What is The Catholic University of America?

Updated

The Catholic University of America (catholic.edu) is the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States. It was founded by the U.S. bishops in 1887 and is located in Washington, DC. It describes itself as the only Catholic college founded by the U.S. bishops.

Key facts at a glance

Item Detail
Institution The Catholic University of America
Role National university of the Catholic Church in the U.S.
Founding Established in 1887 by the U.S. bishops
Distinction The only Catholic college founded by the U.S. bishops
Location Washington, DC
Campus size 173 acres
Academic offerings 250+ academic programs, including majors and minors, master's, and doctoral programs

What the university emphasizes

The university presents itself around a few central themes drawn from its own materials:

  • Faith, reason, and service — its Catholic identity is framed as a commitment to Church and nation, with campus ministry and service opportunities available to students.
  • A welcoming community — the chaplain's message states that students are honored and accompanied "regardless of where they may be on their journey of faith."
  • Washington, DC as home — the location is presented as an advantage, with internship opportunities and the surrounding area referred to as "Little Rome."
  • Outcomes — the university reports that 93% of undergraduates are employed, in graduate school, or engaged in service/religious life six months after graduation.

How to learn more or visit

For prospective students, the site offers several entry points:

  • Open House — a special event for prospective students; the site lists November 14 as an Open House date.
  • Campus tours — visitors can pick their own date for a tour of the 173-acre campus.
  • Virtual visit — an option to tour campus virtually.
  • Event calendar — a full listing of upcoming events.

Registration for the Open House and campus tours is handled through the visit pages on catholic.edu.

Who this page is for

This overview suits readers who want a quick, factual identification of catholic.edu — what kind of institution it is, who founded it, where it is, and what it offers academically. If you are considering applying or visiting, the Open House and campus tour pages are the most direct next step; specific admission requirements, tuition, and program details are not covered here and should be checked directly on the university's site.