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Catholic University of America

EIN 53-0196583 · Washington, DC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES, FOUNDED AND SPONSORED BY THE BISHOPS OF THE COUNTRY WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE HOLY SEE, THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA IS COMMITTED TO BEING A COMPREHENSIVE CATHOLIC AND AMERICAN INSTITUTION.

Income
$425.4 million
Spending
$447.9 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
3,843
Volunteers
534
Highest pay
$681,341, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    41 of 42 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $133.4 million spent. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS: FINANCIAL AID TO STUDENTS INCLUDES SCHOLARSHIPS, REMITTED TUITION AND STIPENDS FOR BOTH UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDY. 22,616 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025. GRANTS: THE UNIVERSITY MAKES OCCASIONAL CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC CHARITIES. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 THE UNIVERSITY ALSO AWARDED APPROXIMATELY 2,770 EMERGENCY AID GRANTS TO STUDENTS.
  2. $114.2 million spent. INSTRUCTION AND DEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH: THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA IS AN INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOCATED IN WASHINGTON DC, OFFERING PROGRAMS OF STUDY LEADING TO BACHELORS', MASTERS', DOCTORATE, AND PROFESSIONAL DEGREES IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, RELIGIOUS STUDIES, AND SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL AREAS INCLUDING ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE, SOCIAL SERVICE, NURSING, MUSIC AND LAW. THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY IS APPROXIMATELY 6,017 OF WHICH 4,167 ARE UNDERGRADUATE AND 1,850 ARE GRADUATE STUDENTS (FALL 2025). THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS 49 DOCTORAL PROGRAMS, 88 MASTERS PROGRAMS AND 74 BACHELORS PROGRAMS. THE FACULTY CONSISTS OF 282 FULL-TIME AND 372 PART-TIME MEMBERS. OF THE FULL-TIMEFACULTY 93% HOLD DOCTORAL OR PROFESSIONAL DEGREES.
  3. $42.3 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES: UNIVERSITY DORMITORIES CONSIST OF 18 RESIDENCE HALLS WHICH PROVIDE LIVING QUARTERS FOR 1,908 STUDENTS. OCCUPANCY RATE AS OF FALL 2025 WAS 91%. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO PROVIDES RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, DINING SERVICES, PARKING, AND OTHER SELFSUPPORTING FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENT SERVICES. COMMUNITY RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES: THE UNIVERSITY ENTERED INTO A LONG TERM OPERATING LEASE AGREEMENT WITH AN UNRELATED PARTY TO CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE COMMUNITY RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES ON A PORTION OF THE UNIVERSITY'S WEST CAMPUS.
  4. $108.4 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES - SPONSORED RESEARCH: THE UNIVERSITY RECEIVED SPONSORED RESEARCH AWARDS SPANNING ALL DISCIPLINES. LIBRARY PROGRAMS: THERE ARE OVER 1.6 MILLION VOLUMES IN THE GENERAL LIBRARY SYSTEM AND IN THE LAW LIBRARY. THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA PRESS PUBLISHES ABOUT 35-40 BOOKS EACH YEAR IN THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY, LITERATURE, HISTORY AND POLITICAL THEORY. STUDENT SERVICES PROGRAM: A NUMBER OF OFFICES EXIST TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO STUDENTS, BOTH FOR ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL NEEDS. THESE OFFICES INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, THE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE, ENROLLMENT SERVICES, CAREER SERVICES, STUDENT ACTIVITIES, AND CAMPUS MINISTRY. INTERNATIONAL STUDY IS AVAILABLE IN AFRICA, ASIA, AUSTRALIA, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, AND EUROPE. CAMPUS MINISTRY PROVIDES MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE IN THE WASHINGTON D.C. AREA AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1973.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.