Catholic universities in USA run from very traditional to those that are more liberal, but they all offer high-quality educational programs. You’ve probably heard of the most famous ones, such as Notre Dame, Georgetown University and Villanova. But there are hundreds of smaller Catholic universities in the USA that also offer a variety of degrees (undergraduate and graduate), and have some of the best acceptances rates for colleges in the US, so, they are among the easiest colleges to get into. This article will give you a rundown of all the major Catholic universities in the USA, their curriculums, what makes them different, and how you can get in!
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Catholic Universities in USA: Admission Information
Acceptance Rate: 12%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT
SAT Range of Accepted Students: n/a
Acceptance Rate: 12%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
SAT Range of Accepted Students: 1450-1530
ACT Range of Accepted Students: 33-35
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average GPA: 3.39-3.85
SAT Range of Accepted Students: 1160-1340
ACT Range of Accepted Students: 25-30
Acceptance Rate: 52%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average GPA of Admitted Students: 4.05
Acceptance Rate: 76%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average GPA Range for Admitted Students: 3.56-3.92
Average SAT Score Range for Admitted Students: 1265-1410
Average ACT Score for Admitted Students: 28-32
Acceptance Rate: 56.3%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average GPA Range for Admitted Students: 3.70-3.80
Average SAT Score Range for Admitted Students: 1370-1500
Average ACT Score for Admitted Students: 31-34
Acceptance Rate: 36%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average SAT Math Score Range for Admitted Students: 620-710
Average SAT English and Writing Score Range for Admitted Students: 640-720
Average ACT Score for Admitted Students: 28-32
Acceptance Rate: 44%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average GPA: 3.73
Average SAT Range for Admitted Students: 1330-1490
Average ACT Range for Admitted Students: 30-33
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average GPA: 3.9
Average SAT Range for Admitted Students: 1220-1430
Average ACT Range for Admitted Students: 27-32
10. Loyola Marymount University
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average GPA: 3.9
Average SAT Range for Admitted Students: 1220-1430
Average ACT Range for Admitted Students: 27-32
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average GPA: 3.9
Mean SAT Score for Admitted Students: 1220
Mean ACT Score for Admitted Students: 26
12. Boston College
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average GPA: 3.9
SAT Score Range for Admitted Students: 1450-1520
ACT Score for Admitted Students: 33-34
Acceptance Rate: 58%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average GPA: 3.68
Average SAT Score Range for Admitted Students: 1300
ACT Score for Admitted Students: 29
14. The Catholic University of America
Acceptance Rate: n/a
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average SAT Score Range for Admitted Students: 1020-1230
Average ACT Score Range for Admitted Students: 22-28
Acceptance Rate: n/a
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average SAT Score Range for Admitted Students: 1020-1230
Average ACT Score Range for Admitted Students: 22-28
Acceptance Rate: 20.5%
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average Unweighted GPA Range: 3.92-4.20
Average SAT Score Range for Admitted Students: 1450-1520
Average ACT Score Range for Admitted Students: 33-35
Acceptance Rate: n/a
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average Unweighted GPA Range: n/a
Average SAT Score Range for Admitted Students: n/a
Average ACT Score Range for Admitted Students: n/a
Acceptance Rate: n/a
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average GPA: 3.24
Average SAT Score for Admitted Students: 1484
Average ACT Score for Admitted Students: n/a
Acceptance Rate: n/a
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Average GPA: 3.39
Average SAT Score for Admitted Students: 976
Average ACT Score for Admitted Students: 20
Acceptance Rate: n/a
Entrance Exam: ACT or SAT-optional
Minimum GPA to Apply: 2.0
Minimum SAT Score for Admitted Students: 879
Minimum ACT Score for Admitted Students: 18
Want to learn 6 strategies to get into a top tier college with a low GPA? Watch this video:
Catholic Universities in USA: Selection Factors
Catholic universities in USA have similar application requirements as secular or public colleges in the US, as they all ask for a combination of the following materials:
- High school transcripts
- Standardized test scores (SAT vs. ACT)
- Personal statement/admissions essays
- College recommendation letter
- High school counselor evaluation
- High school resume (optional)
Similar to other colleges that do not require the SAT or ACT in the US, some Catholic universities in USA have adopted test-optional policies, meaning you can choose whether to submit your SAT or ACT scores or not. However, there are some cases where you may have to submit SAT scores or ACT scores. A few of these schools have minimum GPA requirements. If you do not meet the minimum, they often ask for SAT or ACT scores so they have another way to assess your application and readiness for college, which is another way for how to get into college with a low GPA.
Some colleges may ask you to explain your low GPA in a college essay, though not always. Most commonly, a personal statement or an essay answering “why this college?” is a required part of the application process. Some of the biggest and most well-known Catholic universities in USA, such as Georgetown University and Notre Dame, have specific essay questions and college essay topics that you have to write about as part of your supplemental college essays. These are two (there are four in total) sample questions that you are asked to write about in your Notre Dame supplemental essay :
- Describe a time when you advocated for something you believed in and influenced others through thoughtful discourse to promote a deeper understanding of a difficult situation.
- What is distinctive about your personal experiences and development (e.g., family support, culture, disability, personal background, community, etc.)? Why are these experiences important to you and how will you enrich the Notre Dame community?
Others schools will follow a similar vein, as you must also address similar themes in Boston College supplemental essays. However, other schools may ask for a general personal statement or a Common App essay if they use Common App, where you can talk about anything regarding your choice of school or your future career plans, and not necessarily about why you want to attend a Catholic university.
The use of Common App is uneven for many of these schools. Since Catholic universities also accept students who are home-schooled, transfer applicants, or international students, they may not always use Common App, and have a separate application system for those non-traditional students. To use the example of Notre Dame, it also uses the Quest Bridge application system, which is geared toward helping low-income and disadvantaged students enter college and has its own set of essay questions you have to respond to.
But one thing we should make clear is that you do not have to be Catholic to apply to any of the Catholic universities in USA. A majority of entrants to these schools are Catholic, but you can apply as a non-Catholic. However, you should also be aware that some of these schools do advance a Catholic-centered teaching and learning environment that can manifest in many ways, from holding regular mass and having all-Catholic faculty to having only single-sex dormitories and prohibiting public speakers who espouse beliefs contrary to Catholic doctrine. The level of a Catholic university’s “faithfulness” to Catholicism varies between most of these schools, so you should investigate what it is before applying.
Working on your college essays? Check this out:
Catholic Universities in USA: What Makes them Different?
Catholic universities in USA are some of the oldest higher learning institutions in the US. They have as much history and a reputation for excellence as Ivy League colleges. There are also many more Catholic universities in USA than Ivy League schools, although they are not as elite or difficult to get into as even the easiest Ivy League to get into. But as we mentioned, Catholic universities express their fidelity to Catholic teachings and principles in various ways, which you may or may not agree with.
Some of the areas in which a school’s Catholic identity manifests itself include:
- A required number of theology or philosophy credits for all undergraduates
- A large percentage of the faculty and administration are clergy
- Daily or weekly Catholic rites and rituals (mass, confession, rosary, etc.)
These are the most general ways, but each school has its own way of living up to Catholic teachings. One example is the Catholic University of America; CUA has a long list of standard bachelor degree programs (130 in total), along with hosting a business and nursing school. The business school offers similar programs as other business schools (accounting; finance; international economy) but infuses their courses with a Catholic philosophy of making ethical, person-centered decisions rather than relying solely on maximizing profit as the only motivation behind any business decision.
The Catholic University of America business school is only one example, but other schools, despite having a Catholic background and mission, may opt to teach a fully secular curriculum across all subjects. You’ll find that some Catholic universities in USA are more faithful to Catholicism than others, something that is reflected in their program offerings, which are usually theology- or philosophy-based, tied to the study of Catholicism or provide a pathway to becoming clergy.
However, attending a Catholic university as a secular student does not mean you necessarily have to participate in any of the Catholic rites or rituals performed on campus. You can choose your level of participation and Catholic universities in USA also offer various non-academic and non-religious activities (sports, student clubs, community service) that other public and secular universities offer, so you can enrich your college experience with non-religious events and activities as you would at any other school.
Catholic Universities in USA: Curriculum and Course Work
The academic offerings of Catholic universities in USA are similar to any other liberal arts college or university in the US, but they also offer more Catholic or faith-based courses and programs although that is not universal. All of the Catholic universities in USA have both undergraduate and graduate programs and no matter what you level of study, you can find programs that both adhere to tenets of Catholic faith or don’t.
Many of these Catholic universities also host professional schools, such as medical, nursing, or law schools. These schools are all accredited by their respective accreditation bodies, such as the Higher Commission of Learning, the American Bar Association and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, (ACEN).
Faculty in these schools are also professionals or experts in their field, but a few, such as the Creighton University School of Medicine, use a curriculum infused by the principles of Jesuit education. What this means is that similar to any secular medical school’s mission and values, you’ll be expected to approach medicine as a pursuit “For the Greater Glory of God”, which is to serve and heal all of humanity.
These values and mission do not mean that you have to be a believer or convert to Catholicism. At the Creighton University School of Medicine, and any other medical school at a Catholic university, your only responsibility is academic, meaning you will not be forced to espouse values that you do not believe or agree with. However, you also have to remember that being a student at one of these schools means you’ll have to interact with these aspects of the school and decide for yourself your own level of faithfulness or commitment to these tenets.
How to Get into Catholic Universities in the US
1. Decide if You’re Willing to Accept a Catholic Learning Environment
We don’t mean that you have to become Catholic, but going to Catholic universities in USA means that you will be exposed, either directly or indirectly, to the Catholic faith and its teachings. For example, there are priests on-campus at Notre Dame who work in a variety of roles, whether as academic support, spiritual counselors, faculty or administrators. As we mentioned, every Catholic university tries to strike a balance between upholding Catholic values and being accepting of students of all or no faiths. Some walk a middle ground. While others skew toward traditional Catholic teaching, rules, and policies. If you are a practicing Catholic, then you might be drawn to this type of environment. But if you’re choosing a Catholic university for the strength of its academic programs or other reasons, you have to be willing to accept a level of exposure to Catholicism.
2. Put a Lot of Effort into Your College Essays
As SAT and ACT scores are now optional, personal statements and other college supplemental essays are more important than ever for admission committees. It’s one of the few ways they’ll learn more about you and what your passionate about. All Catholic universities in USA will ask for a college statement of interest, but the content might be different. We gave you the questions that Notre Dame asks, but those are particular to that school. Other Catholic universities may ask you to write a general personal statement about your academic goals and interests, why you want to go to the school or about anything unique about you that you have overcome. For example, they may ask for a college diversity essay or choose another common college essay topic to learn more about you as an incoming student. If you are asked to write a general personal statement, make sure to tell a story of how you excelled, whether as a leader, mentor or even a time when you had to overcome a serious obstacle; show, don’t tell. But, your statement is also the ideal place to express why, whether you’re a Catholic or a non-Catholic, you want attend a Catholic university.
3. Get Good Letters of Recommendation
Catholic universities in USA ask for at least one letter of recommendation, or a counselor evaluation, from your high school guidance counselor; a letter of recommendation is often required, but a counselor evaluation is optional. Some schools will ask for a letter of recommendation from a teacher who has taught you in any “core” courses, such as physics, English, math, social science or a foreign language. You should ask teachers in whose class you’ve excelled and provide them with your transcripts and personal statement so they can understand why you are motivated to go to a Catholic university. You only usually have to submit one letter so you don’t have to spend too much time looking for letter writers, but remember to only pick people you know will give you their full support. If you have to convince someone, then they might not be the best candidate.
4. Participate in Something Your Passionate About
All colleges in the US are interested in what you are passionate about, but your extracurriculars for college matter a little more if you’re applying to a Catholic university in the US. A central part of Catholicism is giving back through meaningful acts of service and charity, so having any type of community service position (volunteering at a non-profit; food bank; tutoring children) on your record will bode well for you. But you can also impress admissions committees with any talents or hobbies that you have that are also offered at the school. If you are active in sports, the arts, music, student government, then you should list them on your application to demonstrate that you are a multifaceted individual with a variety of interests.
Conclusion
Catholic universities in USA are part of a long-standing academic tradition that dates back to the earliest Catholic universities in Europe and elsewhere. While these schools have roots in the Catholic tradition, they are also committed to living up to the high, academic standards of any college or university. Some of these schools are highly-rated. They have similar program offerings as other colleges in the US, expert faculty, along with excellent athletic programs, and an endless amount of service or volunteer opportunities so you can demonstrate your commitment to the secular and Catholic traditions of service, good deeds, and care for your community.
FAQs
1. How many Catholic universities in USA are there?
There are close to 200 Catholic universities listed on the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities.
2. Are Catholic universities in USA religious schools?
No, they are not religious schools in that they only teach Catholicism. You can get a degree in nursing, political science, law or medicine at any of these schools, but, depending on the school, you might also be required to complete a few courses in religious or Catholic studies.
3. What’s different about Catholic universities in USA than secular schools?
Catholic universities in USA were founded to be centers of learning with a Catholic perspective. This means you can both engage with the Catholic faith, if you want and on your own terms, while earning your bachelor’s or graduate degree in any subject. Engage, in this context, meaning anything from going to mass and confession, or participating in community outreach and engagement initiatives.
4. Do I have to be a Catholic to go to Catholic universities in USA?
No, you do not have to be Catholic to attend any Catholic university in the US.
5. What do I need to get into Catholic universities in USA?
You usually need to meet only a few academic requirements (English, math, science, social science), submit at least one letter of recommendation, a personal statement, and SAT or ACT scores, although the latter is now optional.
6. How do I apply to Catholic universities in USA?
Many of these universities use the Common Application system, but they might also have different application pathways for different students, such as home-schooled or international students. You have to check with the university you are interested in to see what kind of application system they have, which can be unique to that school.
7. Are Catholic universities in USA good?
Yes, Catholic universities in USA are among the most highly rated colleges in the US, from Notre Dame and Georgetown to Gonzaga and Villanova, which are renowned for everything from their research and faculty to their athletic programs and extracurricular activities.
8. Should I go to a Catholic university in USA?
It depends on the Catholic university you want to go to. If you want to attend a big, urban university such as Georgetown or Boston College, it would be the same as going to a secular school but with a Catholic background. However, other Catholic universities in USA are more focused on Catholic educational practices and upholding the values of Catholicism so you need to decide for yourself which type of Catholic university you want to attend and whether you would be comfortable with daily interaction with the Catholic faith.
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