The Catholic University of America
620 Michigan Avenue, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20064
Admission Dept.:
(202) 319-5305 or
(800) 673-2772
FAX: (202) 319-6533
http://www.cua.edu
ENROLLMENT
Undergraduates:
Full-time:
2,103
Part-time:
277
Graduate School:
3,594
FRESHMAN ADMISSION
PROFILE
Number who applied:
2,500
Number accepted:
2,100
Number enrolled:
N/A
Average SAT scores:
V 550-660 M 520-640
Average ACT score:
24-28
Average GPA:
3.3
Freshman retention rate:
85%
2006-2007 COSTS:
Tuition:
$25,050
Room and Board:
$9,870
Fees, books, misc.:
$1,200 (approx.)
FINANCIAL AID:
Freshmen receiving aid:
82%
Average financial aid package:
$12,112
FACULTY:
Full-time:
370
Part-time:
299
Ph.D. (or prof. degree):
97%
Student-faculty ratio:
10:1
IN ADDITION
Catholic University has its own university press. Among the journals it publishes is Anthropological Quarterly and The Catholic Historical Review. Among other works published or edited on campus are Review of Religious Research, Law and Policy, New Catholic Encyclopedia and The Journal of Chinese Philosophy.
Catholic University hosts a number of research centers and facilities. Among them are the Center for Advanced Training in Cell and Molecular Biology, Center for Irish Studies, Institute for Communications Law Studies and Institute for Social Justice.
Seven U.S. presidents have visited Catholic University, including Grover Cleveland, Calvin Coolidge and Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1906 President Theodore Roosevelt surprised students with his spontaneous arrival on horseback. He came to see the famous statue of Pope Leo XIII that stands in McMahon Hall and holds a revered place in university history.
Most popular majors in the School of Arts and Sciences: Politics, Business and Economics, Communication Studies, Biology
The Catholic University of America
Washington, D.C.
An overview reveals the broad expanse of the Catholic University campus and the varied architectural style of its more than 50 buildings.
College Description
The Catholic University of America, situated on 144 landscaped acres in Washington, D.C., offers the beauty of a traditional, medium-size college campus, the resources of a major research university and the excitement of the nation's capital. Founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops in 1887, Catholic University is the national university of the Catholic Church. It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and is a founding member of the Association of American Universities. The university emphasizes Catholic values and intellectual development and welcomes students from all religious traditions. • Students from every state and more than 100 countries come to Catholic University to pursue higher education and to take advantage of the resources of the Washington, D.C., area.
Academic Life
At Catholic University you will discover a dynamic center of scholarship. Undergraduate students can select from more than 60 majors and programs offered by six of the university's 10 schools: Arts and Sciences, Architecture and Planning, Engineering, Music, Nursing and Philosophy. Undergraduates are taught by leading scholars and professionals, most of whom hold doctoral degrees or the highest professional degrees and teach graduate classes. Our low faculty-student ratio means students get individual attention and a quality education. • The University Honors Program is available to motivated students of outstanding academic promise. This interdisciplinary program develops skills in critical thinking and provides a solid foundation in the classical liberal arts. • Catholic University offers internships for undergraduates that introduce students to the professional world, inform them about career choices and offer valuable credentials. Students work in congressional offices, executive agencies, professional associations, research institutes, lobbying groups, cultural institutions and media organizations. Overseas programs include internships with the British and Irish parliaments. Other study abroad opportunities are available in Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Poland and China. A campus career center helps students find internships and part-time and summer employment and helps prepare them for job searches. The center also helps students undecided about their majors to make choices.
Majors Offered
Accounting, american politics, anthropology, applied experimental psychology, arabic, architecture, art history, art/painting, art/painting/secondary education, art/sculpture, art/sculpture/secondary education, biblical studies, biochemistry, biology, biology/secondary education, biomedical engineering, business, byzantine history, byzantine studies, canon law, catholic education leadership, cell/microbiology, chemical physics, chemistry, chemistry/secondary education, church history, civil engineering, classical civilization, classics, classics/greek/latin, clinical lab science, clinical psychology, communication studies, comparative literature, computer science, congressional studies, coptic, drama, drama/secondary education, early childhood education, early christian studies, economics, education administration, education psychology, education studies, electrical engineering, elementary education, engineering, engineering management, english, english/secondary education, financial management, french, french/secondary education, general studies, german, german/secondary education, greek/latin, hebrew, history, history/secondary education, human development, human factors, human resource management, human resources management, instrumental conducting, international affairs, international economics/financial management, international political economics, irish studies, italian, latin, latin/classical humanities, latin/secondary education, law, learning/instruction, library science, liturgical music, liturgical studies, management, mathematics, mathematics/secondary education, mechanical engineering, medical technology, medieval studies, medieval/byzantine studies, music, music composition, music education, music education/kodaly method, music history, music history/literature, music performance, music theory, musical theatre, nursing, orchestral instruments, organ, philosophy, philosophy/honors, philosophy/pre-law, physics, piano, piano pedagogy, political theory, politics, psychology, religion/religious education, rhetoric, romance languages/literatures, school counseling, secondary education, social work, sociology, spanish, spanish for international service, spanish/secondary education, syriac, theology, vocal pedagogy, voice, world politics
Campus Life
Freshmen live in one of 15 campus residences. Following their first year at Catholic University, students may reserve a room in the residence hall of their choice. Campus housing is guaranteed for all four years. Two dining halls and the campus Rathskeller provide dining accommodations for undergraduates. Snacks are available at The Loft, a campus convenience store in the University Center, and from vending machines in residence halls and other campus locations. • Through the Campus Ministry Office, students can develop a deeper spiritual life and get involved in community service projects such as tutoring elementary school children, assisting the homeless and visiting the elderly. Mass is offered daily in the university chapel, or students can worship at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception next to campus. Faith-sharing and reflection groups meet weekly in some residence halls. • Educational, cultural and social opportunities abound at Catholic University, with its more than 100 campus clubs and organizations.
Facilities and Resources
Catholic University's central library and six specialized libraries contain more than 1.3 million volumes and serials. Students also have access to the collections of other area university libraries through the Washington Research Library Consortium. • Computer labs in several locations throughout campus are available seven days a week to facilitate research and writing. For convenience, student rooms in the residential halls are wired to provide students with a direct link to the campus local area network and a high-speed connection to the Internet. • The Department of Public Safety works to ensure a safe campus environment by providing around-the-clock, seven-day-a-week patrol services. Uniformed patrol officers are available to escort students on campus after dark, and a campus bus operates between 4 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Fixed security posts include a kiosk next to the Brookland-CUA Metro stop. • Convenient transportation is the key to getting around the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The light rail Metro stop on the edge of campus brings the resources and excitement of the nation's capital within easy reach.
Athletics/Sports
Catholic University's academic mission complements the university's athletics program, which sponsors 21 men's and women's NCAA Division III varsity teams. Many students also participate in club sports, such as crew and rugby, or leisure sports, such as aerobics and dancing. • Students can play their sports at the 40-acre Raymond A. DuFour Center, which features a 2,000-seat basketball arena, six-lane, 25-yard natatorium, weight training room, fitness center, five racquetball/handball courts, saunas and more. A 3,500-seat outdoor stadium, outdoor track, six tennis courts and ample playing and practice fields support the football, baseball, softball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer and tennis teams. • Catholic University has produced numerous All-Americans, national and conference champions and scholar-athletes.
Financial Aid
Catholic University tuition is the second lowest among the major Washington, D.C.-based private universities. The financial aid office works with families to ensure that the student's years here are rewarding as well as affordable through offering a variety of need-based and merit-based programs. Scholarship assistance, need-based grants, parent and student loans, a 10-payment plan or a combination are available. University-funded undergraduate financial assistance is restricted to U.S. citizens or noncitizens eligible for federal Title IV programs.
Admission Requirements
Catholic University welcomes applications from qualified men and women of character and intelligence regardless of race, creed, age, ethnic background or disability. Candidates are expected to have undertaken the most challenging secondary school curriculum possible. Special consideration is given to students enrolled in advanced placement and honors classes. • All candidates are required to take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) or the ACT Assessment. These tests should be taken no later than January of the senior year to allow time for the results to reach Catholic University by early February. A student's school record, program type, class rank and other subjective evaluations carry significant weight in the admissions decision. An interview is not required as part of the selection process, but one can be arranged upon request. • Although applications are accepted on a rolling basis, an Early Action Scholarship Program is available. This program enables outstanding students, who are considering Catholic University as their first choice, to learn of their admission and possible scholarship early in their senior year of high school.