Back to Colleges
The Catholic University of America
Washington, DC 3,063 Undergrads 73.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$73,198
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$32,798
After Aid
Median Earnings
$73,250
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$32,798
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$73,250
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate73.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients14.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.2%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
83.8%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$617k
+$220k
+$133k
Median Cost$33k/yr
+$499k
+$102k
+$15k
Full Cost$73k/yr
+$354k
-$43k
-$131k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
∞
Median Cost$33k/yr
56
12%
Full Cost$73k/yr
Never
-50%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-2%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-65%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,725
Earnings (5yr)
$97,224
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$26,712
Earnings (5yr)
$68,607
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$98,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$79,779
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$24,625
Earnings (5yr)
$103,238
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,420
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,898
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$24,620
Earnings (5yr)
$100,395
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,090
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$78,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$92,376
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,546
Earnings (5yr)
$46,478
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$26,759
Earnings (5yr)
$62,337
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,999
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$26,976
Earnings (5yr)
$94,074
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$69,749
Lifetime Value Added
-$980
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,324
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Master's Degrees
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$34,250
Earnings (2yr)
$54,035
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$111,261
Lifetime Value Added
+$476k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$117,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$527k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,661
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Theology and Religious Vocations, Other
MastCIP: 3999
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Doctoral Degrees
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Theology and Religious Vocations, Other
DocCIP: 3999
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$84,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Professional Degrees
Architecture and Related Services, Other
ProfCIP: 0499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,689
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Architecture
ProfCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
ProfCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$119,164
Lifetime Value Added
+$317k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$147,964
Earnings (5yr)
$118,594
Lifetime Value Added
+$313k
Library Science and Administration
ProfCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,400
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Social Work
ProfCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$71,981
Earnings (5yr)
$75,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$712
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.