Rachel Evans
The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Catholic research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is one of two pontifical universities of the Catholic Church in the United States and was founded in 1887 by Catholic bishops. CUA is considered one of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the United States. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is known for its strong academic reputation and prestigious alumni network. With a large campus, diverse student body, and highly ranked academic programs, the university is considered a prestigious institution in American higher education.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of institution | Private Catholic research university |
| Year founded | 1887 |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Campus size | 176 acres |
| Student-faculty ratio | 10:1 |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,139 (fall 2023) |
| Tuition and fees | $58,378 |
| Percentage of first-year students receiving need-based financial aid | 62% |
| Average net price for federal loan recipients | $33,417 |
| Four-year graduation rate | 75% |
| Median salary for graduates six years after graduation | $63,217 |
| Number of research centers and facilities | 21 |
| Number of schools | 12 |
| Number of undergraduate programs | 60+ |
| Number of Pope visits | 3 |
| Notable alumni | Brian Cashman, Jon Voight, Susan Sarandon, Martin O'Malley, Timothy Dolan |
| Rankings | #171 in National Universities, #64 in Best Value Schools, #1 in DC and #4 in the mid-Atlantic region by Military Times for their 2024 Best for Vets: Colleges list |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The Catholic University of America is ranked #171 in National Universities
- It is considered one of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the US
- It is the only US university with an ecclesiastical faculty of canon law
- The Catholic University of America is a private Catholic research university
- The university has been visited by three Popes, the most recent being Pope Francis in 2015
The Catholic University of America is ranked #171 in National Universities
The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Catholic research university in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1887 by Catholic bishops and is one of two pontifical universities of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is the only institution of higher education founded by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
In the 2025 edition of Best Colleges, CUA is ranked #171 in National Universities. It is also ranked #64 in Best Value Schools by US News and World Report. The university has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,139 (as of Fall 2023) and a campus size of 176 acres, making it the largest college campus in the nation's capital. The student-faculty ratio is 10:1, and the university utilizes a semester-based academic calendar.
CUA offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across 12 schools, including the School of Business & Economics, Canon Law, and Architecture. The Columbus School of Law offers a 26-credit Master of Legal Studies Programme. The university also has 21 research centers and facilities and is home to the Catholic University of America Press.
CUA has been recognized for its academic excellence and has been visited by three serving Popes. It has also been ranked highly in specific areas, such as its School of Engineering and the Conway School of Nursing. The university is committed to environmental sustainability and has been recognized as one of the Best Green Colleges in the U.S. by College Consensus.
Annulment: What Non-Catholics Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![reputation[Picture Disc 2 LP]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Pm4vut3tL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
It is considered one of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the US
The Catholic University of America (CUA) is considered one of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the United States. Founded in 1887 by Catholic bishops, CUA is a pontifical institution and the national university of the Catholic faith in the US. It is the only American university to have been visited by three popes: Pope John Paul II in 1979, Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, and Pope Francis in 2015. The university is located in Brookland, Washington, D.C., a district known as "Little Rome" due to its numerous Catholic institutions. CUA's campus spans 176 acres, making it the largest college campus in the nation's capital.
CUA offers a comprehensive education that combines a liberal arts curriculum with a major field of study. The university has 12 schools providing doctoral, master's, and undergraduate degrees in various fields, including architecture, business, economics, and canon law, arts and sciences, engineering, music, nursing, and philosophy. It also has 21 research centers and facilities and is classified as "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
In addition to its academic offerings, CUA fosters an active study abroad program, providing opportunities for students to study at institutions in Berlin, Buenos Aires, and through the British Parliament Internship Programme in London. The university has produced several notable alumni, including New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and actors Jon Voight and Susan Sarandon. CUA has also been recognized for its sustainability initiatives, with its newest building, Opus Hall, being LEED-compliant and the university purchasing 30% of its electricity from green sources.
In terms of rankings, CUA has been recognized by various organizations for its academic programs and value. It was ranked #171 in National Universities and #64 in Best Value Schools by US News and World Report in 2025. The School of Engineering has been consistently ranked among the best in the country, and the Columbus School of Law is also highly regarded, placing within the top 75 law schools in the US. The Conway School of Nursing has also achieved notable rankings, with its online master's program ranked #32 and its undergraduate program ranked #43 in the nation.
Catholics and Catholic Universities: A Mandatory Match?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It is the only US university with an ecclesiastical faculty of canon law
The Catholic University of America is a private Catholic research university in Washington, D.C. It is one of two pontifical universities of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only one that is not primarily a seminary. The Catholic University of America is the only US university with an ecclesiastical faculty of canon law, established by the Holy See in 1923. It is one of the twelve schools at Catholic University of America and one of the three ecclesiastical schools at the university, along with the School of Theology and Religious Studies and the School of Philosophy. The School of Canon Law is located in Washington, D.C., and offers several scheduling options, giving students the flexibility to structure their studies according to their preferences. The school's mission is to support the mind, teaching, and discipline of the Church.
The School of Canon Law offers ecclesiastical, civil, and dual-degree programs. It is the only graduate program in canon law in the United States. The school jointly accepts certain credits from the Juris Doctor program toward the degree requirements for the Licentiate of Canon Law with the Columbus School of Law. As a result, graduates receive two separate degrees: one civil (J.D.) and the other ecclesiastical (J.C.L.). The school also offers the Doctor of Canon Law ecclesiastical degree. The Catholic University was empowered to grant ecclesiastical degrees in canon law by the apostolic letter of Leo XIII Magni nobis gaudii of 7 March 1889. However, it was not until 1923 that a separate faculty of canon law was established by the Holy See.
The School of Canon Law is located in the nation's hub for Catholicism, just steps away from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The school provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience serving in dioceses and cultivate a deeper understanding of the faith. Between 98 and 100 per cent of graduates are employed within three months of graduation, working in dioceses and other Catholic organizations worldwide. In addition to its academic programs, the school hosts lecture series, annual seminars, summer workshops, and other events.
The Catholic University of America is ranked #171 in National Universities and #64 in Best Value Schools as of 2025. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,139 as of fall 2023 and a campus size of 176 acres, making it the largest college campus in the nation's capital. The university offers a flexible academic calendar, a test-blind admissions policy, and need-based financial aid for 62% of first-year students. The four-year graduation rate is 75%, and the median salary for graduates six years after graduation is $63,217.
Catholics and the Pope: Who Listens?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Catholic University of America is a private Catholic research university
The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Catholic research university in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1887 by Catholic bishops and is one of two pontifical universities of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is the only institution of higher education founded by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
CUA is one of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the United States. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programmes across 12 schools, including the School of Business & Economics, Canon Law, and Architecture. The university has a strong focus on research, with 21 research centres and facilities, and it is classified as "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
The Catholic University of America has a beautiful and peaceful campus, spanning 176 acres in the Brookland district of Washington, D.C., also known as "Little Rome" due to its many Catholic institutions. The campus is easily accessible by public transport, with a Metrorail stop nearby, and it offers a variety of academic and extracurricular opportunities for its diverse student body.
CUA is highly ranked by several organisations and publications. In the 2025 edition of Best Colleges, it was ranked #171 in National Universities and #64 in Best Value Schools by US News and World Report. The university's individual schools, such as the School of Engineering and the Conway School of Nursing, have also received top rankings in their respective fields.
The Catholic University of America has a rich history and a strong reputation as a prestigious liberal arts college and research university, offering a well-rounded educational experience to its students.
Exploring the Diverse World of Catholic Nun Orders
You may want to see also
The university has been visited by three Popes, the most recent being Pope Francis in 2015
The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a prestigious private Catholic research university in Washington, D.C. It is one of two pontifical universities of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only one that is not primarily a seminary.
The university was established in 1887 as a graduate and research centre following approval by Pope Leo XIII, who granted permission for its establishment in a letter sent on April 10, 1887. The Pope issued the encyclical 'Magni Nobis' in March 1889, granting the university its charter and establishing its mission as the instruction of Catholicism and human nature at the graduate level.
The CUA has a rich history of papal visits and is the only American university to have been visited by three popes. The first of these visits was by Pope John Paul II on October 7, 1979. Pope Benedict XVI then visited on April 16, 2008, and gave an address about Catholic education and academic freedom. Most recently, Pope Francis visited on September 23, 2015, during his trip to the United States, where he celebrated Mass on the east portico of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
The CUA's campus is located in the Brookland neighbourhood, known as 'Little Rome', which is home to 60 Catholic institutions. The university itself is classified as "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programmes across 12 schools, including the School of Business & Economics, Canon Law, and Architecture. The Columbus School of Law offers a 26-credit Master of Legal Studies Programme, and the university also has environmental sustainability programmes.
The Catholic University of America is highly ranked in various areas. In the 2025 edition of Best Colleges, it is ranked #171 in National Universities and #64 in Best Value Schools. The School of Engineering is included in U.S. News & World Report's lists of Best Engineering Schools, Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs, and Best Graduate Engineering Programs. The Conway School of Nursing's undergraduate program is ranked #43 in the country, placing it in the top six per cent of nursing programs. The university has also been recognised for its green initiatives, being included in the "Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition" by the Princeton Review.
Good Friday Work: Catholic Guidelines
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Catholic University of America (CUA) is considered one of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the United States. It is the only American university to have been visited by three popes and is one of only two universities to have been visited by a pontiff. It is also the only American university with an ecclesiastical faculty of canon law.
CUA is the only comprehensive research university recommended by the Newman Guide, which highlights faithfully Catholic colleges. It is also ranked #64 for Best Value Schools by U.S. News and World Report and ranked #1 in DC and #4 in the mid-Atlantic region by Military Times for their 2024 Best for Vets: Colleges list.
Notable alumni of CUA include New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and actors Jon Voight, Susan Sarandon, and John Slattery. Former Governor of Maryland Martin O'Malley and Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan also attended CUA.
CUA's campus spans 176 acres in Washington, D.C., making it the largest college campus in the nation's capital. It is located in the Brookland district, known as "Little Rome" due to the presence of 60 Catholic institutions. The campus features a Metrorail stop, providing easy access to Washington, D.C., attractions.
