Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Loyola University Maryland Saint Joseph's University AU Fairfield University Gettysburg College University of Scranton George Washington UMUC SHU Trinity College Penn State York Ithaca College| Catholic University of America | Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Catholic University of America | PAFA | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Philadelphia, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,968 | 172 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cua.edu | pafa.org | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Catholic University of America | PAFA | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,040 | $40,500 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,040 | $40,500 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,670 | $17,512 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $36,031 | $48,191 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $34,449 | $16,087 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 80% |
Admission |
Catholic University of America | PAFA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,801 | 183 | ||
| Admitted | 4,965 | 167 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.6% | 91.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.4% | 11.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.52 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2025 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Catholic University of America | PAFA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 5:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Catholic University of America | PAFA | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 73% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $58,600 | $22,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 77% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,106 | $26,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $269 | $274 |
Diversity |
Catholic University of America | PAFA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 31% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 69% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 64% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 13% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 6% | ||
| % International | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 7% |
Students |
Catholic University of America | PAFA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 5% | 53% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 87% | 42% | ||
Campus |
Catholic University of America | PAFA | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Catholic University of America is larger than than PAFA based on total student enrollment (4,968 students vs. 172 students)
Catholic University of America vs. PAFA Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Catholic University of America or PAFA?
- Catholic University of America is 31% more expensive to attend than PAFA for in-state tuition ($53,040.00 vs. $40,500.00)
- Out of state tuition is 31% higher at Catholic University of America than Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($53,040.00 vs. $40,500.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Catholic University of America than PAFA ($36,031 vs. $48,191)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catholic University of America are 5.1% lower than costs at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($16,670 vs. $17,512)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Catholic University of America than Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (98% vs. 80%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Catholic University of America students is 114.1% larger than aid received Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($34,449 vs. $16,087)
Catholic University of America vs. PAFA Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Catholic University of America or PAFA? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PAFA or Catholic University of America .
- PAFA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Catholic University of America (85.6%)
Catholic University of America vs. PAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Catholic University of America or PAFA? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between PAFA and Catholic University of America.
- The graduation rate at PAFA is higher than Catholic University of America (73% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from Catholic University of America earn on average $36,600 more per year than PAFA graduates after ten years. ($58,600 vs. $22,000)
- Catholic University of America students graduate with a $394 lower median federal student loan debt than PAFA graduates. ($26,106 vs. $26,500)
- Catholic University of America graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than PAFA graduates. ($269 vs. $274)
- More Catholic University of America graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PAFA students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/