I’m a High School senior who is looking for colleges. I’m a Catholic from Lebanon who has been living in the US since the 7th grade. I’m looking to attend a Catholic university since faith is very much a central theme in my life, but it seems to me that many of the Catholic institutions of higher education in this country are only Catholic in name. My brother goes to Notre Dame and he says although the university is officially Catholic and there is a good Catholic community, many activities on campus aren’t things that he expected to be allowed in a church affiliated college and many professors openly teach things that are contradictory to church teaching (as defined by the catechism and magisterium) and it makes him uncomfortable. I won’t get into specifics because a political argument is certainly not my intention here but I assume that everyone can understand what I’m talking about. I’m familiar with Depaul here in Chicago and it seems that there are similar issues there as well.
Can anyone recommend any Catholic colleges where Catholicism isn’t just something in the history of the institution, but an intrinsic part of every facet of campus life? So far the only school that I’ve found that seems like a place that I’ll be comfortable with is the University of Dallas, however I don’t want to limit myself and only apply to one school.
I’m not looking for an echo-chamber, but I am looking for a place where I won’t have to compromise on my values as a Catholic to be included and active in college or feel uncomfortable and excluded by my peers for being devoted to my faith. Although I would greatly prefer a Catholic institution since I am a Catholic, I am open to non-Catholic institutions where I feel like I’ll fit in as a devoutly Catholic young person. Hillsdale College in Michigan looks like it could be a place like that but I’m not sure.
I’m not sure if I want to major in Economics or Political Science, but while having a great department in those fields would be ideal my first priority would be that the institution has an atmosphere where I feel comfortable. I say that because it doesn’t matter how great the ranking of the school is if I wind up not finishing because of feelings of alienation.
Thanks for answering and God bless!
Btw, if anyone is wondering why I’m so late in looking for/applying to colleges it’s because I plan on going back to Lebanon for a few months to see my family and work with refugees who have fled from the war in Syria.
Sorry for posting again on my own thread, but I have to add that my preference is that I am at least somewhat near (within a short drive) of a decent sized city as opposed to being a completely rural area. This is by no means a requirement, but it is a preference. Thanks again.
A lot of those colleges like Notre Dame (as I said my brother goes there) and I’m assuming Georgetown are the kind of places I was talking about — they were founded by Catholics but they aren’t Catholic when it comes to campus life.
Thank you for the recommendation about Catholic University, it’s a pontifical university so I’m assuming that it’s a bit better about enforcing orthodoxy and stopping heresy from being taught by professors.
I’m assuming that those “best” lists are about academic rankings, of course good academics are important but they’re second in importance to a Catholic atmosphere.
Have you asked your parish priest for suggestions? If he’s like any of the priests I know, “Notre Dame” will be his first response but he may have other ideas too.
Finding a place you feel comfortable is a legitimate criteria in selecting a college but also look at the bigger picture. You are clearly a young person with great heart and a desire to make a difference in the world. Schools like Notre Dame offer a top education, contacts, and skills while still offering strong communities of faith. If you have the stats for Notre Dame consider whether it’s better to go there rather than a less academically rigorous but highly religious college.
There are so many great Catholic colleges that you can apply to a wide selection of reaches, matches, and safeties. Then, after you’re accepted, look more closely at which ones meet your academic, social, and spiritual needs.
Some people have mentioned Holy Cross and Fordham. If you think Notre Dame is not Catholic enough, you aren’t going to like Holy Cross or Fordham either, in fact those 2 will feel less conservative. For instance, Notre Dame has only single sex dorms and visitation hrs for the opposite sex. Chapels in every dorm. All of the dorms at Holy Cross are coed. No dorm chapels at those schools either.
@libnani I’m sorry, I can’t help you with personal experiences. I’m not Catholic, but knew about this list. I do know a family whose daughter is a freshman at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Her mother said she loves it there, but we didn’t discuss specifics.
@Otterma thank you for your kind words, it’s definitely appreciated.
I go to a Melkite Church, we are Catholics in full communion with Rome but we are mainly in the Arab world and in the diaspora. My priest is a blessed man who is very knowledgeable about spiritual matters but he is Syrian and speaks very little English (Church is Arabic and Greek) so I doubt he’ll have much knowledge about US colleges.
@wisteria100 Yeah it sounds like you’re correct. Coed dorms wouldn’t be something that I would feel comfortable with.
I completely understand where you’re coming from! I’m partial to Franciscan University. My parents met there, and I lived there until I was 5, receiving my first communion there. The student body is incredibly joyful and authentically Catholic, as is the faculty.
Other colleges that are authentically catholic:
Ave Maria (Florida)
U Dallas (TX)
U of St Thomas (TX)
Catholic university of America (DC)
St. Marys Emmitsburg (MD)
Wyoming Catholic College (WY)
St. Mary’s (ND)
Benedictine College (KS)
Assumption College (MA)
Also, Hillsdale is not Catholic, but most of the theology professors there are Catholic and I’ve heard it is a wonderful place for a strong Catholic to foster their faith.
I would strongly recommend the University of Dallas. I went there for undergrad, and I really appreciate how they integrated the Catholic faith into all aspects of the college.
Franciscan is where many nuns and priests study in the summer. Ave Maria is 100% Catholic, as is the entire town. Catholic U in DC might interest you.
The smaller Catholic colleges are going to be more focused but they are also going to be in smaller towns and have fewer majors offered. Benedictine, St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, MD, St. Thomas in St. Paul (urban), Dominican in California.
My niece went to U of San Diego and it has a big Catholic presence. Your search is going to be hard because I don’t consider ND to be ‘in name only’ so your standards are very strict.
I recommend you Stonehill, I dont know if is than catolic as you want, but have excelent program in business and Political Science.I visited two months ago and I liked this College a lot. The staff was amazing a totally respectful.
@apraxiamom I know quite a a few families who have sent their kids to Franciscan. They all LOVE it.
The only criticism criticism I have heard is that that it has a charismatic vibe, but that is from people who haven’t been there to experience it. They may have heard about praise-and-worship with electric guitars and that turned them off.
But then I know families who are skeptical of charismatic-style worship and sent there kids to Franciscan with no problem and they were very happy.
All the kids I know who went there live their faith after graduation. I know a couple graduates who went on to get very good jobs.
I wish the merit were a little better, but the COA is low.
CBU Online. It is an online christian university in the U.S. They offer more than 40 online bachelor, master and doctorate degree programs. If you want Catholic atmosphere, then you should check their website once.