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Best Catholic Colleges & Uni­ver­si­ties in the US Top 50 Consensus Ranked Catholic Schools

Contributing Editor
B.A.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Susan A. Kemppainen has been a freelance writer and researcher for nearly 10 years, following a career in healthcare developing and coordinated continuing clinical education programs for physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff. She also has significant experience working with students and administration in a university setting.
Founder/Senior Editor
B.A., M.Div.
Jeremy Alder has spent over a decade researching and writing about higher education to provided students with the information they need to achieve their goals. He has significant personal experience with career transitions, working as a freelance writer and editor, non-profit director, community organizer, preacher, teacher, retail manager, and carpenter prior to founding College Consensus. Homeschooled from the second grade, Jeremy is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin (B.A., Philosophy) and Duke University Divinity School (M.Div.). He currently lives in North Carolina with his wife, five kids, and a Labradoodle named Hank.

For centuries, the Catholic Church was central to higher ed, with Medieval and Renaissance-era schools setting standards for scholarly life. A lot has changed in a millennium, but what hasn’t changed is the academic reputation of Catholic education. From business and law to medicine and STEM research, Catholic colleges and universities continue to develop and transform, while holding on to the traditions of faith, community, and service leadership that define Catholic education.

Whether Catholic or not, students can look to College Consensus rankings for guidance to the college or university that meets their need for academic, professional, social, and personal growth and development.

The College Consensus ranking of the Best Catholic Colleges & Universities is comprehensive by design, bringing the results of the most trusted ranking publishers together with the most reputable student review sites. Catholic colleges and universities have long been an international standard for academic quality and rigor, but prospective students can look to College Consensus for a thorough look at the Catholic universities in America recognized as the best across the board. With a wide selection of Catholic colleges and universities in the US, students trust College Consensus’ ranking to show them the choice that is right for their needs.

How Did We Make Our Catholic Colleges Ranking of the Best Catholic Colleges & Universities?

College Consensus rankings combine the results of the most respected college ranking systems with the averaged ratings of thousands of real student reviews from around the web to create a unique college meta-ranking. This approach offers a comprehensive and holistic perspective missing from other college rankings. Visit our about page for information on which rankings and review sites were included in this year’s consensus rankings.

The Catholic Colleges & Universities category is limited to schools designated as Roman Catholic by the National Center for Education Statistics.

What’s Different About College Consensus Rankings?

College Consensus’ aggregate rankings are designed for new students and their families, who want a simpler way to compare colleges. There’s an overwhelming number of college rankings out there, all with their own methods, emphases, and biases, but College Consensus cuts through it all by taking in each other reputable ranking and student review. By putting expert and students’ perspectives on an equal footing, College Consensus intends to help students and families see the full scope of how their choices stack up against each other.

Note: The Top Consensus Ranked Catholic Colleges are listed in descending order by their Consensus score. In the event of ties, schools are ranked in alphabetical order with the same rank number.

1

University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN

89.8
College Consensus
87.6
Student Consensus
91.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

2

Georgetown University
Washington, DC

86.3
College Consensus
80.6
Student Consensus
91.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

3

Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA

83.3
College Consensus
80.7
Student Consensus
85.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

4

College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA

79.7
College Consensus
81.8
Student Consensus
77.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

5

Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA

76
College Consensus
80.2
Student Consensus
71.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

6

Villanova University
Villanova, PA

75.8
College Consensus
81
Student Consensus
70.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

7

University of Dallas
Irving, TX

73.4
College Consensus
75.9
Student Consensus
71
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

8

John Carroll University
University Heights, OH

73
College Consensus
80.5
Student Consensus
65.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

9

Siena College
Loudonville, NY

71.3
College Consensus
80.4
Student Consensus
62.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

10

Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI

70.5
College Consensus
79.4
Student Consensus
61.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

11

Saint Martin’s University
Lacey, WA

69.9
College Consensus
76.1
Student Consensus
63.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

12

Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA

68.9
College Consensus
79.9
Student Consensus
58
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

13

Le Moyne College
Syracuse, NY

68.2
College Consensus
81
Student Consensus
55.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

14

University of San Diego
San Diego, CA

67.8
College Consensus
82.4
Student Consensus
53.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

15

Saint Mary’s College
Notre Dame, IN

67.6
College Consensus
75.5
Student Consensus
59.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

16

College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, MN

67.2
College Consensus
79.2
Student Consensus
55.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

17

Mount Saint Mary’s University (CA)
Los Angeles, CA

67.1
College Consensus
80.2
Student Consensus
54
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

18

University of Portland
Portland, OR

66.9
College Consensus
80.5
Student Consensus
53.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

19

Providence College
Providence, RI

65.8
College Consensus
82
Student Consensus
49.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

20

Manhattan College
Riverdale, NY

65.2
College Consensus
74.4
Student Consensus
55.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

21

Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA

64.5
College Consensus
81.3
Student Consensus
47.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

22

Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD

64.4
College Consensus
76.4
Student Consensus
52.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

23

Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO

64.2
College Consensus
82
Student Consensus
46.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

24

Saint Mary’s College of California
Moraga, CA

63.9
College Consensus
78.4
Student Consensus
49.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

25

University of Scranton
Scranton, PA

63.6
College Consensus
81.9
Student Consensus
45.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

26

Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL

63.2
College Consensus
73
Student Consensus
53.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

27

Fordham University
Bronx, NY

62.7
College Consensus
79.5
Student Consensus
45.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

28

University of Dayton
Dayton, OH

62.5
College Consensus
83.7
Student Consensus
41.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

29

Stonehill College
Easton, MA

61.6
College Consensus
76.3
Student Consensus
47
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

30

Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO

61.3
College Consensus
77.1
Student Consensus
45.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

31

Niagara University
Niagara University, NY

61.3
College Consensus
68.3
Student Consensus
54.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

32

Creighton University
Omaha, NE

60.5
College Consensus
82.3
Student Consensus
38.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

33

The College of Saint Scholastica
Duluth, MN

59.9
College Consensus
78.9
Student Consensus
40.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

34

Saint Joseph’s University
Philadelphia, PA

59.7
College Consensus
76.7
Student Consensus
42.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

35

Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT

59.3
College Consensus
77.8
Student Consensus
40.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

36

Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

58.5
College Consensus
70.2
Student Consensus
46.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

37

University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

57.6
College Consensus
74.7
Student Consensus
40.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

38

Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, PA

57.1
College Consensus
72.6
Student Consensus
41.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

39

The Catholic University of America
Washington, DC

56.5
College Consensus
72.9
Student Consensus
40.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

40

Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA

56.3
College Consensus
77.2
Student Consensus
35.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

41

Assumption University
Worcester, MA

55.9
College Consensus
77.4
Student Consensus
34.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

42

Seattle University
Seattle, WA

55.8
College Consensus
76.4
Student Consensus
35.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

43

University of St Thomas (MN)
Saint Paul, MN

53.9
College Consensus
79.7
Student Consensus
28.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

44

Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL

53.8
College Consensus
71.8
Student Consensus
35.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

45

Molloy College
Rockville Centre, NY

53.6
College Consensus
75.2
Student Consensus
31.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

46

DePaul University
Chicago, IL

53.4
College Consensus
79.3
Student Consensus
27.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

47

Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA

51.6
College Consensus
71.4
Student Consensus
31.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

48

Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ

50.3
College Consensus
73.9
Student Consensus
26.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

49

Ave Maria University
Ave Maria, FL

50
College Consensus
67.6
Student Consensus
32.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

50

University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI

48.2
College Consensus
70.7
Student Consensus
25.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

What Makes Catholic College Exceptional?

If you are wondering about the benefits of Catholic higher education, they are as follows:

  • Catholic Atmosphere: One of the top benefits of attending a Catholic school is that you will be going to school in a Catholic atmosphere. Staying the course can be difficult for students and this is especially the case when they attend schools that do not promote living a Catholic lifestyle. However, by choosing to attend a Catholic college, you will eliminate many unnecessary distractions and you will be better able to focus on what matters most, school and religion.
  • Catholic Spiritual Development: Another top benefit of attending a Catholic college is that it will help foster your spiritual growth. Worldly colleges are filled with distractions that serve to undermine your growth as a Christian. However, by attending a Catholic college, you will be able to deal with teachers, students, and other professionals who are interested in your spiritual development. Additionally, there are also many departments and resources dedicated to making sure your stay on track on a scholastic and spiritual level.
  • Catholic Intellectual Tradition: As you already are aware, Catholic schools do not only focus on religion. In fact, being better educated and more involved in the community are innate to the Catholic Faith. So, not only will you receive opportunities to advance your religious schools of thought, but you will also be encouraged to participate in sports, politics, general interest clubs, and more.

Are Catholic Colleges Harder Than Secular Colleges?

If you are wondering if a Catholic university is harder than secular colleges, that is a bit of a loaded question. Catholic education benefits a lot of students. However, this is not without its costs. On the one hand, while a Catholic university tend to be stricter with regard to the rules and regulations, they also make it easier for Catholic students to feel accepted and heard. While attending a secular college may allow you more leniency in terms of your lifestyle choices, many Catholic students assert that they feel their faith is being undermined when attending a Catholic institution.

Additionally, in terms of Catholic education benefits, there is more of an innate respect for authority imparted on all students while attending Catholic colleges. This often takes Catholic students far in the working world. The values of receiving a Catholic education lie in the fact that you will be well educated and stronger in your faith when you attend a Catholic college. However, if you are looking to live more of a secular lifestyle in college, Catholic institutions can be quite challenging. If you attended Catholic church prior to college, you may find it to be an easy fit. However, if Catholic church wasn’t part of your experience, or you don’t identify with a Catholic heritage, you may feel like an outsider.

Are Catholic Colleges Really Conservative?

As with all colleges, this depends on which Catholic university you attend. On the one hand, conservative catholic colleges exist. Many colleges have a reputation for being exceptionally conservative and this is not just a myth. These schools tend to make their expectations well-known, therefore, they typically attract students that are willing to adhere to their rules and regulations. The most conservative Catholic university already has a reputation for being so. On the other hand, if you are considering attending a college that does not have such a reputation, they may be more on the liberal side of things.

What States Have the Most Catholic Colleges?

Which states have the most Catholic colleges:

  • Catholic universities in California: There are 11 Catholic colleges in California.
  • Catholic universities in Texas: There are 7 Catholic colleges in Texas.
  • Catholic colleges in New York: There are 17 Catholic colleges in New York.
  • Catholic colleges in Florida: There are 5 Catholic colleges in Florida.
  • Catholic colleges in New England: There is a total of 29 Catholic colleges in the New England area.

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