The Catholic University of America Acceptance Rate
Washington, District of Columbia · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 5,874
- Admitted
- 4,925
- Yield
- 17.5%
- Test policy
- Test-blind
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, The Catholic University of America's acceptance rate has risen from 73.9% in 2014–15 to 83.8% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 6,363 to 5,874 (-8%) over that period.
Its 83.8% rate makes The Catholic University of America more selective than about 34% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 6 tracked District of Columbia schools, it is more selective than about 17%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (86.4% for women vs 80.8% for men, a 5.6-point gap). The Catholic University of America has been test-blind (scores not considered) since 2015–16. Of admitted students, 17.5% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 6,363 | 4,703 | 73.9% | 832 |
| 2015–16 | 5,991 | 4,707 | 78.6% | 908 |
| 2016–17 | 5,926 | 4,714 | 79.5% | 723 |
| 2017–18 | 6,073 | 5,015 | 82.6% | 831 |
| 2018–19 | 6,096 | 5,101 | 83.7% | 834 |
| 2019–20 | 5,668 | 4,838 | 85.4% | 818 |
| 2020–21 | 6,258 | 5,146 | 82.2% | 630 |
| 2021–22 | 5,895 | 5,070 | 86% | 691 |
| 2022–23 | 5,801 | 4,965 | 85.6% | 765 |
| 2023–24 | 5,874 | 4,925 | 83.8% | 861 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 3,195 | 2,761 | 86.4% |
| Men | 2,679 | 2,164 | 80.8% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-blind (not considered).
How The Catholic University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is The Catholic University of America's acceptance rate?
The Catholic University of America's acceptance rate is 83.8% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (4,925 admitted of 5,874 applicants).
Is The Catholic University of America test optional?
The Catholic University of America is test-blind: SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission.
How many people apply to The Catholic University of America?
The Catholic University of America received 5,874 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 4,925.
Is The Catholic University of America getting harder to get into?
The Catholic University of America has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 73.9% in 2014–15 to 83.8% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.catholic.edu/.