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30 Best Catholic Universities and Colleges in the US

Catholic has a wide spread of universities globally but most of these institutions are based in the United States of America. The universities also have satellite branches like the Catholic University of America which has a branch of the Australian Catholic University.  Other Catholic universities covered in this article include the Catholic University of America, the University of San Diego, Santa Clara University, the University of Portland, the University of Dayton, the University of St. Thomas, the University of Dallas, the University of San Francisco, St. Bonaventure University,  St. Catherine University, Fairfield University, Thomas Aquinas College, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, Saint Leo University, Holy Family University, Benedictine University, Holy Names University, Assumption University, Duquesne University, John Carroll University, Xavier University, Molloy University, Hilbert College, Canisius College, Saint Mary’s College of California, Fontbonne University, Loyola Marymount University, College of the Holy Cross, Boston College, and Villanova University.

Read more about the American education system here.

1. The Catholic University of America

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One of the private universities owned by the Catholic Church and based in Washington D.C. It was founded by United States-based Catholic bishops. Pope Leo XIII approved it as the center of research and established it in 1887. It is within a neighborhood dominated by catholic institutions like Archbishop Carroll High School, and Trinity Washington University. More importantly,  they neighbor the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The university offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. Most specifically, Law, Architecture and Planning, Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Nursing.

In addition, they have satellite campuses globally. They have partnered with Australian Catholic University. They also have Pim Community College and Alexandria in Virginia.

2. Santa Clara University

The university is a mission-based campus established back in 1851 and is one of the old higher learning universities in California. Its name is after the area named Mission Santa Clara de Asis, a Spanish mission. It was founded by Franciscans. It has six colleges through which they offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. It has a wide range of prominent people as its alumni like congressmen, mayors, and senators of the United States. They also include cabinet members. Broncos is the name given to their sports teams with white and red as their colors.

3. University of San Diego

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This is a private university that is Roman Catholic based. It was Chartered in July 1949. It has nine undergraduate schools. It also has nine graduate schools. Among the nine schools include the Shiley-Macros School of Engineering, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, and the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science. In addition, they have the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies and the Knauss School of Business, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. The University is a merger of two universities San Diego College for Women and San Diego University which comprises College for Men and School of Law University of San Diego in 1972.

4 University of Portland

The university comprises business schools, education schools, and engineering. Further, it has nursing and a College of Arts and Sciences. It has a graduate school. The Roman Catholic through the help of the Congregation of Holy Cross purchased the school led by Archbishop Alexander Christie who took ownership in 1902. 

5. University of Dayton

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The university is a Roman Catholic research institution. It is an outstanding university with outstanding teaching in the Roman Catholic faith. It honors Catholic teachers. It has over 80 undergraduates. In addition, it has over 50 graduate and doctoral programs. they also offer online programs.

6. University of St. Thomas

The university is based in Minnesota. it offers thirty-eight academic departments has eight schools which include colleges. The college offers study Abroad. They have research and internship opportunities. The spirit of entrepreneurship is achieved through innovation on all campuses. The university mission is “Inspired by Catholic Intellectual tradition, St. Thomas educates Students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good.” This confirms that it is a Roman Catholic-based institution f higher learning.

7. University of Dallas

The University is located in Irving, Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. founded in 1956 by the Roman Catholic Church. This is a leading Roman Catholic university with a famous academic performance. It is therefore a private university. It has the oldest and most prestigious university that offers over one hundred and forty undergraduate degree programs. During the 2022-2023 university ranking in the region, it emerged as No. 6.

8. University of San Francisco

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It is located at 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 in the Richmond neighborhood. It has 55-acre land which gives room for research. In addition, it is set between the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park. The University was founded by Anthony Maraschi in 1855 as St. Ignatius Academy. With time, the Academy expanded and grew into a university. Currently, the university has various schools which include Arts and Sciences, Education, Law, Management, and Nursing and Health Sciences.

9. St. Bonaventure University

It was founded through the input of Nicholas Devereux, a financier from New York. It has a background in the Roman Catholic Franciscan tradition. It is a private Roman Catholic University that offers undergraduate programs in various schools like Business, Education, Arts, Sciences Communication, and Health Professions.

10. St. Catherine University

It is located at 2004 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105. It is the largest private women’s university in the United States of America located in Minnesota. It is also known as St. Kate’s University. They have programs designed for busy adults in Associate, Bachelor, and Certificate in various schools like Business, Humanities, Arts and Sciences, Health Sciences, and Nursing.

11. Fairfield University

It is a Catholic university located in Fairfield, CT with both physical and online programs. It is overlooking New York City and is located on 200-acre land allowing enough space for research. It was founded by Rev. James H. Dolan under the Jesuits in 1942. It has a capacity f over 5,000 undergraduate students from various schools. The schools include the College of Arts and Sciences, Charles F. Dolan School of Business, Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and  Engineering. It offers both Bachelor’s and Master’s programs.

12. Thomas Aquinas College

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It is a Roman Catholic private university of liberal arts located at 10,000 Ojai Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060, California. The main campus is based in Ventura County of California. It also has a second campus at Northfield in Massachusetts which opened its doors to students in 2018. It also offers a High School great books program.

13. Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University

It began as Our Lady of the Lake College founded in 1923 by Franciscan Missionaries f Our Lady. It is a private Roman Catholic University based in Baton Rouge. Louisiana. The programs include bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Health Sciences, humanities, behavioral Sciences Nursing, and arts and sciences.

14. Saint Leo University

The university was founded by a group of Benedictine monks from Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe Pennsylvania in the United States on June 4, 1889. They have various schools which include Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Social Sciences, Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Robotics, and lastly the College of Health Professions.

15. Holy Family University

The University is located at 9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114. Sisters from the family of Nazareth founded the university as a Holy Family Teacher Training School in 1954. It was accredited by the Roman Catholic Church and later extended to Hly Family only seven years in operation. It became a university status in 2002. The school offers undergraduate programs like business administration,  education, nursing, criminal justice, human resource management, counseling psychology, and information systems management. In 2010, Educational Leadership and Professional Studies doctoral program was approved.

16. Benedictine University

The university is located at 5700 College Rd, Lisle, IL 60532. The Benedictine monks of St. Procopius Abbey were founded in 1887 as St. Procopius College. It has other campuses in Arizona, Illinois, Mesa, and Lisle. Some of the programs in the university include education, Science and Health programs, Business, and Liberal Arts.

17. Holy Names University

The university was founded in 1868 by the Sisters of the Holy Names through a member committee of six members. In 1947, Fr. Alphonse G. Lesage facilitated the university with elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels of education. As a university, it offers liberal arts and professional education.

18. Assumption University

This is a Roman Catholic university based in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is a private University that was founded in 1904.  The Roman Catholic Augustinians of the Assumption were the founders. The University has programs for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Arts, Science, and Business Administration. It has the following schools, Froelich Schol of Nursing, Grenon Schol of Business, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Schol of Health Professions and lastly, School of Graduate Studies.

19. Duquesne University

Also referred to as the Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is a Roman Catholic University that was founded by Joseph Strub together with the congregation of the Holy Ghost on October 1, 1878. They offer Nursing Science, Biology/biological sciences, marketing/marketing management, Accounting, Psychology, Early childhood education and teaching, Finance, Public relations, advertising, and applied communication, Political science and government, Logistics, materials, and supply chain management among others. It also offers Master’s programs. In addition, they have doctoral degrees.

20. John Carroll University

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Located in the suburbs of Ohio City, the university was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1886 as Ignatius College on September 6, 1886. They have various schools like Boler College of Business and College of Arts and Sciences. They have a Quote attached to the name of the university “Prepare to Surprise the Future.” The students at 90% indicate that professors work hard to ensure students are empowered in their studies.

21. Xavier University

Founded by a Roman Catholic Nun known as Katharine Drexel is Xavier University located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the first Catholic University to be founded by a Catholic nun and a saint. She used her inheritance from her father, Francis Drexel who was a banker-financier. The university suffered a setback during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with all the faculty members and students rescued to safe places until 2006. It was then-President Barack Obama who reopened the university with a speech of assurance to the students and faculty. In 2021, the university was affected by Hurricane Ida and again there were evacuations to Dallas.

The university has a name for leading in Sciences and liberal arts. It is well known for graduating the most African Americans who successfully have become incredible medical practitioners. It is ranked 2nd HBCU by college consensus.

22. Molloy University

The University is located on Long Island and was founded on September 12, 1955, by The Dominican Sisters of the Congregation of the Holy Cross Amityville under the faith of Roman Catholics under the support of Bishop Thomas E. Molloy and Monsignor Peter Quealy. It was meant for women only. The first leader of the University was Mother Anselma Ruth O.P., Ph.D. They offer over 50 undergraduate programs, 26 master’s degrees, and some doctoral consecutively.

23. Hilbert College

The college was an initiative of Mother Colette Hibert in 1897 under the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. The college offers degree programs in Arts, Biology, Business Management, Associated Applied Science, Science, and Criminal Justice. They also offer master’s degree programs. It enrolls about 800 students.

Read more about other best American Universities here.

24. Canisius College

25. Saint Mary’s College of California

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It is a Roman Catholic College that was established in 1863 by the De La Salle Brothers. It is based in California. Of importance to note is that it is a private college. It offers undergraduate and also graduates. It has a total of over 4000 students in undergraduate. 

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26. Fontbonne University

A private university under the Roman Catholic based in Clayton, Missouri.  It was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1923. Currently, it has approximately 1000 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs.

27. Loyola Marymount University

It was founded by Saint Ignatius Loyola who was the founder of the Society of Jesus. It is based on the Roman Catholic faith under the Sacred Heart of Mary established in France in 1849. Father Jean Gailhac is the man behind this establishment. The university background has a combination of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, the Marymount Sisters, and the Jesuits. This university is known as the first in Southern California to be an institution of higher learning. It offers undergraduate, graduate, and also professional programs. The mission of the university is the encouragement of learning, education of the whole person, and the service of faith and the promotion of justice.

28. College of the Holy Cross

The college was founded on June 21, 1843, by Benedict Joseph Fenwick, the second Catholic Bishop of Boston. Therefore the college is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. There are opportunities to study Social Sciences, Sciences, Humanities, and Arts.

29. Boston College

This was the first institution to open doors to education in Boston. It is located at 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. It is a liberal art and science. The university has approximately a hundred undergraduate programs.

30. Villanova University

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It is a Roman Catholic private institution that was founded in 1842 and is located at 800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085, Pennsylvania. It is founded n the Augustinian Catholic traditions. It is well known for its Psychiatric-mental Health nursing courses. It has an option for part-time and full-time programs. The university has six colleges listed as follows: Professional Studies, School of Law, Engineering, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Business, and Nursing. It is interesting that the university receives donor funding to assist with scholarships from Bancel Philanthropies. It is housed on 260-acre land with enough area for research.

Read more about the American education system here.