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Catholic universities are a great choice to consider when you want to attend colleges in Pennsylvania. Many people are not aware of it, but there are plenty of catholic colleges and universities out there in Pennsylvania. If this interests you, then keep reading! We shall discuss Catholic Universities In Pennsylvania, catholic universities in usa, catholic universities in new york, christian colleges in pennsylvania and catholic colleges in philadelphia.

Are you interested in going to colleges in Pennsylvania? If thatโ€™s the case, then how much do you know about them? All you have to do is read on to get the latest information on catholic universities in Pennsylvania in the article below. Read on as we explore Catholic Universities In Pennsylvania, catholic universities in usa, catholic universities in new york, christian colleges in pennsylvania and catholic colleges in philadelphia.

You may think that all colleges are created equal, but that is not exactly true. There are some differences between them, and one of them is their religious affiliation. Some colleges are affiliated with a religion while others are not. If your religion is important to you, then it would be best for you to consider this factor when choosing which college to attend.

There are many great things about attending a Catholic school, including a smaller class size and more personal attention from professors. Many people also believe that these schools provide better values than other institutions of higher education. However, it does cost more money because of these features and may be out of reach for many families who cannot afford such an expense on top of tuition costs and other expenses associated with living off-campus or renting an apartment near campus after graduation day arrives next month!

Catholic Universities In Pennsylvania


Villanova University

4 Year  โ€ข  Villanova, PA  โ€ข  3 reviews

Villanova University is a private not-for-profit university based in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It is an institution with an enrollment of over 1,724 bachelorโ€™s degree candidates. The admission criteria is somewhat competitive with the acceptance rate of 36%.

#1 in Best Catholic Colleges in Pennsylvania

Duquesne University

4 Year  โ€ข  Pittsburgh, PA

Duquesne University is a private not-for-profit university based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is an institution with an enrollment of over 1,562 bachelorโ€™s degree candidates. The admission criteria is somewhat competitive with the acceptance rate of 71%.

#2 in Best Catholic Colleges in Pennsylvania

Immaculata University

4 Year  โ€ข  Immaculata, PA

Immaculata University is a private not-for-profit university based in Immaculata, Pennsylvania. It is an institution with an enrollment of over 201 bachelorโ€™s degree candidates. The admission criteria is somewhat competitive with the acceptance rate of 82%.

#3 in Best Catholic Colleges in Pennsylvania


Saint Joseph’s University

4 Year  โ€ข  Philadelphia, PA

Saint Joseph’s University is a private not-for-profit university based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is an institution with an enrollment of over 1,076 bachelorโ€™s degree candidates. The admission criteria is somewhat competitive with the acceptance rate of 77%.

#4 in Best Catholic Colleges in Pennsylvania

University of Scranton

4 Year  โ€ข  Scranton, PA

University of Scranton is a private not-for-profit university based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It is an institution with an enrollment of over 908 bachelorโ€™s degree candidates. The admission criteria is somewhat competitive with the acceptance rate of 74%.

#5 in Best Catholic Colleges in Pennsylvania

Catholic Universities in USA

Sacred Heart Statue on the University of Notre Dame Campus

Attending a Catholic college or university has many advantages. The Catholic Church, especially in the Jesuit tradition, has a long history of emphasizing scholarly excellence, so it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that some of the best colleges in the country are affiliated with Catholicism. Thinking and questioning tend to be central to the college missions, not religious indoctrination. The church also emphasizes service, so students looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities will typically find many options that are often integral to the educational experience.

While there are some schools in the United States with religious affiliations that require students to attend mass and sign statements of faith, Catholic colleges and universities tend to welcome students of all beliefs. For students who are Catholic, however, campus can be a comfortable place with a large population of students who share common values, and students will have easy access to religious services right on campus.

The top Catholic colleges and universities listed below have been selected for a range of factors including reputation, retention rates, graduation rates, academic quality, value, and curricular innovations. The schools vary widely in size, location, and mission, so I have not tried to force any kind of arbitrary ranking on them. Instead, I simply list them alphabetically.

Boston College

Gasson Hall on Boston College campus in Chestnut Hill, MA
 Gasson Hall on Boston College campus in Chestnut Hill, MA. gregobagel / Getty Images

โ€‹Boston College was founded in 1863 by the Jesuits, and today it is one of the oldest Jesuit university in the U.S., and the Jesuit university with the largest endowment. The campus is distinguished by its stunning Gothic architecture, and the college has a partnership with beautiful St. Ignatius Church.

The school always places high on rankings of national universities. The undergraduate business program is particularly strong. BC has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. The Boston College Eagles compete in the NCAA Division 1-A Atlantic Coast Conference.

  • Location: Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
  • Enrollment: 14,621 (9,860 undergraduates)
  • Explore the Campus: Boston College Photo Tour

College of the Holy Cross

College of the Holy Cross
 College of the Holy Cross. Joe Campbell / Flickr

Founded in the mid-1800s by Jesuits, the College of Holy Cross boasts a long history of academic and faith-based success. Stressing the idea that Catholicism is “a love of God and love of neighbor,” the school encourages missions, retreats, and research that serves a large community. A variety of worship services are offered at the college’s chapels.

Holy Cross has an impressive retention and graduation rate, with well over 90% of entering students earning a degree within six years. The college was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, and the school’s 10 to 1 student/faculty ratio means that students will have a lot of personal interaction with their professors.

  • Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
  • Enrollment: 2,720 (all undergraduate)

Creighton University

Creighton University
 Creighton University. Raymond Bucko, SJ / Flickr

โ€‹Another Jesuit-affiliated school, Creighton offers several degrees in ministry and theology. With both on-site and online resources available, students can worship, attend retreats, and connect with a community that encourages the integration of education and Catholic tradition.

Creighton has a 11 to 1 student/faculty ratio. Biology and nursing are the most popular undergraduate majors. Creighton frequently ranks #1 among Midwest master’s universities in U.S. News & World Report, and the school also wins high marks for its value. On the athletic front, the Creighton Bluejays compete in the NCAA Division I Big East Conference.

  • Location: Omaha, Nebraska
  • Enrollment: 8,383 (4,203 undergraduates)

Fairfield University

Fairfield University
 Fairfield University. Allen Grove

Founded by the Jesuits in 1942, Fairfield University encourages ecumenical and inclusive outreach and education. The Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola, a beautiful and visually-striking building, offers a range of meeting and worship opportunities for students.

Fairfield has strong international programs and has produced a surprising number of Fulbright Scholars. Fairfield’s strengths in the liberal arts and sciences earned the school a chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, and the university’s Dolan School of Business is also well regarded. In athletics, the Fairfield Stags compete in the NCAA Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

  • Location: Fairfield, Connecticut
  • Enrollment: 5,137 (4,032 undergraduates)

Fordham University

Keating Hall at Fordham Huniversity
 Keating Hall at Fordham Huniversity. Chriscobar / Wikimedia Commons

The only Jesuit university in New York City, Fordham welcomes students of all faiths. Reflecting the tradition of its faith, the school offers resources and opportunities for campus ministry, global outreach, service/social justice, and religious/cultural studies. There are many chapels and worship spaces in and around Fordham’s campus.

Fordham University’s main campus sits next to the Bronx Zoo and the Botanical Garden. For its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, the university was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. In athletics, the Fordham Rams compete in the NCAA Division I Athletic 10 Conference except for the football team which competes in the Patriot League.

  • Location: Bronx, New York
  • Enrollment: 15,582 (9,258 undergraduates)

catholic universities in new york

More details coming up on catholic universities in new york, christian colleges in pennsylvania and catholic colleges in philadelphia.

School Comparison

Below, we’ve broken down the colleges into categories for a quick search, in case you’re seeking a school in a specific location or for a particular price. Four of the five following schools offer tuition costs around $30,000 per year.

School NameInstitution TypeDenominationLocationUndergraduate Tuition (2019-2020)*
Canisius College4-year, private not-for-profitRoman CatholicBuffalo, NY$29,428
Fordham University4-year, private not-for-profitRoman CatholicBronx, NY$54,393
Le Moyne College4-year, private not-for-profitRoman CatholicSyracuse, NY$35,230
St. John Fisher College4-year, private not-for-profitRoman CatholicRochester, NY$35,150
St. Bonaventure University4-year, private not-for-profitRoman CatholicSaint Bonaventure, NY$35,431

Source: *National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

Overview of New York’s Best Catholic Colleges

The following schools are all well-ranked for one reason or another by the U.S. News and World Report. All these Catholic colleges offer financial aid to help make the tuition more affordable, and some feature unique degree programs, like anthrozoology. Let’s take a look at some facts for each of these colleges to see which would work best for your needs and goals.

Canisius College

The U.S News & World Report named Canisius College the 22nd best regional college in the North for 2018. With a retention rate of 85% for first-time enrollees, Canisuis offers a lot of programs and activities on campus that keep students engaged. Canisius boasts 147 undergraduate degree programs, plus 35 graduate programs. The undergraduate programs include areas as diverse as anthrozoology, medical laboratory science, sport management, and urban studies. Campus ministry is also quite big on campus, with mass offered every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On top of that, there is a Wednesday night commune service. The college encourages ministry involvement, such as community service, retreats, or becoming a lector.

Fordham University

Tied for 61st place in national universities for 2018 by U.S. News & World Report, Fordham University has had 168 Fulbright scholarship recipients since 2003. Every year, the university strives to meet 1 million community service hours with all students. Throughout the year, Fordham brings in guest lecturers to inspire religious discussion and thought. Roughly 90% of undergraduate students received financial aid for the 2018-2019 school year, with 90% of that number receiving scholarships and grants. On campus, you can get involved with one of the twenty sports teams, including cheerleading, soccer, squash, track, volleyball, and rowing. There are over 70 undergraduate majors offered at this Catholic college, with two campuses – Lincoln Center or Rose Hill – both offering most programs. Just a few programs are only offered on one campus, such as chemistry only being offered at the Rose Hill campus.

Le Moyne College

In 2018, Le Moyne College had a 74% graduation rate for undergraduate students finishing their degrees within six years. Of the 656 undergrads who applied for financial aid, 100% were given some form of a grant or scholarship that did not need to be repaid after graduation. There are over 80 clubs to get involved in, covering plenty of majors and interests, from the Dolphin Steppers step group to CARE (Creating Awareness and Reaching for Equality), who aim for a greater LGBTQ acceptance. Along with these are Christian groups, such as the 220 Ministry, a Christian group that comes together for Bible study and prayer. This school was number six on the ‘Best Value Schools’ list for regional universities in the North in 2018, per U.S. News & World Report.

St. John Fisher College

U.S. News & World Report ranked St. John Fisher College #37 in the nation for best value schools in 2018. Since 100% of students who applied for financial aid received it in the 2018 school year, it makes sense that this college can be affordable and attainable. This campus sits on 164 acres of land just outside the city of Rochester. There are dozens of majors available, including media management, statistics, interactive media, inclusive childhood education, criminology, and American studies. This is a liberal arts college that includes pre-professional programs for health, engineering, law, and pharmacy. Mass is held daily during the school year at the Hermance Family Chapel of St. Basil the Great. Sports are also a big part of campus life at Fisher, with 12 women’s teams and 11 men’s teams. As an added bonus, the Buffalo Bills have used the Fisher campus as their training camp location over the last several years.

Colleges in Pennsylvania

St. Bonaventure University

Number 21 in regional universities in the North for 2018 is St. Bonaventure University, according to U.S. News & World Report. Outside of NYC, this is the southern-most Catholic school on this list. St. Bonaventure keeps its classrooms intimate with a student to teacher ratio of 12:1. Over the course of its history, St. Bonaventure has produced six alumni who have won the Pulitzer Prize. Also, St. Bonaventure’s education program has been named one of the nation’s top innovative educator programs by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

Students can also consider studying all sorts of liberal arts subjects, such as childhood studies, cybersecurity, international studies, journalism, marketing, and public health. There’s also plenty to do on campus, with campus ministry taking part in faith formation, worship, ministry, community service, youth mentoring, and a student-run soup kitchen called the Warming House. Students can also spend the evening at the Mt. Irenaeus retreat just off campus.

christian colleges in pennsylvania

10 Best Christian Colleges in Pennsylvania

  1. Villanova University
  2. Duquesne University
  3. Lafayette College
  4. Gannon University
  5. La Salle University
  6. Saint Joseph’s University
  7. University of Scranton
  8. Grove City College
  9. Eastern University
  10. Chestnut Hill College

catholic colleges in philadelphia

Catholic Colleges

  • St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
  • Cabrini College
  • Chestnut Hill College
  • Gwynedd Mercy College
  • Holy Family University
  • Immaculata University
  • LaSalle University
  • Manor College
  • Neumann University
  • Rosemont College
  • St. Joseph University
  • Villanova University

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