Catholic Colleges and Universities

What high school students usually notice about Catholic colleges and universities is their high academic quality, welcoming campus, strong co-curricular offerings, caring faculty, and faith-based heritage of service.

What a New York financial institution recently noticed about Catholic higher education is something quite different but just as significant. A national study of 280 private colleges and universities found that Catholic institutions "charge a generally lower net tuition per student, reflecting their mission of access and affordability." In fact, Catholic institutions charge median net tuition $2,465 lower per year than the median at other private institutions!

Families taking advantage of this savings are partly responsible for the continuing appeal of Catholic colleges, whose enrollment grew an average of 1.7% per year during the past five years, compared to only 0.2% at other private colleges and universities. The conclusion of this 2008 study is that "Catholic colleges as a whole are a major force in higher education."

There you have it. Two per perspectives on Catholic higher education – quality and affordability.

Impressive Facts about Catholic Colleges

• Nearly 700,000 students attend 217 Catholic colleges and universities in the United States.

• Catholic colleges and universities account for half of all students enrolled in faith-based institutions of higher education in the United States.

• An average of 65% of students at Catholic colleges and universities are Catholic. The proportion varies from one campus to another. Students of all faiths are welcome.

• In a recent national study of college alumni, those from Catholic colleges reported experiencing a noticeably stronger sense of campus community, a higher degree of preparedness for their first job, and greater integration of values and ethics in classroom discussions.

Linked Globally

Linked to a global church and often to sponsoring religious Congregations with international connections, most Catholic colleges and universities offer study-abroad opportunities for students. Faculty conduct international research, teach courses of a global nature, and participate in international conferences. Most Catholic colleges also welcome international students and offer American students opportunities for volunteer work in culturally diverse contexts.

A Fit for You

Catholic colleges and universities come in many sizes, one just right for each student.

• They come in all sizes, with enrollments of fewer than 1,000 students to more than 24,000.

• They are located in large cities and small towns, in 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

• 20 are major doctoral/research universities with law, medical, or other professional schools; 125 offer bachelor's and master's degrees; many others are liberal arts colleges with selected professional programs; some are single-sex colleges; a few are two-year institutions; and one is an historically black university.

Student Diversity

Most Catholic colleges and universities intentionally bring together students, faculty and staff of widely varied backgrounds, racial/ethnic heritages, talents, and religious faiths. In fact, they attract a more diverse student body than many leading public universities and secular private institutions. On Catholic campuses you will be offered unparalleled opportunities to build lifelong friendships with peers of both similar and diverse worldviews - people who value knowledge, faith, community, and service.

Community Service

Catholic colleges and universities have a mission-driven commitment to serving the broader human community. Most offer special service opportunities for students who want to help others, whether in the campus neighborhood, across the nation, or abroad. This spirit of community service adds an invaluable dimension to your education, whatever your choice of career.

A Better Future

It is no coincidence that students at Catholic colleges report being happier and more likely to graduate compared to students at most other institutions. It also is no coincidence that Catholic institutions have graduated so many of the nation's political, business, and artistic leaders. Such success reflects the commitment of professors, deans, coaches, counselors, campus ministers and other staff at Catholic colleges to nurture each student's mind, heart, and soul.

Catholic colleges and universities strive to make students "more intelligent, capable, active members of society," in the words of the famous educator, John Henry Cardinal Newman. Consider making a Catholic college or university your path to a promising and fulfilling life.

Editorial provided by the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities.