American University vs Catholic University of America
Where graduates end up, what each school really costs, and who gets in, side by side from each school's official ABA data. Add your LSAT and GPA to see your chances and scholarship estimates at both.
VS
Add your numbersSee your admission chances and scholarship estimates at both schools.
The short version
- =About the same placement. 13.3% of American's Class of 2025 and 12.4% of Catholic University of America's went to BigLaw or federal clerkships.
- Catholic University of America costs about $43K less over three years after the average scholarship: $199K against $242K, and more of its students get a scholarship (99% vs 59%).
- American is harder to get into: a 162 median LSAT and a 33.3% acceptance rate, against 161 and 32.4% at Catholic University of America.
- Catholic University of America has the higher first time bar pass rate: 90.4% against 86.6%.
American
vs
Catholic University of America
Where graduates go
Catholic University of America leads 3 of 5
✓13.3%
BigLaw + federal clerkships
12.4%
✓12.3%
BigLaw (501+ attorney firms)
10.6%
1.0%
Federal clerkships
✓1.8%
86.2%
Graduates employed
✓92.9%
86.6%
First time bar passage
✓90.4%
What it costs
Catholic University of America leads 3 of 4
$242K
Three year net cost
✓$199K
59%
Students receiving a scholarship
✓99%
✓$40,000/yr
Median scholarship (recipients)
$26,000/yr
$22,281/yr
Average scholarship (all students)
✓$29,196/yr
Who gets in
Acceptance rate: American 33.3% · Catholic University of America 32.4%
LSAT
Bars run from the 25th to the 75th percentile, with the median marked.
American
157162163
Catholic University of America
158161163
154156158160162164166
GPA
Undergraduate GPA of the entering class, same scale for both schools.
American
3.323.633.75
Catholic University of America
3.463.683.85
3.253.353.453.553.653.753.85
American University
Catholic University of America
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Frequently asked questions
Is American or Catholic University of America better for BigLaw?
American placed more of its Class of 2025 in BigLaw or federal clerkships: 13.3% against 12.4%. By BigLaw alone (firms of 501+ attorneys), American placed 12.3% and Catholic University of America placed 10.6%. Federal clerkships were 1.0% at American and 1.8% at Catholic University of America.
Which is harder to get into, American or Catholic University of America?
American's Fall 2025 entering class had a median LSAT of 162 and a median GPA of 3.63, with a 33.3% acceptance rate. Catholic University of America's had 161 and 3.68, with 32.4%. Add your LSAT and GPA above to see your estimated chances at both.
Which costs less, American or Catholic University of America?
After the average scholarship, three years cost about $242K at American and $199K at Catholic University of America, including living costs. Public schools are shown at out of state tuition. Your own scholarship can move these numbers a lot, so add your numbers above for an estimate.
Which gives more scholarship money, American or Catholic University of America?
59% of American students receive a scholarship, with a median award of $40,000 a year among recipients. 99% of Catholic University of America students receive a scholarship, with a median award of $26,000 a year among recipients.
Which has the better bar passage rate?
86.6% of American's first time takers passed in 2025, against 90.4% at Catholic University of America. Each school's profile shows how that compares with the states where its graduates sat.
Should I choose American or Catholic University of America?
It depends on your goals, your odds and your offers. Compare where each school's graduates end up, then add your LSAT and GPA above to see your estimated chances and scholarships at both. Your scholarship offer usually changes the cost more than anything else.
What a higher LSAT changes
Move the LSAT slider in the admissions calculator to watch your odds and scholarship estimates change at every school.
Figures come from each school’s official ABA disclosures. Admission chances and scholarship estimates are modeled from that data and are not predictions of any individual decision. Our data and methodology