Sarah Mitchell
Catholic higher education includes universities, colleges, and institutions of higher education privately run by the Catholic Church, typically by religious institutes. In 2023, the International Federation of Catholic Universities had 226 member universities worldwide. In the United States alone, over 720,000 students attend 221 Catholic colleges and universities, making up half of all Catholic universities in the world. This includes universities, colleges, medical schools, law schools, engineering schools, nursing schools, education schools, women's colleges, and aviation programs. Catholic colleges and universities are known for providing high-quality, affordable education and are frequently cited as Best Buy schools by U.S. News & World Report.
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What You'll Learn
Catholic colleges in the United States
Catholic colleges in the US include:
- Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT
- Alvernia University, Reading, PA
- Alverno College, Milwaukee, WI
- Anna Maria College, Paxton, MA
- Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI
- Aquinas College, Nashville, TN
- Aquinas Institute of Theology, St.
- Saint Thomas Aquinas College, Sparkill, NY
- Saint Thomas University, Miami Gardens, FL
- Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA
- Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, PA
- Saint Xavier University, Chicago, IL
- Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
- Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
- Siena College, Loudonville, NY
- Siena Heights University, Adrian, MI
- Silver Lake College of the Holy Family
- St. Bonaventure University College, Lusaka
- St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI
- DeSales University, Center Valley, PA
- The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC
- Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH
- Saint Elizabeth University, Morristown, NJ
- University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX
- University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, KS
- La Roche University, McCandless, PA
- College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY
- The College of Saint Rose, Albany, NY
- The College of Saints John Fisher & Thomas More, Fort Worth, TX
- The Institute for the Psychological Sciences, Arlington, VA
- The Mexican American Catholic College, San Antonio, TX
- Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA
- Thomas More College, Crestview Hills, KY
- Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, Merrimack, NH
- Trinity Washington University, Washington, DC
- Trocaire College, Buffalo, NY
- University of Dallas
- University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
- University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- University of Scranton, Scranton, PA
- Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, OH
- Villa Maria College of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
- Villanova University, Villanova, PA
- Viterbo University, La Crosse, WI
- Walsh University, North Canton, OH
- Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, WV
- Wyoming Catholic College, Lander, WY
- Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
- Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA
- Stevenson University, Stevenson, MD
- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ
- Webster University, Webster Groves, MO
- Cardinal Newman College, St. Louis, MO
- Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI
- College of Saint Mary-of-the-Wasatch, Salt Lake City, UT
- College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM
- St. Catharine College, St. Catharine, KY
- St. Gregory's University, Shawnee, OK
- St. Joseph's College, Rutland, VT
- St. Mary of the Plains College, Dodge City, KS
- St. Ignatius of Loyola University of Applied Sciences, Kaunas
- Sacred Heart University Luxembourg, Luxembourg City
- University of Saint Joseph, Macau
- DMI - St. John the Baptist University, Mangochi
- St. Thomas University of Mozambique, Maputo
- St. Xavier's College, Kathmandu
- KPZ University of Applied Sciences, Zwolle
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen
- St. Bonaventure University College, Lusaka
- St. Joseph's Medical Training College, Sondu
- St. Paul University Manila, Manila
- St. Paul University Quezon City, Quezon City
- St. Mary's University in Juba, Juba
- St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia
- St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick
- St. Jerome's University, Waterloo, Ontario
- St. Joseph's College, Edmonton, Alberta
- St. Mark's College, Vancouver, British Columbia
- St. Michael's College, Toronto, Ontario
- St. Paul's College, Fort Garry, Manitoba
- St. Thomas More College, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Université de Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- St. John's College, Belize
- ICHEC Brussels Management School, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
- Institut des hautes etudes des communications sociales, Brussels
- Luis Espinal Higher Institute of Philosophy and Humanities, Cochabamba
While some Catholic colleges are more traditional and conservative, others are more progressive or liberal, with Jesuit colleges generally falling into the latter category. It is not a requirement to be Catholic (or Christian) to attend a Catholic university, and Catholic colleges are accepting of students of all faiths and backgrounds.
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Catholic colleges in Europe
Catholic higher education includes universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education privately run by the Catholic Church, typically by religious institutes. Those tied to the Holy See are specifically called pontifical universities. According to the census of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, there are 1,358 Catholic universities and higher education institutions worldwide. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) counts 1,861. The Catholic religious order with the most universities globally is the Society of Jesus, with 114.
In Europe, many universities with medieval histories were founded as Catholic. While many were transferred to government control in the modern era, some retained their Catholic identity, and new institutions were also established. The Catholic Church is the largest non-governmental provider of higher education globally.
ITI Catholic University is an ecclesiastical university founded in 1996 at the request of Pope St. John Paul II for graduate theological study. It is located in Austria, where students can study in a restored 12th-century castle. The university offers a one-year liberal arts Studium Generale track, a three-year bachelor's program in liberal arts, and a five-year track culminating in a Master of Sacred Theology degree. The English-language core includes 11 theology courses, eight philosophy courses, and classes in literature, logic, church history, music, and Latin. All faculty members are Catholic and make the Profession of Faith annually, and all students are Catholic. Holy Mass and the Byzantine Divine Liturgy are offered daily on campus.
There are Catholic universities and colleges in many European countries, including Albania, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and the Republic of Ireland.
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Catholic colleges in Asia
Catholic higher education includes universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education privately run by the Catholic Church, typically by religious institutes. The International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) had 226 member universities worldwide in 2023.
The Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASEACCU) is a regional association of Catholic universities in Southeast and East Asian countries. The purpose of the organization is to promote Catholic higher education and support local churches. ASEACCU also contributes to educational dialogue beyond the Southeast and East Asian regions.
There are more than 40 universities and colleges in the Philippine Catholic Church. Some of these include St. Paul University in Manila and Quezon City. Other Catholic colleges in Asia include St. Joseph's Medical Training College in Sondu, St. Ignatius of Loyola University of Applied Sciences in Kaunas, St. Thomas University of Mozambique in Maputo, and St. Xavier's College in Kathmandu.
Outside of the Philippines, St. Bonaventure University College in Lusaka, Zambia, is another Catholic college in Africa. In the Americas, examples of Catholic colleges include St. Joseph's College in Alberta, Canada, and St. Mary's College of California in the United States.
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Catholic colleges in Africa
Catholic higher education includes universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education privately run by the Catholic Church, typically by religious institutes. Those tied to the Holy See are specifically called pontifical universities. Catholic Canon Law states that:
> "A Catholic school is understood to be one which is under the control of the competent ecclesiastical authority or of a public ecclesiastical juridical person, or one which in a written document is acknowledged as Catholic by the ecclesiastical authority" (Can. 803).
Furthermore, Canon Law stipulates that:
> "No school, even if it is in fact Catholic, may bear the title 'Catholic school' except by the consent of the competent ecclesiastical authority" (Can.).
There are 226 member universities in the International Federation of Catholic Universities. Here are some examples of Catholic colleges in Africa:
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) is a private international university that welcomes applicants from all over the world. It is founded on the philosophy of Catholic higher education, which promotes a free search for the whole truth about nature, humanity, and God. The CUEA's mission is to produce authentic leaders and upright members of the Church and society through excellence in research, teaching, and community service. The university is committed to nurturing a vibrant environment that thrives on intellectual curiosity, innovation, and inclusivity.
The Catholic University of Central Africa is another example of a Catholic college in Africa. It is ranked third in the national area in terms of academic and scientific performance. The university has included the institutionalization of a service-learning programme in its strategic plan, with values such as boldness, the promotion of human dignity and respect for life, trust, freedom, responsibility, and solidarity.
Other Catholic colleges in Africa include St. Bonaventure University College in Lusaka, St. Joseph's Medical Training College in Sondu, and St. Mary's University in Juba.
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Catholic colleges in the Americas
Catholic higher education includes universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education privately run by the Catholic Church, typically by religious institutes. Those tied to the Holy See are specifically called pontifical universities. Canon law states that "a Catholic school is understood to be one which is under the control of the competent ecclesiastical authority or of a public ecclesiastical juridical person, or one which in a written document is acknowledged as Catholic by the ecclesiastical authority".
There are 181 U.S. members of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) as of 2024, and some of the top-ranked Catholic universities in the United States include Notre Dame, Georgetown University, and Boston College.
Some Catholic colleges in the United States include:
- Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT
- Alvernia University, Reading, PA
- Alverno College, Milwaukee, WI
- Anna Maria College, Paxton, MA
- Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI
- Aquinas College, Nashville, TN
- Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, MO
- Benedictine College School of Engineering, Atchison, KS
- Catholic University School of Engineering, Washington, D.C.
- Christian Brothers University School of Engineering, Memphis, TN
- Fairfield University School of Engineering, Fairfield, CT
- Gannon University College of Engineering and Business, Erie, PA
- Gonzaga University School of Engineering and Applied Science, Spokane, WA
- Loyola Marymount University College of Science and Engineering, Los Angeles, CA
- Manhattan University School of Engineering, Riverdale, NY
- Marquette University College of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI
- Saint Louis University Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, St. Louis, MO
- College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY
- College of Saint Rose, Albany, NY
- College of Saints John Fisher & Thomas More, Fort Worth, TX
- The Institute for the Psychological Sciences, Arlington, VA
- The Mexican American Catholic College, San Antonio, TX
- Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA
- Thomas More College, Crestview Hills, KY
- Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, Merrimack, NH
- Trinity Washington University, Washington, DC
- Trocaire College, Buffalo, NY
- University of Dallas, Irving, TX
- University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX
- College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, MN
- The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN
- Saint Leo University, St. Leo, FL
- Mount St. Mary's University, Emmitsburg, MD
- St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA
- St. Thomas University, Miami, FL
- University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, MN
- Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, MO
- St. Thomas Aquinas College, Sparkill, NY
- St. Bonaventure University, Olean, NY
- Alvernia University, Reading, PA
- St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA
- Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, PA
- Saint Vincent's College, Bridgeport, CT
- Saint Xavier University, Chicago, IL
- Salve Regina University, Newport, RI
- Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
- Seattle University, Seattle, WA
- Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington, NY
- Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
- Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
- Siena College, Loudonville, NY
- Siena Heights University, Adrian, MI
- Silver Lake College of the Holy Family, Manitowoc, WI
- St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI
- DeSales University, Center Valley, PA
- The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
- Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH
- Saint Elizabeth University, Morristown, NJ
- Spalding University, Louisville, KY
- University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX
- University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, KS
- La Roche University, McCandless, PA
- Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA
- Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Cromwell, CT
- Marymount University, Arlington, VA
- Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, OH
- Wyoming Catholic College, Lander, WY
- Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA
- St. Joseph's College, Rutland, VT
- St. Catharine College, St. Catharine, KY
- St. Gregory's University, Shawnee, OK
- St. Mary of the Plains College, Dodge City, KS
- St. Bonaventure University College, Lusaka
- St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia
- St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick
- St. Jerome's University, Waterloo, Ontario
- St. Joseph's College, Edmonton, Alberta
- St. Mark's College, Vancouver, British Columbia
- St. Michael's College, Toronto, Ontario
- St. Paul's College, Fort Garry, Manitoba
- St. Thomas More College, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Université de Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- St. Joseph's Medical Training College, Sondu
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Frequently asked questions
There are 226 Catholic colleges and universities in the world, according to the International Federation of Catholic Universities.
There are 221 Catholic colleges and universities in the United States, with over 720,000 students enrolled.
No, you do not have to be Catholic to attend a Catholic college. However, some colleges may have a more Catholic-centred environment, so it is worth investigating the college before applying.
