Getting in
For Fall 2024, 6,714 first-year students applied to Catholic University, 5,558 were admitted and 742 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 82.8%.
Source: IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2024, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab), first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By school or major. Catholic University publishes no first-year acceptance rate by school or major, and its Common Data Set is behind a university login, so the federal IPEDS count above is the one public first-year figure.
Source: IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2024, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early plans. Catholic University offers Early Action and two binding Early Decision rounds. With no public Common Data Set, it publishes no count of early applicants or admits, so there is no early acceptance rate.
Source: Catholic University Undergraduate Admission, First-Year Application Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Programs with extra requirements
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
Every first-year applicant sends the Common Application. Two areas ask for more:
- Rome School of Performing Arts. Admission needs both acceptance to the university and, for most programs, a successful audition. You submit audition materials through the Acceptd portal, where each program lists its own requirements; the two steps can be done in either order.
Source: Catholic University, Rome School of Performing Arts, Admission (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
- Engineering, Physics, and Computing; Nursing; physical sciences. These recommend extra science and math in high school: math through pre-calculus and at least three laboratory sciences.
Source: Catholic University Undergraduate Admission, First-Year Application Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Source: Catholic University Undergraduate Admission, First-Year Application Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Majors
65 majors across 10 schools. Every bachelor's degree major in Catholic University's 2026-2027 Undergraduate Announcements, grouped by the school that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Minors, certificates and graduate programs are left out.
School of Architecture and Allied Arts5
- Architecture (B.S.Arch.)
- Architecture and Civil Engineering (B.S.Arch. and B.C.E.)
- Architectural Studies (B.A.)
- Art & Design (B.A.)
- Art History (B.A.)
Source: Catholic University 2026-2027 Undergraduate Announcements, Bachelor Degree Programs (linked from Academic Announcements) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Arts and Sciences26
- Anthropology (B.A.)
- Archaeology (B.A.)
- Biochemistry (B.S.)
- Biology (B.A.)
- Biology (B.S.)
- Chemistry (B.S.)
- Classical Studies (B.A.)
- Criminology (B.A.)
- Education Studies (B.A.)
- Elementary Education (B.A.)
- English (B.A.)
- Environmental Chemistry (B.S.)
- Global Studies (B.A.)
- History (B.A.)
- Mathematical Finance (B.S.)
- Mathematics (B.A.)
- Mathematics (B.S.)
- Mathematics and Physics (B.S.)
- Mathematics and Secondary Education (B.S.)
- Media and Communication Studies (B.A.)
- Medieval and Byzantine Studies (B.A.)
- Politics (B.A.)
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (B.S.)
- Psychology (B.A.)
- Sociology (B.A.)
- Spanish for International Service (B.A.)
Source: Catholic University 2026-2027 Undergraduate Announcements, Bachelor Degree Programs (linked from Academic Announcements) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Rome School of Performing Arts (College of Arts and Sciences)6
- Acting for Theatre, Film, and Television (B.F.A.)Extra requirement: Most Rome School programs also require a successful audition.
- Drama (B.A.)Extra requirement: Most Rome School programs also require a successful audition.
- Music (B.A.)Extra requirement: Most Rome School programs also require a successful audition.
- Music (B.M.)Extra requirement: Most Rome School programs also require a successful audition.
- Musical Theatre (B.F.A.)Extra requirement: Most Rome School programs also require a successful audition.
- Music and Business Administration (B.A. and B.S.B.A.)
Source: Catholic University 2026-2027 Undergraduate Announcements, Bachelor Degree Programs (linked from Academic Announcements) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
The Tim and Steph Busch School of Business5
- Accounting (B.S.)
- Business Administration (B.S.B.A.)
- Economics (B.A.)
- Economics (B.S.)
- International Economics and Finance (B.S.)
Source: Catholic University 2026-2027 Undergraduate Announcements, Bachelor Degree Programs (linked from Academic Announcements) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Engineering, Physics, and Computing10
- Artificial Intelligence (B.S.)
- Biomedical Engineering (B.B.E.)
- Civil Engineering (B.C.E.)
- Computer Science (B.S.C.S.)
- Electrical Engineering (B.E.E.)
- Electrical and Computer Engineering (B.E.C.E.)
- Environmental Engineering (B.S.)
- Mechanical Engineering (B.M.E.)
- Physics (B.A.)
- Physics (B.S.)
Source: Catholic University 2026-2027 Undergraduate Announcements, Bachelor Degree Programs (linked from Academic Announcements) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Conway School of Nursing1
- Nursing (B.S.N.)
Source: Catholic University 2026-2027 Undergraduate Announcements, Bachelor Degree Programs (linked from Academic Announcements) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Philosophy5
- Philosophy (B.A.)
- Philosophy (Ph.B.)
- Philosophy Pre-Law (B.A.)
- Philosophy, Scholar's Program (B.A.)
- Philosophy Pre-Law, Scholar's Program (B.A.)
Source: Catholic University 2026-2027 Undergraduate Announcements, Bachelor Degree Programs (linked from Academic Announcements) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
National Catholic School of Social Service1
- Social Work (B.S.W.)
Source: Catholic University 2026-2027 Undergraduate Announcements, Bachelor Degree Programs (linked from Academic Announcements) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Theology and Religious Studies1
- Theology and Religious Studies (B.A.)
Source: Catholic University 2026-2027 Undergraduate Announcements, Bachelor Degree Programs (linked from Academic Announcements) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Professional Studies5
- Business (B.A.Mgt.)
- Cybersecurity (B.S.)
- Human Services Administration (B.A.)
- Information Technology (B.A.I.T.)
- Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A.I.S.)
Source: Catholic University 2026-2027 Undergraduate Announcements, Bachelor Degree Programs (linked from Academic Announcements) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Source: Catholic University, Rome School of Performing Arts, Admission (opens in a new tab), for the extra requirements. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Action | November 1 | By January 1 | No |
| Early Decision I | November 1 | By January 1 | Yes |
| Early Decision II | February 1 | not published | Yes |
| Regular Decision | February 1 | March 20 | No |
The Common Application opens August 1, and Catholic University charges no application fee. Its dates list gives March 20 for Regular Decision notification, while its Regular Decision description says the first week of March. It does not publish an Early Decision II notification date. Early Action and Regular Decision admits reply by May 1.
Source: Catholic University Undergraduate Admission, First-Year Application Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early Decision I and II are binding. You, a parent or guardian and your school counselor sign an Early Decision Agreement; if admitted, you withdraw every other application and pay the non-refundable enrollment deposit by January 15 for Early Decision I or March 16 for Early Decision II. Early Action is not binding.
Source: Catholic University Undergraduate Admission, First-Year Application Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
Catholic University does not require the SAT or ACT for admission, the University Honors Program or merit scholarships. If you send scores, they are considered as one part of a holistic review; if you do not, you are at no disadvantage. The policy covers home-schooled and international applicants too. It still requires first-year students to submit SAT or ACT scores after they enroll, as part of its academic assessments.
Source: Catholic University Undergraduate Admission, First-Year Application Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked Catholic University's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: Catholic University Undergraduate Admission, First-Year Application Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at Catholic University, 2026-2027:
| Tuition | $60,500 |
|---|---|
| Fees | $1,774 |
| Housing | $12,160 |
| Food | $8,780 |
| Books, supplies and licensure | $1,286 |
| Transportation | $1,068 |
| Personal expenses | $2,634 |
| Estimated loan fees | $1,284 |
| Total | $89,486 |
Catholic University's estimate for a dependent undergraduate living on or off campus. Tuition for Architecture and Engineering students is $61,240.
Source: Catholic University, Tuition and Fees (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $17,358 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $17,895 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $24,723 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $28,295 |
| Over $110,000 | $37,651 |
| All incomes | $29,561 |
What first-year, full-time students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from Catholic University's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to The Catholic University of America on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
American UniversityWashington, DC · Private65.6% admitted$41,943 average net price
Mercer UniversityMacon, GA · Private68.9% admitted$23,847 average net price
Gonzaga UniversitySpokane, WA · Private79.6% admitted$35,119 average net price
University of St. Thomas, MinnesotaSt. Paul, MN · Private85.4% admitted$29,155 average net price
Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh, PA · Private86.4% admitted$37,730 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.