The Newman Guide to Catholic Colleges & Universities

The Cardinal Newman Society was founded in 1993 with the goal of promoting and defending faithful Catholic education. The free Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College was originally a printed edition. However, it is now offered exclusively as a digital resource for parents and students as they seek a faithfully and authentic Catholic higher education. There are in-depth profiles on their recommended colleges, tips on navigating the college search, and the opportunity to participate in an essay scholarship content. 

The Cardinal Newman Society supports homeschooling as one of several methods of education. They state, “The growing impact of Catholic homeschooling in the Church is the fruit of the work of the Holy Spirit, and we encourage bishops, superintendents, and pastors to always include homeschooling in the Church’s plans for educating the faithful.” 

The Newman Society offers guidance to parents seeking to continue their children’s education beyond high school. Choosing the right college or university can be challenging. One sobering statistics they share: Nearly 1 in 8 Catholic students leaves the Catholic faith by the time they graduate, even at Catholic colleges. In fact, among Catholics who graduate from college, almost 75% say they do not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. 

Why is this sliding away from the faith occurring? This is a question with a complex answer. But the Cardinal Newman Society posits that many Catholic colleges have actually moved to become more secular. While they maintain a Catholic identity to some extent, the abandonment of a traditional core curriculum in the liberal arts and a tension between academics and the teaching of the Church can lead to a poor outcome for a Catholic student. 

There are, however, many colleges and universities that uphold Catholic teaching and ideas and seek the Truth in all aspects of campus academics and college life. Catholic parents should look for these three pillars when helping their child decide on a college or university:

• Theology & Philosophy – Taught alongside the humanities and the sciences
• Ethics – Should be incorporated into the teaching of every discipline
• Reasoning – Education isn’t just skills and facts, but should include reasoning and communication
  
  

In addition to these important considerations, the atmosphere on campus should also factor into your decision. The Newman Society reports that students typically spend only 15 hours per week in classroom learning. The rest of the week is spent in the dorm, at work (often on campus), or at social or studying activities. The Newman Society values a campus environment that promotes the practice of virtue. All Newman Guide colleges typically include these criteria:

• Single-sex dorms
• No opposite-sex visitors in bedrooms
• Dorm policies that encourage the practice of virtue, privacy, and safety
  
  

Fully Catholic colleges also offer the advantage of incorporating the life of the Church into campus life. While a secular school may have a Catholic center, Mass on campus, and social opportunities, a truly Catholic institution works to promote Catholic culture. They typically have a robust campus ministry, several priests and religious, access to Mass and Confession daily, Eucharistic adoration, and many opportunities for spiritual counseling. A college with a Catholic culture educates and forms the whole person–mind, spirit, and body. In the pursuit of education and from living in community, students should have many opportunities to make friendships with others who share in the same beliefs and encourage each other in the practice of virtue. 

A Catholic college should also ensure that classroom teaching is in accordance with the teachings of the Church. Simply teaching facts does not provide a complete education. Each student should be encouraged to pursue learning about God through what is good, true, and beautiful. Education should prepare a person to seek out the will of God, to live his or her vocation, and to contribute to participation and leadership of the family and our society. 

Parents and students can use the Newman Guide to Catholic Colleges & Universities to begin their search for a school that meets their needs, is affordable, is faithful to the teaching of the Catholic Church, and will be a good fit.