They are all Catholic schools. But they vary in terms of how Catholic. The percentage of undergrads identifying as Catholic is a pretty good rule of thumb. That percentage is influenced by a lot of factors including geography, national vs. regional student draw, cost, brand, selectivity, etc.
Regis in Colorado, for example, is only 33% Catholic students. Santa Clara is 45%. Georgetown is 50%. LMU is 60%. Fordham is 60%. BC is 70%. Holy Cross is 75%. ND is 80%. CUA is 85%.
Steubenville (which I’d never heard of before) is probably something like 99.9%.
@scualum my daughter took an ethics class at SCU…also taught by a Jesuit…and said it was one of the best courses she ever took. She also took Women in Religion…and loved it. I don’t remember her third religion course…but she liked it too. All were taught by Jesuits.
@twoanddone - yes Georgetown has a whole passel of priests. This was the official head guy they all three have offices next to each other - they take you past it on the tour.
FWIW, we had by far and away the most impressive student that we met on any tour at Georgetown. Good chance to be the first Hispanic president of the US IMO!
The religious aspect of colleges is something we’ve been interested in, and my best friend was head of residential services at BC for many years, so I’m going to chime in here.
You can get a terrific education at any of the great schools mentioned here. Find what you’re comfortable with culture-wise. If your child’s not going to be uncomfortable seeing crosses everywhere and with people talking about church and god, then why not go to the school that has been calling to him?
That being said…my friend from BC said that to her, the religion was pretty much in your face. She and her family are Catholic and quite active in church (relatively uncommon here in MA) and she loves BC, but she said she saw a lot of non-Catholic people have difficulty over the years. Mostly it was because they felt that they didn’t fit in.
Pheebers, I am surprised to hear about religion being “in your face” at BC. my D is a BC grad and not a practicing Catholic. She never had this experience at the school. Most of her friends were non-Catholics and they all felt welcome and supported at the school. Honestly, I don’t think they really noticed - or cared - about the religious symbols on campus and people certainly weren’t talking about church and god all day. Jesuits are about the most inclusive group you’ll find.
@Mansfield Certainly your mileage may vary! I know people who feel the way you do too – any by any chance are you not from the northeast? From what I understand it is people from areas of the country where they’re used to seeing signs of religion every day who have an easier time fitting in. I know TONS of people who like BC. It’s not bias against the school, I assure you!
There’s also a big difference between being okay with a different religion and okay with religion in general. It sounds as if the OP wouldn’t mind attending a school with religious symbols, etc, and that’s great that they’re that flexible.
I agree with Pheebers that the question of whether a religious non-Catholic will feel comfortable at a Jesuit school is a different question from whether a non-religious person will feel comfortable at a Jesuit school. I don’t have an opinion, other than as a non-religious person who has often felt judged by religious (in general) people and uncomfortable with religious expectations (like group prayer rituals) in the past.
How long ago was that? I know several Atheists who have attended BC in the last few years, and religion was definitely not an issue, or even a concern. (hint: few kids attend mass, unless their parents come up for the weekend.)
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I think it’s a lot more than people going to services. It’s an attitude that permeates everything. Just as an example, my son was at a very secular college, but was shocked in a philosophy class that everyone in the class was making an assumption that God exists.
~70% of the US identify themselves “Christian,” at least according to the font of all knowledge, wiki.
Add in the other religions who believe in any type of deity…
Regardless, in the vast majority of college classes, God would never come up. And in BC’s case in particular, the Jesuits comprise a very small number of faculty. Indeed, there are fewer than 40 FT Jesuits working on campus – which includes faculty, advisors and administrators – out of a total of 750 full time faculty members.
Oldest D, sometimes agnostic, sometimes atheist, graduated BC 10 years ago. She felt as comfortable there as she did at Brandeis, where she attended grad school.
I attended a Catholic college years ago and loved it. Even then, not all students were Catholic. Some had come for the nursing major. I would absolutely endorse a Jesuit education. Even though few Jesuits teach now, their intellectual rigor is extraordinary. The old joke: God, which order to you think is best? I support them equally. God, SJ
Except that this school bought my Catholic college, I think an excellent choice is Regis University in Denver, CO on the northwest side of town. Beautiful views, convenience to mountain recreation. Ah, skiing if you don’t care that it involves cold, wet, and the possibility of injury. Great fun just to go and watch. Regis always was a really good school with lots of students from Denver. Over the years it moved from college to university and is growing in majors, size, diversity, and other good directions. I receive their alumni newsletter and am extremely impressed. Look them up.
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friend from BC said that to her, the religion was pretty much in your face. S
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I guess it depends on a person’s definition of “in your face.”
Certainly, when I’m in Catholic hospital, I notice the crosses and other religious images around the place. Do I think it’s “in my face”? Well, I’m Catholic, so …lol…probably not. Are non-Catholics bothered or offended by what they see in Catholic hospitals? I guess if they are, then they might be bothered by what they’d see at a Catholic university. But, I think many folks just think, “It’s a Catholic hospital (or college), so of course there’s going to be this stuff around. But, no one is bothering me about any of it.”
I haven’t read through all the comments but has anyone mentioned Fordham? My DD just graduated from there and loved it. She did have to take two religion classes but they had a ton of choices. A class she took compared the New Testament, the Torah, and the Quaran. Religion was on campus, but not pushed. They have one main campus in the Bronx and a smaller campus in NYC, next to Lincoln Center.
@mom2collegekids I do know people who will avoid Catholic hospitals because they want to avoid doctors and nurses who think that praying helps. I also have a non-religious friend who likes the local Catholic hospital because she finds it comforting, even though she doesn’t believe.
@bluebayou I can actually buy shocked, because if the person was raised in a non-religious environment it’s hard to wrap your mind around others believing. I did a quick hop over to Pew research, and it illustrates why some people might find it more uncomfortable than others, even though they agreed with your average number of 70% Christian:
In Massachusetts 58% identify as Christian, 32% as non-religious. In Alabama, 86% identify as Christian, and 12% as non-religious. Chances are if you’re coming from Alabama you’re going to be more used to seeing crosses and you’re used to people taking the Christian bible as fact. If you’re coming from MA, that’s a lot less likely.
Ultimately it comes down to personality. BC’s a great school, and if it fits in every other way and you’re not concerned by the Jesuit side of it, why not?
Still makes no sense to me unless the kid was home-schooled. Even assuming a MA resident, 6 out of 10 kids in the local public school are Christian. Sure, kids generally don’t talk religion during recess, but its hard to not know who in class is a believer in some deity.
The point was not crosses, but belief in a god, during a philosophy course, no less. Many of the great philosophers were religious men, so yeah I am shocked that he was “shocked.”.
btw: BC also has a large contingent from other ne states, including NY/NJ. (dunno their
