Catholic University of America's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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