The Catholic University of America (CUA)
The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private, faith-affiliated research university in Washington, D.C., founded in 1887 and formally opened in 1889 with a papal charter. It is the national university of the Catholic Church in the U.S. and is one of only two pontifical universities in the country; the only one not primarily a seminary.
CUA has 12 schools (colleges) and over 40 research centers and institutes. It offers a broad liberal-arts education, professional degrees, and research programs, combining rigorous scholarship with its Catholic mission. It is classified as an R1: Very High Research Activity institution, per Carnegie classification.
The university’s identity is deeply rooted in Catholic intellectual tradition, which informs its curriculum, campus life, and mission.

