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Compare The Catholic University of America vs Howard University

Washington, DC · Washington, DC

The Catholic University of AmericaHoward University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$29,561/yr$50,539/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$17,358/yr$46,051/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$26,000$24,500
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$17,895/yr$47,477/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$24,723/yr$50,245/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$28,295/yr$52,981/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$37,651/yr$54,270/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$276/mo$260/mo
Room & board (on campus)$18,200/yr$17,322/yr
Room & board (off campus)$18,200/yr$24,334/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,216/yr$1,360/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$3,502/yr$3,540/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$75,481/yr$54,630/yr
Tuition (in-state)$58,378/yr$35,810/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$58,378/yr$35,810/yr
Students with Pell Grants20%40%
Students taking federal loans48%59%
Getting in
Students who get accepted83%41%
SAT range (middle 50%)No data reported1090–1320
SAT averageNo data reported1213
ACT range (middle 50%)No data reported22–28
ACT sections (middle 50%)No data reportedEnglish 21–29 · Math 18–26
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received5,87430,342
Students accepted4,92510,587
Students who enrolled8612,268
Accepted students who enroll17%21%
Enrolled who sent SAT scoresNo data reported27%
Enrolled who sent ACT scoresNo data reported10%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersRequiredRequired
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programRequiredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate79%70%
Freshmen who come back87%91%
Typical earnings 10 years in$73,250/yr$63,066/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$47,330–$101,075$34,222–$92,903
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)76%68%
White students graduating82%65%
Black students graduating55%70%
Hispanic students graduating78%62%
Asian students graduating76%88%
Typical earnings 6 years in$63,217/yr$47,379/yr
Earn more than a HS grad83%76%
Graduate on time73%60%
Pell students who graduate68%66%
First-gen students who finish63%52%
Low-income students who finish58%50%
Students who transfer outNo data reported19%
Typical earnings 8 years in$70,095/yr$54,819/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 29% · Health Professions 13% · Social Sciences 11%Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Health Professions 13% · Communication & Journalism 12%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 29% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees
2nd most popular programHealth Professions — 13% of degreesHealth Professions — 13% of degrees
3rd most popular programSocial Sciences — 11% of degreesCommunication & Journalism — 12% of degrees
4th most popular programEngineering — 8% of degreesSocial Sciences — 11% of degrees
5th most popular programPhilosophy & Religious Studies — 6% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $133,420/yrBusiness Administration, Management and Operations — $105,240/yr
Degrees in STEM13%21%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment3,15410,108
Students per professor11 : 113 : 1
Graduate students2,0663,371
Average professor pay$11,252/mo$11,580/mo
Full-time professors53%64%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byMiddle States Commission on Higher EducationMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Median family income$114,619$40,386
SettingCity (large)City (large)
LocationWashington, DCWashington, DC
RegionMid EastMid East
Founded18871867
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: High Research ActivityDoctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students2.9%4.5%
Men46%27%
Women54%73%
White students54%0.2%
Black students8.7%77%
Hispanic or Latino students22%6.9%
Asian students3.3%1.5%
Two or more races5%5.4%
Other / not reported4.3%4.9%
Special typeReligiously affiliatedHBCU
First-generation students10%24%
Part-time students5.8%2.3%
Students age 25+7.3%1.7%
Spent on teaching per student$22,922/yr$14,944/yr
Endowment$382.6M$1.0B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing1,9886,051
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$9,780/yr$10,570/yr
Meal plan charge$7,590/yr$5,904/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by week19 meals/week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Religious affiliationRoman CatholicNo data reported
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoYes
ROTCYes — Army, Navy, Air ForceYes — Army, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineNoNo
Weekend & evening classesYesNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesNo
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division III with footballNCAA Division I-FCS
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams2117
Student athletes673465
Athletic scholarships$0$9.8M
Athletics budget$6.1M$20.7M
Athletics revenue$6.1M$26.3M
Recruiting spend$79,463$68,618

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.