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Washington Adventist University: HMS Richards Hall - WAU
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College · Catholic life on campus

Washington Adventist University

  • LocationTakoma Park, MD
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 695 students

Affiliation: Seventh Day Adventist

Official website

Washington Adventist University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

Catholic life here hasn’t been researched yet. We research from official sources only, starting with the largest campuses, and we never guess. The nearest Catholic church mapped in OpenStreetMap is 0.8 miles away.

Know the official campus ministry or Mass schedule page? Send us the link.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Washington Adventist University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miOur Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church: 0.8 mi1Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church: 1.4 mi2Saint Cecilia Chapel (ruin): 1.7 mi3Holy Trinity Missionary Cenacle: 1.8 mi4Saint Camillus Catholic Church: 1.9 mi5Nativity Catholic Church: 2.2 mi6Washington Adventist University (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church — 0.8 mi
  2. Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church — 1.4 mi · 805 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring
  3. Saint Cecilia Chapel (ruin) — 1.7 mi
  4. Holy Trinity Missionary Cenacle — 1.8 mi
  5. Saint Camillus Catholic Church — 1.9 mi · 1600 Saint Camillus Drive, Silver Spring
  6. Nativity Catholic Church — 2.2 mi

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

My rating and notes

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Academic Excellence

DAcademic Excellence: Limited (grade D): 40 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
51 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.29%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.64%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 980
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.9 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$18,786

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Value and outcomes
Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
605
Total students695
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$18,526
Cost of attendance (per year)$34,309
Median federal debt at graduation$30,500
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
29%
First-year retention64%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$64,249
Admission rate46%
Students receiving Pell grants37%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT980
SAT reading & writing450–580
SAT math410–550
ACT composite—
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 40 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Archdiocese of Washington

His Eminence Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington

Formal address: “Your Eminence”

Source: adw.org, adw.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

  • IPEDS unit ID 162210
  • Carnegie classification: Master's university (small programs)
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Seventh Day Adventist
  • Report an error or a newer source
  • Respond as this school

Questions families ask

Is Washington Adventist University a Catholic college?
No. Washington Adventist University is not a Catholic college. Its listed religious affiliation is Seventh Day Adventist. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead.

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