13 Best Catholic Colleges In The World!
It is evident that the Catholic Church takes education seriously, as seen by its educational institutions. Catholic colleges and universities sustain a global standard of academic excellence and rigor in their training programs.
Consider attending one of these 13 Best Catholic Colleges In The World if you are seeking a superior higher education.
Pew Research Center estimates that 66 percent of college graduates are Christians and 20 percent are Catholics. Many of these students may attend a secular college without understanding the advantages of Catholic universities and similar institutions of higher education.
They are unaware that the Catholic Church founded some of the world’s oldest and most illustrious institutions and universities. The majority of these Best Catholic Colleges In The World continue to educate their students in the Catholic tradition and provide an education that is both academically rigorous and geared toward service to the world and spiritual growth.
Check out: 10 Best Colleges in Texas
What is a Catholic University?
Simply said, a Catholic college is a form of Catholic higher education. According to Wikipedia, Catholic higher education consists of universities, colleges, and other private institutions of higher education run by the Catholic Church, typically religious institutes.
In contrast, Catholic canon law stipulates, “A Catholic school is understood to be one under the jurisdiction of the competent ecclesiastical authority or a public ecclesiastical juridical person.” That is, the ecclesiastical authority has acknowledged in writing that the college is Catholic” (Can. 803).
List of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World
The following is a list of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World:
1. Notre Dame University.
The University of Notre Dame du Lac, founded in 1842 by Rev. Edward Sorin, leads the list of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World. The university is a private Catholic research institution located in Notre Dame, Indiana, near South Bend.
The University of Notre Dame is one of the nation’s preeminent schools for undergraduate education and has been at the forefront of research and scholarship. This institution, enriched by Catholic intellectual and cultural traditions, has, throughout its history, tried to place knowledge at the service of justice.
Essentially, Notre Dame provides undergraduate, professional, and graduate students with the opportunity to pursue academic activities within a distinct scholarly community.
In addition, this Catholic university offers 75 undergraduate majors and is now recognized among the top 25 higher education institutions by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Niche, and others.
Moreover, the University of Notre Dame has a 91% graduation rate. Also, it is ranked #210 in the QS Global World Ranking as one of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World.
The Higher Learning Commission accredits Notre Dame University.
Also read: Online Colleges that Offer Criminal Justice
2 Georgetown College
As one of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World, Georgetown University, founded in 1789, is the oldest Catholic university in the District of Columbia. It provides its students with a dynamic combination of approachable and distinguished instructors, a comprehensive curriculum, and an engaging and culturally attractive location. In addition, internships, study abroad programs, and community service options abound for students to supplement their on-campus experience.
The undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools at Georgetown University include the highly regarded Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business, Law Center, School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, and McCourt School of Public Policy. In addition, the graduate programs at Georgetown’s Edmund A. Walsh School of International Service are well recognized.
This Catholic institution provides a total of 48 undergraduate program majors throughout four undergraduate schools, as well as the option for students to build their own programmes of study.
Additionally, as one of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World, Georgetown University’s graduation rate is 95%.
3 Boston University
Boston College, founded in 1863, is one of the top Catholic universities in the world. It is a private Jesuit research university in the Boston, Massachusetts areas of Chestnut Hill, Brighton, and Newton.
Boston College is the city’s first school of higher learning. Today, Boston College is one of the nation’s preeminent colleges, a leader in liberal arts, scientific discovery, and student development.
Boston College derives its academic and social objectives primarily from its distinctive religious tradition. Being a Catholic and Jesuit university, it is anchored in a vision that confronts God in all of creation and in all human activity, notably in the pursuit of truth across all disciplines, the desire to study, and the need to live in community with justice.
Via its eight schools and colleges, the school confers degrees in more than fifty fields of study.This is also among the list of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World.
4 Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) is an international research university located in the Dutch-speaking city of Leuven in Flanders, Belgium. It was established in 1834 in Mechelen as the Catholic University of Belgium before relocating to Leuven and changing its name to the Catholic University of Leuven in 1835.
In a variety of fields of study, KU Leuven provides courses and programs leading to officially recognized degrees like as bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral.
At KU Leuven, education and research are conducted in nearly all areas. The research is conducted by departments and research teams. There are three groupings of faculties and departments: Human Sciences, Science & Technology, and Biomedical Sciences.
In addition, KU Leuven is placed number 80 in the QS Global World University Ranking. It has about 46,000 students and 2,606 academic faculty members. In addition, KU Leuven maintains 14 campuses in 10 cities around Flanders.It is also regarded as one of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World.
Read also: 10 Best Jesuit Colleges In The U.S
5 Villanova University
Villanova University is a Catholic institution founded by Saint Augustine in 1842. The university is the oldest and largest Catholic institution in Pennsylvania. The educational experience at Villanova is anchored in the liberal arts, a shared dedication to the Augustinian virtues of truth, unity, and love, and a community dedicated to service to others.
Villanova offers great chances for academic diversity, hands-on research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and experiential learning.
In addition, the school’s overall enrolment exceeds 10,000 students, and its six colleges provide a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs.
In addition, the institution boasts a 90% graduation record and a 96% professional success rate.
Being among the Best Catholic Colleges In The World, Villanova University is accredited by the Middle States Council for Higher Education.
6. College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross was founded in 1843 as a non-profit, private school of higher education in Worcester, Massachusetts. The school is one of over a dozen in the vicinity, so students have a range of restaurants, nightlife, and outdoor activities to choose from.
Holy Cross is the only elite liberal arts college in the United States to embrace a Catholic and Jesuit identity. In addition, among the 28 Jesuit schools and institutions in the United States, only Holy Cross focuses exclusively on undergraduate education.
Holy Cross provides majors, minors, and interdisciplinary foci for every interest, ranging from well-known liberal arts disciplines like as chemistry and history to student-designed majors like international studies and architectural studies.
In addition, the College of the Holy Cross has a 90% graduation rate and a 93% retention rate for first-year students.It is also on our list of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World.
7. Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University (SCU), founded in 1851, is one of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World. Santa Clara University, located in Santa Clara, California, combines high-tech innovation with a social concern rooted in the Jesuit educational tradition.
In essence, a Santa Clara education provides more than a degree; it alters your perspective on the world and your place in it. It enables you to contribute to the resolution of global problems and to impact change in your own neighborhood.
As one of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World, SCU provides over fifty majors, minors, and specialized degrees in law, medicine, and education. In addition, SCU offers graduate degrees in the fields of business, engineering, education, counseling psychology, law, theology, and pastoral ministries.
In addition, Santa Clara University boasts a graduation rate of 85% and a first-year retention rate of 95%.
8 Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, non-profit school of higher education founded in 1818 and located in the small Missouri city of St. Louis. SLU is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic and Jesuit institutions that welcomes students of all faiths.
With a campus in Madrid, Spain, Saint Louis University is renowned for its world-class academics, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and strong dedication to faith and service.
Students at Saint Louis University learn mostly through contact, as opposed to only concepts: direct experience, service learning, and outreach.
SLU provides approximately 90 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate degrees that are challenging and relevant in the ever-changing world of today. Also, many programs offer focuses, minors, and certificates, enabling you to have a totally individualized educational experience.This is also one of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World.
In addition, Saint Louis University claims a graduation rate of 72 percent.
9 Université Catholique de Louvain
Université Catholique de Louvain (Catholic University of Leuven), founded in 1425, is a non-profit private higher education institution located in the urban environment of Louvain-la-Neuve, Walloon Brabant. It is the largest French-speaking university in Belgium. Moreover, the university has campuses in Brussels Woluwe, Mons, Tournai, Brussels Saint-Gilles, and Charleroi.
Essentially, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized degrees in higher education, including as bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees in a variety of fields of study.
The Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) is institutionally certified by Direction générale de l’Enseignement non obligatoire et de la Recherche Scientifique, Belgique.
10 Radboud University Nijmegen
Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (Radboud University), founded in 1923, is a private, non-profit institution of higher education located in the city of Nijmegen, Gelderland.
Radboud University includes seven faculties and around 19,900 students enrolled in 112 programs (37 bachelor’s and 75 master’s). Many student organizations at the university encourage engagement in extracurricular activities.
In addition, numerous ranking groups have ranked Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen among the top 150 universities in the world. It also claims a graduation rate of 72 percent.
Radboud University Nijmegen is officially certified by the Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap, Nederland (Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Netherlands).It is also on our list of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World.
11 University of California, San Diego
The University of San Diego (USD) was established in 1949 as a private Roman Catholic research institution in San Diego, California. Being a Roman Catholic institution, the United States Department of Education supports a dialogue between faith and reason. It also seeks to cultivate knowledge within a society that cherishes intellectual liberty, holistic human growth, and mutual respect.
In essence, the renowned professors and innovative students of USD are committed to extending the educational experience beyond the classroom and into the world.
In addition to obtaining an excellent education from one of the nation’s preeminent universities, USD students are immersed in an environment committed to fostering global transformation.This is also regarded as one of the Best Catholic Colleges In The World.
In addition, the graduation rate at the University of San Diego is 78%.
Check: 10 Best Colleges in North Carolina
12. Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University was established in 1911 as a non-profit, private, Jesuit and Marymount research institution in the metropolitan setting of Los Angeles, California. The university is the largest Catholic institution on the West Coast.
LMU provides over 60 main undergraduate degrees and 55 minor undergraduate degrees and programs. The institution offers 51 master’s degree programs, two research doctorates, one professional doctorate, and 12 credential programs for graduate students.
In addition, Loyola Marymount University’s graduation rate is 78%.
The WASC Senior College and University Commission has granted Loyola Marymount University official accreditation.
13 Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro
Pontifcia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro) was established in 1941 as a private, non-profit institution of higher education in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
In general, Pontifcia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RIO) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized degrees in higher education, including as bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in a variety of fields of study.
This Catholic college comprises 24 Departments grouped into four Academic Centers, with approximately 1500 staff members and researchers.
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro is accredited by the Ministério do Educacão, Brazil.
FAQs On Best Catholic Colleges In The World
Is Harvard a Catholic University?
Harvard University has no religious affiliation, but various opportunities for worship are available on campus.
How many Catholic colleges are there in the world?
Many of them are still internationally competitive. According to the census of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, the total number of Catholic universities and higher education institutions around the world is 1,358.
Are any Ivy League schools Catholic?
Also in the "Catholic Ivy League," and considered by many Catholics to be academically superior to Georgetown, is Holy Cross, in Worcester, Mass. Forty percent of its freshmen still pursue the prized Jesuit A.B. degree.
How many Catholics go to Harvard?
When asked about their religious beliefs, a plurality of surveyed freshmen—22 percent—described themselves as Catholic.
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