10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$12,934at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
The Catholic University of America
⌖ Washington, DC · 28 reportable field-and-credential outcomes
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$12,934 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
10.5 yrsModeled economic break-even
−4%Modeled 10-year ROI
$73,531Observed earnings · year 5
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
Cost, completion and earnings context
$29,561Average net price / year
$75,481Cost of attendance
$73,531Median earnings · year 5 after completion
79.5%Completion rate
82.8%Admission rate
3,154Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
EARNINGS PATH
Reported earnings over time
$58,049Year 1
$79,320Year 4
$73,531Year 5
Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.
The college average is not the whole story.
Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.
1Accounting and Related Services · Bachelor's Degree$114,9092Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree$114,1023Law · First Professional Degree$112,8094Business Administration, Management and Operations · First Professional Degree$111,3785Business/Commerce, General · Master's Degree$103,8346Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's Degree$98,8567Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Bachelor's Degree$96,9498Civil Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$93,821Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding
Comparable colleges in DC
Currently operating private nonprofit institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.
Washington, DC
American University
- Annual net price
- $41,943
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $72,598
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -21%
George Washington University
- Annual net price
- $36,586
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $91,442
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- +42%
Howard University
- Annual net price
- $50,539
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $64,373
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -49%
Trinity Washington University
- Annual net price
- $9,302
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $62,913
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -18%
Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes
| Federal field | Credential | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $114,909 | $25,725 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Master's Degree | $114,102 | Not available |
| Law | First Professional Degree | $112,809 | Not available |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | First Professional Degree | $111,378 | Not available |
| Business/Commerce, General | Master's Degree | $103,834 | Not available |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's Degree | $98,856 | $24,620 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's Degree | $96,949 | $27,000 |
| Civil Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $93,821 | $24,750 |
| Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $91,962 | Not available |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $90,355 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $87,907 | $26,000 |
| Marketing | Bachelor's Degree | $85,029 | $27,000 |
| Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | Doctoral Degree | $82,608 | Not available |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $81,519 | Not available |
| Architecture | First Professional Degree | $78,902 | Not available |
| Library Science and Administration | First Professional Degree | $76,685 | Not available |
| Political Science and Government | Bachelor's Degree | $73,917 | $25,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $73,073 | $27,000 |
| Architecture | Bachelor's Degree | $69,838 | $27,000 |
| Social Work | First Professional Degree | $68,031 | Not available |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | Master's Degree | $68,008 | Not available |
| Social Work | Bachelor's Degree | $65,185 | $25,000 |
| History | Bachelor's Degree | $52,980 | $26,000 |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $52,846 | $26,000 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $52,638 | Not available |
| Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | Master's Degree | $51,318 | Not available |
| Philosophy | Bachelor's Degree | $49,378 | $23,843 |
| Music | Bachelor's Degree | $46,123 | $24,625 |
Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.