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 table 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.

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

Which college is more expensive, The Catholic University of America or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than The Catholic University of America ($28,826 vs. $32,705).
• 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).
• The Catholic University of America is 81.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $26,228 more per year; $58,378.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• 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; $58,378.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• 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).

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

Which college is harder to get into, The Catholic University of America or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and The Catholic University of America.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: The Catholic University of America - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: The Catholic University of America Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman The Catholic University of America students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (3.13).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than The Catholic University of America (82.8%).
• 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.

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

How do outcomes compare for The Catholic University of America and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• The Catholic University of America's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's (52%).
• Graduates from The Catholic University of America earn a median of about $29,900 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,600 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• 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 https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.