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

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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.

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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.

89.8
College Consensus
87.6
Student Consensus
91.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
86.3
College Consensus
80.6
Student Consensus
91.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
83.3
College Consensus
80.7
Student Consensus
85.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
79.7
College Consensus
81.8
Student Consensus
77.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
76
College Consensus
80.2
Student Consensus
71.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

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75.8
College Consensus
81
Student Consensus
70.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
73.4
College Consensus
75.9
Student Consensus
71
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
73
College Consensus
80.5
Student Consensus
65.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
71.3
College Consensus
80.4
Student Consensus
62.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
70.5
College Consensus
79.4
Student Consensus
61.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

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69.9
College Consensus
76.1
Student Consensus
63.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
68.9
College Consensus
79.9
Student Consensus
58
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
68.2
College Consensus
81
Student Consensus
55.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
67.8
College Consensus
82.4
Student Consensus
53.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
67.6
College Consensus
75.5
Student Consensus
59.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
67.2
College Consensus
79.2
Student Consensus
55.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
67.1
College Consensus
80.2
Student Consensus
54
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
66.9
College Consensus
80.5
Student Consensus
53.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
65.8
College Consensus
82
Student Consensus
49.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
65.2
College Consensus
74.4
Student Consensus
55.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
64.5
College Consensus
81.3
Student Consensus
47.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
64.4
College Consensus
76.4
Student Consensus
52.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
64.2
College Consensus
82
Student Consensus
46.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
63.9
College Consensus
78.4
Student Consensus
49.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
63.6
College Consensus
81.9
Student Consensus
45.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

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63.2
College Consensus
73
Student Consensus
53.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
62.7
College Consensus
79.5
Student Consensus
45.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
62.5
College Consensus
83.7
Student Consensus
41.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
61.6
College Consensus
76.3
Student Consensus
47
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
61.3
College Consensus
77.1
Student Consensus
45.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
61.3
College Consensus
68.3
Student Consensus
54.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
60.5
College Consensus
82.3
Student Consensus
38.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.9
College Consensus
78.9
Student Consensus
40.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.7
College Consensus
76.7
Student Consensus
42.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.3
College Consensus
77.8
Student Consensus
40.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.5
College Consensus
70.2
Student Consensus
46.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
57.6
College Consensus
74.7
Student Consensus
40.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
57.1
College Consensus
72.6
Student Consensus
41.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
56.5
College Consensus
72.9
Student Consensus
40.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
56.3
College Consensus
77.2
Student Consensus
35.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
55.9
College Consensus
77.4
Student Consensus
34.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
55.8
College Consensus
76.4
Student Consensus
35.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
53.9
College Consensus
79.7
Student Consensus
28.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
53.8
College Consensus
71.8
Student Consensus
35.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
53.6
College Consensus
75.2
Student Consensus
31.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
53.4
College Consensus
79.3
Student Consensus
27.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
51.6
College Consensus
71.4
Student Consensus
31.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
50.3
College Consensus
73.9
Student Consensus
26.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
50
College Consensus
67.6
Student Consensus
32.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
48.2
College Consensus
70.7
Student Consensus
25.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

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What Makes Catholic College Exceptional? What Makes Catholic College Exceptional?

If you are wondering what are the benefits of Catholic higher education or a Catholic Ivy League College, 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 are plentiful in Catholic colleges. However, this is not without its costs. One 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.

Popular Catholic colleges and universities: Belmont Abbey College, Divine Word College, Fordham University, Holy Apostles College, Holy Cross College, Mount Carmel College, Saint Elizabeth College, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Maria College, Madonna University, Mount Aloysius College, Mercy College, Lake College, Chaminade University, Mount Saint Joseph, Marymount College, Donnelly College, Good Samaritan College, Spalding University, Mount Angel Seminary, Lake University, Seton Hall University, Trinity Washington University, Villa Maria College, Viterbo University.

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