How many Catholic Colleges are operating in the United States?
There are:
- 201 Catholic colleges and universities
- 28 Free-standing Catholic Seminaries that offer degrees for lay students
- 9 Catholic universities and colleges with seminaries
- 7 single purpose institutions, such as free-standing law schools, medical schools, and nursing programs
The guidelines for this count can be found here. A full listing of all Catholic higher education institutions can be found here. More detailed information for those interested in attending a Catholic higher education institution can be found here.
For more information about Catholic Seminaries, please click here. For the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) Seminary Division list of all Catholic Seminaries and Houses of Formation in the United States, please click here. For a statistical overview of Catholic Seminaries in the United States, click here.
How many students are enrolled?
According to the Federal Department of Education’s IPEDS system, during the 2006-2007 academic year, Catholic higher education educated more than 900,000 students. The mean enrollment at Catholic colleges and universities was 3,500 students; the median was 2,400 students. Overall student enrollment has grown dramatically over the past five years. For the 2000-2001 academic year, 577,961 students were enrolled (graduate and undergraduate). By the 2006-2007 academic year, that figure had risen by 55.75%. See the table bel for the top ten Catholic colleges and universities with the largest student enrollment for the 2006-2007 academic year.
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Top Ten Catholic Universities by Enrollment - 2006-2007 Academic Year
|
|
Rank
|
Institution
|
State
|
Student Enrollment
|
|
1
|
DePaul University
|
IL
|
28,521
|
|
2
|
Saint Leo University
|
FL
|
24,980
|
|
3
|
St. John's University
|
NY
|
22,443
|
|
4
|
Fordham University
|
NY
|
18,129
|
|
5
|
Loyola University Chicago
|
IL
|
17,569
|
|
6
|
Saint Louis University
|
MO
|
17,358
|
|
7
|
Georgetown University
|
DC
|
16,604
|
|
8
|
Boston College
|
MA
|
16,590
|
|
9
|
Regis University
|
CO
|
15,713
|
|
10
|
Seton Hall University
|
NJ
|
12,643
|
|
Source: US Department of Education, IPEDS Data Analysis System
Variable: 12-month unduplicated headcount total: Academic year 2006-07
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According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) 2006 Digest of Education Statistics, in the fall of 2005, 62.4% of students enrolled in Catholic universities and colleges are female; 37.6% are male – the ratio of males to females in Catholic colleges and universities is 1:1.7 male to female. In the 25 years between 1980 and 2005, enrollment in Catholic universities and colleges has increased by 60.9%. In that same period of time, 10 new Catholic universities and colleges have been founded.
[1]
How many students at Catholic higher education institutions are Catholic?
Data from the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) annual survey, The American Freshman, include 46 Catholic colleges and universities (or about 22% of the total US Catholic colleges and universities) that submitted data, representing more than 66,000 students [2] across the country. From 2005-2007, there is insignificant change in the percentage of freshmen who self-identify as Catholic at Catholic colleges and universities. Generally, around 60% of incoming freshmen at 4-year Catholic colleges and universities self-identify as Catholic. This figure is about the same for the reported religious identity of these freshmen’s parents:
| Catholic Religious Identification of the Freshman Class and Parents from 2005-2007 |
| |
2005
|
2006 |
2007 |
| |
Student |
Father |
Mother |
Student |
Father |
Mother |
Student |
Father |
Mother |
| 4-Year Catholic colleges |
59.7%
|
59.2%
|
62.0%
|
61.5%
|
60.7%
|
64.0%
|
57.5%
|
57.5%
|
60.7%
|
| 4-Year other religious colleges |
14.2%
|
16.1%
|
16.6%
|
13.3%
|
15.4%
|
15.8%
|
12.9%
|
15.1%
|
15.6%
|
| 4-Year non-sectarian colleges |
26.1%
|
29.1%
|
30.7%
|
25.5%
|
29.0%
|
30.7%
|
23.3%
|
27.0%
|
28.6%
|
|
|
28.7%
|
31.6%
|
32.8%
|
27.4%
|
30.8%
|
32.0%
|
26.4%
|
30.0%
|
31.1%
|
|
Sources: The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 2005, 2006, and 2007.
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What is the average tuition at a Catholic college/university?
According to IPEDS data, the average tuition and fees at Catholic colleges and universities for the 2007-2008 academic year was $21,000, with a minimum of $4,900 and a maximum of $35,000.
How does enrollment in a Catholic elementary or high school affect undergraduate enrollment in a Catholic university or college?
D’Antonio, et.al., find that 42% of all Catholics who attended a Catholic college completed all or most of their education at Catholic schools (p. 160). The authors also argue that 79% of current Catholic attendees at a Catholic college or university said they had attended a Catholic elementary school, and 65% had attended a Catholic high school.
[3] For more information about Catholic elementary or secondary school, click here.
What was the first Catholic college or university in the United States?
The first Catholic higher education institution in the United States was Georgetown University, Washington, DC, founded by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1789. The newest institution is Wyoming Catholic College, Lander, WY, founded in 2007. There are 3 Catholic colleges or universities that have emerged as higher education institutions since 2005.
Are U.S. Catholic higher education institutions ‘international’?
Yes. According to the Institute of International Education
[4] Catholic higher education institutions give students opportunities to travel abroad as well as bring international students to their campuses.
Students at Catholic higher education institutions are able to expand their education internationally. For example:
- Of the top 20 baccalaureate institutions sending students internationally, one (college of St. Benedict/St. John’s University) is a Catholic College (569 students).
- Of the top 20 Master’s institutions sending students internationally, three are Catholic colleges (Loyola Marymount University: 679 students; Loyola College in Maryland: 462; Santa Clara University: 388).
- Of the top 20 Doctoral institutions sending students internationally, three are Catholic colleges (University of St. Thomas: 786; University of Notre Dame: 1,358; Boston College: 1,026).
As a percentage of their total undergraduate population, the following Catholic colleges had more than 35% of undergraduate students participating in international studies:
- Mount Mary College (WI) – 63.6% of undergraduate population
- Loyola College in Maryland – 57.6%
- Saint Mary’s College of California – 45.1%
- University of St. Thomas – 44.5%
- Gonzaga University – 39.9%
- Loyola Marymount University – 39.7%
Catholic higher education institutions also bring international students to their campuses. In the 2005/2006 academic year, Georgetown University hosted more than 1,600 international students on campus. Of the top 40 baccalaureate institutions hosting international students, three are Catholic colleges (Mercyhurst College: 175; College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University: 163; St. Francis College: 141).
Are there any 2 year Catholic colleges?
Yes. According to the NCES IPEDS data, there are more than 5,100 students enrolled at 11 Catholic two-year colleges. The median enrollment is 492, and the average cost of tuition and fees is $9,835.
How many Catholic college and university medical facilities are in the United States?
According to 2005-2006 IPEDS data, there are 26 Catholic college and university medical facilities, enrolling over 3,000 students. The mean enrollment is 122 students, ranging from 6 students to 459 students.
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What percentage of the world's Catholic colleges and universities are located in the United States?
According to the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, approximately 12.5% of the world's Catholic colleges and universities are located in the United States. There are approximately 1,861 Catholic colleges and universities worldwide. Twenty-two institutions are ACCU members.
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[1] Snyder, Thomas D., Sally A. Dillow, and Charlene M. Hoffman. July 2007. Digest of Education Statistics, 2006. (NCES 2007- 017) National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, US Department of Education. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.
[2] Weighted participants. For more information on the methodology and weighting techniques, visit: http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/heri/heri.html
[3] D'Antonio, William V., James D. Davidson, Dean R. Hoge, and Mary L. Gautier. 2007. American Catholics Today: New Realities of their Faith and their Church. Lanham, MD: The Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
[4] Koh Chin, H. and R. Bhandari. 2006. Open Doors 2006: Report on International Educational Exchange. New York: Institute of International Education.
