Catholic Distance University is a private Roman Catholic school with headquarters in Charles Town, West Virginia and was founded Bishop Thomas Jerome Welsh in 1983. The guiding mission of CDU is “to communicate the mind and the heart of the Church in a digital world.”
Catholic Distance University is accredited by the Distance Education Accreditation Commission (DEAC) which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency and a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
The range of programs offered by the Catholic Distance University range from undergraduate to graduate programs including: MA in Theology, Diaconate Theology Certificate, OSV-CDU MA in Theology for Catholic Educators, BA in Theology, AA in Catholic Studies, and Catechetical Diploma.
In addition, CDU offers Graduate Certificates in Sacred Scripture, Church History, and OSV-CDU for Catholic Educators plus the option to take graduate and undergraduate courses without applying to an academic program.
Degree programs offered through the Catholic Distance University are offered fully online allowing students to take courses around their schedule from anywhere. CDU offers two primary learning modalities for students. The first methodology is an online, independent study course format. These courses are non-credit classes teach students basic catechetics, history of the Catholic church, morality, and the Constitutions of the Vatican II.
The salient points of these types of courses include the ability to start as soon as 48 hours after registration, open-book containing three to six modules per course. Students are required to prepare an original one-page reflection paper or successfully pass an objective final examination. Successful completion of the program allows students to be eligible for continuing education units (CEU) along with certificate opportunities.
The other learning modality at CDU is the online group course. The online group courses are conveniently structured with weekly assignments and utilize an asynchronous learning model. Online group courses will often require students to pass a proctored final examination along with an original term paper. These courses were created to help students master a particular subject in a digital learning environment to optimize both time and efficacy.
Please visit the school’s website for more information on programs offered and consumer disclosures at www.cdu.edu or via this portal today.
Programs Offered
The program list below was created by historical graduation information reported by the school. This list may not represent the current curriculum offered. Visit the school's website to get more information about programs offered.
Theology and Religious Vocations
Theology
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts
Notes:
*Amounts for tuition, fees, and supplies are an estimate which are calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only.
**Repayment rates, earnings, and loan payments are estimates and should be treated as informational tools only, contact the school for official information.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The items listed below are for informational purposes only and may not represent current tuition, fees, and expenses.
Note: Financial aid is only available for those who qualify, check with the school for details.
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 13% | $3,370 |
| Student Loans (Federal) | 11% | $6,436 |