Catholic University of America vs. PAFA

Should I go to Catholic University of America or Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catholic University of America or PAFA is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Catholic University of America vs. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts comparison
Catholic University of America Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts College 3 College 4
Catholic University of America Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
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Overview

Catholic University of America PAFA
Location Washington, DC Philadelphia, PA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 4,968 172
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cua.edu pafa.org
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catholic University of America PAFA
Tuition (In State) $53,040 $40,500
Tuition (Out of State) $53,040 $40,500
Room & Board $16,670 $17,512
Avg Net Price $36,031 $48,191
Avg Grant Aid $34,449 $16,087
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 80%

Admission

Catholic University of America PAFA
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,801 183
Admitted 4,965 167
Acceptance Rate 85.6% 91.3%
Enrolled % 15.4% 11.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

Catholic University of America PAFA
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 5:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Architecture (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

Outcomes

Catholic University of America PAFA
Graduation Rate 68% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,600 $22,000
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,106 $26,500
Median Loan Payment $269 $274

Diversity

Catholic University of America PAFA
% Men 46% 31%
% Women 54% 69%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 64% 61%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 13% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 5% 6%
% Unknown Race 4% 7%

Students

Catholic University of America PAFA
% In-State 5% 53%
% Out-of-State 87% 42%

Campus

Catholic University of America PAFA
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Catholic University of America is larger than than PAFA based on total student enrollment (4,968 students vs. 172 students)

Catholic University of America vs. PAFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catholic University of America or PAFA?

  • Catholic University of America is 31% more expensive to attend than PAFA for in-state tuition ($53,040.00 vs. $40,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31% higher at Catholic University of America than Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($53,040.00 vs. $40,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Catholic University of America than PAFA ($36,031 vs. $48,191)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catholic University of America are 5.1% lower than costs at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($16,670 vs. $17,512)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catholic University of America than Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (98% vs. 80%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catholic University of America students is 114.1% larger than aid received Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($34,449 vs. $16,087)

Catholic University of America vs. PAFA Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Catholic University of America or PAFA? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PAFA or Catholic University of America .

  • PAFA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Catholic University of America (85.6%)

Catholic University of America vs. PAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catholic University of America or PAFA? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between PAFA and Catholic University of America.

  • The graduation rate at PAFA is higher than Catholic University of America (73% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Catholic University of America earn on average $36,600 more per year than PAFA graduates after ten years. ($58,600 vs. $22,000)
  • Catholic University of America students graduate with a $394 lower median federal student loan debt than PAFA graduates. ($26,106 vs. $26,500)
  • Catholic University of America graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than PAFA graduates. ($269 vs. $274)
  • More Catholic University of America graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PAFA students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/