The Catholic University of America

What is the accreditation of The Catholic University of America?

The Catholic University of America holds institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation or approval of a particular degree program.

Several professional fields also have discipline-specific oversight. For example, applicants can check accreditation or approval relevant to nursing, law, architecture, engineering, or social work at the individual program level. The exact degree matters: an accreditor's recognition of one program does not automatically extend to every program in the same school.

Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid, but individual students must still meet aid rules. It may also matter when another college evaluates transfer credit. Neither institutional nor programmatic accreditation guarantees that credits will transfer or that a graduate will qualify for a professional license; state licensing boards and receiving institutions make those determinations under their own rules.

What are the admission requirements at The Catholic University of America?

First-year admission is selective rather than open. Applicants generally submit an undergraduate application, a secondary-school record, and recommendations; academic preparation and grades are part of the review.

Reported admissions requirements include completion of a college-preparatory program and a high school credential or equivalent. Class rank may be considered when available but is not required. SAT and ACT scores are not required under the reported testing policy: among enrolled first-time students, 12% submitted SAT scores and 3% submitted ACT scores. Applicants should check the policy for their intended entry term before deciding whether to submit scores.

In the reported admissions cycle, the university admitted 5,558 of 6,714 first-year applicants, or about 83%; 742 enrolled. That rate describes a past applicant pool, not an individual applicant's likelihood of admission. International applicants may need to document English proficiency, including through TOEFL or another method accepted for their applicant category. Architecture, performing-arts, nursing, and other specialized paths may have additional requirements. Application rounds, deadlines, essays, and any program-specific materials should be checked against the current undergraduate admissions instructions before submission.

What are the application fees and waivers at The Catholic University of America?

Applicants should check the fee displayed for their application method and entry term before submitting a Catholic University application. An application fee, if charged, is separate from an enrollment deposit and from tuition.

Students who cannot reasonably pay a fee can review the application's fee-waiver options and the undergraduate admissions office's waiver instructions. The Common Application includes a need-based fee-waiver request process, but applicants should confirm how Catholic University handles a request made through that platform. A waiver request is best resolved before submission, since paying a fee first may not lead to reimbursement. Graduate and professional schools can use different applications and fee policies from undergraduate admission.

What types of ROTC programs are available at The Catholic University of America?

Catholic University students may pursue Army, Air Force, or Navy ROTC through cooperating institutions rather than assuming that each branch operates a unit on the Catholic University campus.

Cross-enrollment typically requires coordinating an ROTC schedule with Catholic University classes and meeting the host unit's participation standards. The branch and host program determine matters such as physical and medical qualifications, scholarship applications, training, and any eventual service obligation. Participation in ROTC is not the same as receiving a scholarship, and a student considering a commission should confirm the current host arrangement and degree-planning requirements with the relevant unit before enrolling.

What are the requirements for transfer students at The Catholic University of America?

Catholic University accepts transfer applicants and generally considers credit earned at other accredited institutions. Transfer entry is reported for fall, spring, and summer, but admission and credit acceptance are separate decisions.

Applicants should expect to provide official transcripts from every college attended and to follow the current transfer application instructions for any high school records or additional materials required in their circumstances. The university must evaluate completed courses for applicability to a specific degree: a course can be accepted for credit without satisfying a major requirement. Studio, clinical, sequenced, and other specialized courses may warrant particular attention.

Before committing, transfer applicants should request an official credit evaluation and compare it with the remaining degree requirements, including any minimum credits that must be completed at Catholic University. Published deadlines, GPA expectations, and program-specific entry rules should be confirmed for the intended term. The reported incoming class included 74 degree- or certificate-seeking transfer students, a figure that describes one enrollment period rather than a limit on transfer admission.

What types of study abroad programs are available at The Catholic University of America?

Catholic University offers international study opportunities, including study in Rome and options arranged through approved programs. The available destinations, terms, and formats depend on the student's degree and the current program roster.

A semester abroad, a shorter faculty-led experience, and a partner program may differ substantially in course selection, tuition arrangements, housing, and academic oversight. Students should obtain approval for courses before departure, especially when a required sequence or professional accreditation limits scheduling flexibility. Study-abroad advising can also clarify passport and visa timing, accessibility needs, and how institutional, federal, or outside aid applies to a particular program. Participation in an outside provider's program should not be assumed to carry the same credit or aid treatment as a university-operated program.