Catholic University of America vs. Smith College

Should I go to Catholic University of America or Smith College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catholic University of America or Smith College 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. Smith College comparison
Catholic University of America Smith College College 3 College 4
Catholic University of America Smith College
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Overview

Catholic University of America Smith College
Location Washington, DC Northampton, MA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,968 2,873
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #68
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cua.edu smith.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catholic University of America Smith College
Tuition (In State) $53,040 $58,480
Tuition (Out of State) $53,040 $58,480
Room & Board $16,670 $20,340
Avg Net Price $36,031 $30,790
Avg Grant Aid $34,449 $49,109
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 64%

Admission

Catholic University of America Smith College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,801 7,269
Admitted 4,965 1,662
Acceptance Rate 85.6% 22.9%
Enrolled % 15.4% 37.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 4.0
Typical High School Grades B+ A/A+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 31/34
SAT Range 1370/1520
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Catholic University of America Smith College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Architecture (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Social Sciences (22%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)

Outcomes

Catholic University of America Smith College
Graduation Rate 68% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,600 $48,900
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,106 $19,000
Median Loan Payment $269 $196

Diversity

Catholic University of America Smith College
% Men 46% 2%
% Women 54% 98%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 64% 45%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 13% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 5% 14%
% Unknown Race 4% 8%

Students

Catholic University of America Smith College
% In-State 5% 11%
% Out-of-State 87% 76%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Catholic University of America is larger than than Smith College based on total student enrollment (4,968 students vs. 2,873 students)

Catholic University of America vs. Smith College Cost Comparison

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

  • Smith College is 10.3% more expensive to attend than Catholic University of America for in-state tuition ($58,480.00 vs. $53,040.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.3% higher at Smith College than Catholic University of America ($58,480.00 vs. $53,040.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Smith College than Catholic University of America ($30,790 vs. $36,031)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catholic University of America are 22% lower than costs at Smith College ($16,670 vs. $20,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catholic University of America than Smith College (98% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Smith College students is 42.6% larger than aid received Catholic University of America ($49,109 vs. $34,449)

Catholic University of America vs. Smith College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Smith College students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Catholic University of America (3.52)
  • Catholic University of America has a higher acceptance rate (85.6%) than Smith College (22.9%)

Catholic University of America vs. Smith College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catholic University of America or Smith College? 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 Smith College and Catholic University of America.

  • The graduation rate at Smith College is higher than Catholic University of America (85% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Catholic University of America earn on average $9,700 more per year than Smith College graduates after ten years. ($58,600 vs. $48,900)
  • Smith College students graduate with a $7,106 lower median federal student loan debt than Catholic University of America graduates. ($19,000 vs. $26,106)
  • Smith College graduates are paying $73 less per month on federal student loans than Catholic University of America graduates. ($196 vs. $269)
  • More Smith College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catholic University of America students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 77%)

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