Federal Academic Alliance

Welcome Federal Government Employees

The Metropolitan School of Professional Studies at The Catholic University of America offers generous tuition discounts for federal government employees wherever they are located.  Through this partnership, our nation’s valued civil-service employees can complete career-building coursework in fields as varied as human resources, project management, information technology, and social services management.

Federal civil service employees will pay no application fee when applying for admission to our programs, and they will receive an automatic 10 percent scholarship based on our published tuition rates.   Other need- and merit-based and programs remain available too.

Our partnership with the federal government applies to all of the school’s for-credit degrees and certificates as well as to the Master of Science in Management degree that is offered in partnership with Catholic University's Busch School of Business and Economics.

Federal employees in the Washington, D.C., area will enjoy completing coursework at our beautiful campus, located just steps away from the Brookland-CUA Red Line Metrorail station in northeast Washington.  Federal employees located in other parts of the country can take advantage of Catholic University's rich academic heritage through our many online courses.

We understand the unique practical and academic needs of adult workers. Our face-to-face classes are held at night, convenient for working adults who seek to advance their careers. Our classes focus on building practical knowledge that you can immediately use in the workplace.  And we provide access to tutoring and coaching that will help you succeed academically.

We admit new students for fall, spring and summer semesters, so apply now.  Call 202-319-5256 to speak to an admissions counselor.

Questions & Answers

  1. What is this alliance?  Under the Federal Academic Alliance, The Catholic University of America grants an automatic 10 percent scholarship to eligible federal employees who take courses in its Metropolitan School of Professional Studies.
  2. How much is the discounted rate? Eligible federal employees receive 10 percent off the published tuition rate for applicable programs.
  3. Does this discount apply to all undergraduate and graduate programs? The discount applies to all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the Metropolitan School of Professional Studies, including the Master of Science in Management.
  4. Why does the discount not include some programs? Programs outside the Metropolitan School of Professional Studies are not included in the Alliance agreement and are not eligible for the discount.
  5. How will Federal employment be verified for those who participate in this opportunity? A participant will provide a Leave and Earning Statements for verification. Program participants will not be eligible for the discounted tuition unless and until their employment is verified.

For Federal employees interested in this opportunity:

  1. How do I get started? Apply online or request more information using the information-request form on this page.

  2. If I have problems completing the application, who can guide me through the application steps? Contact the Metropolitan School of Professional Studies by calling 202-319-5256 or e-mailing metropolitan@cua.edu.

  3. Am I eligible for the discount?  All civil service members are eligible. Active duty military members are excluded. Dependents and other family members of federal employees are not covered.

  4. How do I receive the tuition discount? Please e-mail metropolitan@cua.edu or call 202-319-5256 after you have started your application and mention that you are a Federal Government employee. Provide a recent Federal Leave and Earnings Statement so we can verify your eligibility. We will waive your application fee online and arrange for the tuition discount.

  1. Where do I get information about financial aid? At MSPS we are committed to helping students of all backgrounds afford an education and graduate with minimal loans. We offer a number of scholarship programs and work closely with the university's Office of Financial Aid to ensure that costs are manageable for each student. 
    The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) financial aid code for The Catholic University of America is 001437.
    For additional information on financial aid,

  1. How do I know if my previous course work will be transferred to Catholic University? We have a generous credit-transfer policy, including credit for lifelong learning and some examinations. Transfer credit is formally granted during the admissions process. If you would like to discuss your prior academic experience and receive an unofficial assessment of your transfer credit, please contact us at 202-319-5256 or metropolitan@cua.edu.
    For more information on our transfer credit policies, visit here.

  2. Does Catholic University offer online and face-to-face courses? Are the online courses self-paced? Yes, we offer both online and face-to-face courses. The online courses are asynchronous, meaning that they do not have set times for class meetings; however, our online courses do have weekly deadlines for assignments.

  3. Where can I find information about Federal Student Loan Repayment Program (FSLRP)? The Federal student loan repayment program permits agencies to repay Federally insured student loans as a recruitment or retention incentive for candidates or current employees of the agency. The program implements 5 U.S.C. 5379, which authorizes agencies to set up their own student loan repayment programs to attract or retain highly qualified employees.  This is offered strictly by each individual agency.
    For more information visit:  http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/student-loan-repayment/

  1. What is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and do I qualify? The PSLF Program is intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue to work full-time in public service jobs. Under this program, borrowers may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance of their Direct Loans after they have made 120 qualifying payments on those loans while employed full time by certain public service employers.
    For further information on qualification visit:  http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/charts/public-service#what-is-the-public