Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America
MottoDeus Lux Mea Est (Latin)
TypePrivate research university
EstablishedApril 10, 1887; 139 years ago (1887-04-10)
AccreditationMSCHE
Religious affiliation
Catholic Church
Academic affiliations
Endowment$390.9 million (2025)
ChancellorRobert W. McElroy
PresidentPeter Kilpatrick
ProvostAaron Dominguez
Academic staff
455 full-time and 328 part-time (spring 2022)
Students5,366 (Spring 2022)
Undergraduates3,055
Postgraduates2,311
Location
Washington, D.C.
,
United States

38°56′01″N 76°59′55″W / 38.93361°N 76.99861°W / 38.93361; -76.99861
CampusUrban, 176 acres (71 ha)
NewspaperThe Tower
ColorsGold & White (academic)
   
Red & Black (athletics)
         
NicknameCardinals
Sporting affiliations
MascotCardinal
Websitecatholic.edu

The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Catholic research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is one of two pontifical universities of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is the only one that is not mainly a seminary and the only institution of higher education founded by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

It was created in 1887 as a graduate and research center after it was approved by Pope Leo XIII.

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. and Canadian 2025 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2025 Endowment Market Value" (XLSX). National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "College Navigator – The Catholic University of America". nces.ed.gov. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2022.