The Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Catholic research university located in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1887 by the bishops of the United States, it is the national university of the Catholic Church in America and holds pontifical status. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across disciplines such as theology, philosophy, canon law, architecture, nursing, engineering, law, and the arts and sciences. Its mission integrates Catholic intellectual tradition with rigorous scholarship and service to the Church and society. CUA's main campus sits in the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C., near the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The university is known for its strong programs in theology and religious studies, its law school, and its architecture and planning school. It serves a moderately sized student body and provides a residential campus experience within an urban setting, with research centers, libraries, athletic facilities, and student housing supporting academic and student life.