Choosing a university for a four-year degree is a crucial decision that can significantly impact a student’s education, career prospects, character, and identity. This decision becomes even more critical for individuals of certain faiths who may feel out of place on many college campuses due to differing values. For Roman Catholic students and non-Catholics alike, attending a Catholic university is a viable option. These universities often prioritize Church teachings in their policies and campus cultures while also offering excellent academic programs and a wide range of extracurricular activities. Despite an overall decline in college enrollment, many Catholic universities in the United States are thriving.
Providence College, founded by Dominican friars in 1917, places a strong emphasis on its Dominican identity and seeks to promote understanding for the sake of truth. The college’s mission centers around the belief that truth informs individuals about their place in the world and guides them towards the good life all desire. Recognized by U.S. News and World Report as the top university in the northern U.S. region for 2024, Providence College offers a rich academic environment deeply rooted in its Catholic heritage. Thomas Aquinas College, with campuses in Massachusetts and California, offers a unique curriculum focused on studying original works rather than textbooks, immersing students in the great books of Western civilization through Socratic discussions.
The Catholic University of America, founded in Washington, D.C., in 1889 is the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States. Sponsored by America’s bishops with the approval of the Holy See, this institution has a rich history of providing graduate and undergraduate education. Christendom College in Virginia emphasizes Catholic teaching by requiring faculty to pledge fidelity to the Catholic Magisterium annually. This institution fully embraces Pope Saint John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation on Catholic Universities, guiding students in their academic and spiritual growth. Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio focuses on helping students grow in wisdom and understanding, offering a solid liberal arts education rooted in the Catholic faith.
Ave Maria University in Florida was founded in 2003 by Tom S. Monaghan, the founder of Domino’s Pizza, with a vision to restore Catholic higher education amidst secularism. Benedictine College in Kansas, sponsored by the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey, presents a curriculum rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition and the Roman Catholic faith. University of Dallas offers a core curriculum rooted in Western civilization, providing students with a comprehensive education inquiring into fundamental aspects of being and our relationship with God and others. University of Mary in North Dakota, founded by the Benedictine Sisters in 1959, focuses on forming servant leaders committed to global understanding and the common good.
John Paul the Great Catholic University in California, founded in 2003, emphasizes serving artists and innovators and aims to create a culture rooted in Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. With a curriculum centered on a year-round quarter system, this university offers students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in three years. Other notable Catholic universities across America include Boston College, University of Dayton, University of Portland, DePaul University, and others. These institutions provide students with a unique blend of academic excellence, spiritual growth, and a supportive community rooted in the Catholic faith.
