The Catholic University of America vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC with Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

The Catholic University of America is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (5,243 students vs. 414 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• The Catholic University of America is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• The Catholic University of America is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Catholic University of America 11:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design are 5.3% lower than at The Catholic University of America ($17,230 vs. $18,200).
• Out-of-state tuition is 81.6% higher at The Catholic University of America than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $26,228 more per year; $58,378 vs. $32,150).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at The Catholic University of America (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Catholic University of America students is 184.6% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students ($42,657 vs. $14,989).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both The Catholic University of America and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.
• Typical fall application deadline: The Catholic University of America Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at The Catholic University of America average a 3.52 high school GPA, 0.39 higher than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (3.13).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at The Catholic University of America vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Catholic University of America graduates have a $894 lower median loan debt than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($26,106 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, The Catholic University of America graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($269 vs. $279).
• More The Catholic University of America graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation (77% vs. 58%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.