2025 Best Catholic Colleges

Academic Highlights: For a large university with a heavy presence of graduate students, Georgetown maintains a personalized and intimate learning environment. The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and 62% of classes enroll fewer than 20 students. While some classes are a bit larger, only 6% cross the 50-student threshold. There are many ways that students can seek funding for independent research projects or become an assistant to faculty members via the Georgetown Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. Summer research can lead to the completion of a senior thesis that can be presented at the College Academic Council Research Colloquium every spring. Each year, 1,000+ Hoya undergrads participate in one of the school’s 200+ study abroad programs that are spread across 50+ countries.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 72% of members of the Class of 2023 entered the workforce, 20% went directly into a graduate or professional program of study, and 5% were still seeking employment. The Class of 2023 sent graduates to a number of major corporations including Bank of America (18), JP Morgan Chase (18), Deloitte (15), Citi (13), and Morgan Stanley (13). Those attending grad school stay at Georgetown or flock to other elite schools like Columbia and NYU. By far, New York and remaining in DC are the two most popular postgraduate destinations, although a fair number also migrate to Virginia, California, Massachusetts, Texas, and Maryland. The financial picture for Georgetown graduates is rosy. Average starting salaries fall well above the national average.

Academic Highlights: 75 majors are offered across six undergraduate colleges. A solid 61% of courses enroll fewer than 20 students, and 18% have single-digit numbers. Just 9% of courses have an enrollment of more than 50 undergrads. The Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement offers hundreds of opportunities for conducting research, both individually and alongside faculty; more than one-third of graduates ultimately partake. One of the top universities for study abroad participation, 87% of Notre Dame undergrads select one of 50+ programs in 35 countries; the satisfaction rate for study abroad experiences is above 90%.

Professional Outcomes: A spectacular 98% of 2023 Notre Dame graduates were employed, continuing their educations, volunteering, or serving in the military within six months of completing their degrees. Top companies where recent alumni set up shop included Deloitte, EY, PwC, Microsoft, Amazon, Bank of America, KPMG, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and McKinsey & Co. The median starting salary across all majors is $82,000, a mark that is significantly higher than the national average for college grads. The highest concentration of recent alumni can be found in Illinois followed by New York, Indiana, California, and Texas.

Academic Highlights: The college offers roughly 60 majors across four schools that award undergraduate degrees. Approximately half of the college’s sections contain nineteen or fewer students. In their own self-assessment, 95% of graduates reported learning how to think critically at BC, and 93% said they learned how to write clearly and effectively. Fifty percent of BC grads pursued a semester abroad in one of 170+ locations around the globe, and 90% cited the experience as a source of personal growth.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 94% of the Class of 2023 had landed at their next destination, whether that was employment, graduate school, a fellowship, or a volunteer position. The median starting salary for a 2023 BC grad was $71,000. By a wide margin, the locale where the most alumni settle is the university’s home state of Massachusetts; New York City also draws a sizable number of BC grads. Seventeen percent of the Class of 2023 entered graduate schools including Brown, Columbia, Georgetown, and the University of Chicago.

Academic Highlights: The college offers over thirty traditional majors as well as additional subjects in which one can pursue a student-designed major. The average class size is a manageable 19 students, and 66% of courses have enrollments lower than that. An undergraduate-only institution, Holy Cross offers ample individualized attention and guidance from faculty. Each year, one hundred students participate in the intensive Weiss Summer Research Program that offers STEM majors the opportunity for one-on-one mentorship from a professor. Across all disciplines, research apprenticeships are available to undergrads as early as the sophomore year. Roughly one-quarter typically take advantage of study abroad opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after moving their tassels to the left, 62% of the Class of 2023 were employed, 21% were in graduate school, and only 7% were still seeking full-time employment. Organizations employing more than one recent graduate include Fidelity Investments, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Massachusetts General Hospital, Deloitte, KPMG, RSM, Oracle, and Dell. The average salary is $68k. New England is the most popular home, keeping over 50% of grads in the area with the Mid-Atlantic region soaking up an additional 30%. Boston and New York City are the two most common destinations.

Academic Highlights: Students can choose one of 55+ programs within four schools. The university sports a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 88% of faculty hold the highest degree in their fields. The Villanova Match Research Program for First Year Students allows second-semester freshmen to work as research assistants alongside distinguished faculty, and the Villanova Undergraduate Research Fellows Summer Program is taken advantage of by many upperclassmen. In total, 87% of recent grads who sought out a research experience were able to find one. Wildcats study abroad in impressive numbers; over 800 students travel to a foreign country each year

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, Class of 2023 graduates had a placement rate of 96% with 71% entering the workforce and 22% matriculating into graduate or professional school. The most popular employers are Boeing, Merck, Deloitte, JPMorgan Chase, Comcast, Amazon, Microsoft, and Goldman Sachs. The average starting salary was $77,833. Recent grads went on to study at graduate institutions like Boston University, Columbia, Drexel, Duke, George Washington, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Temple, and UPenn.

Academic Highlights: Students can pursue 45 degrees offered by three undergraduate colleges. While you won’t find many single-digit enrollment seminars, 42% of course sections do contain fewer than 20 students. Undergraduate research is built into many academic programs, particularly in the sciences, and students can partner with willing professors for credited research opportunities. In addition, study abroad ventures are available on all six continents fit for human habitation, and approximately one-third of juniors take advantage each year.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of receiving their degrees, 77% of Broncos have landed jobs. The companies presently employing the greatest number of alumni are all tech giants including Cisco, Apple, Google, NVIDIA, Meta, and Adobe. The median starting salary is $71,900, a number that skyrockets to a median of $173k by mid-career, placing SCU alums in the top 1% nationwide. For those who chose to pursue further education, 82% stated that SCU provided excellent preparation for graduate studies.

Academic Highlights: Fordham’s 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio leads to an average class size of 23 students. Some classes will be on the smaller side as 50% of sections contain nineteen or fewer students. Rarely will an undergrad end up in a classroom of more than forty students. A substantial 36% of the student body spends a semester abroad at one of the school’s 125 programs in 50+ countries. The undergraduate research program has awarded 1.5 million dollars to students over the last decade and recently saw thirty-eight undergrads obtain coauthor status on professor-published work in a single year.

Professional Outcomes: Class of 2023 graduates found employment, graduate school, or other meaningful activities at an 89% clip within six months of receiving their degrees. Over half of this group landed employment and enjoyed an average salary of $68,375. Significant numbers of 2023 grads found homes at major companies including PwC (27), EY (24), JP Morgan Chase (16), Deloitte (14), KPMG (12), and Morgan Stanley (12). The greatest number of recent graduates pursuing an advanced degree landed at Fordham, Columbia, NYU, and St. John’s University.

Academic Highlights: LMU’s 55 majors and 58 minors are taught by faculty heralded for their warmth and accessibility, a sentiment backed by an 11:1 faculty-to-student ratio. Fifty-six percent of courses enroll 19 or fewer students, and 99% enroll fewer than 39 individuals. There are four programs through which students can access on-campus research opportunities, including the Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Each year, a healthy number of undergrads (usually 500+) elect to study abroad in more than 20 different countries including Ghana, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

Professional Outcomes: Just 2% of LMU graduates in 2023 were still looking for work six months after completing their degrees. Seventy-five percent had procured employment, 22% were in graduate school, and 1% were engaged in some type of service program. Companies employing graduates include the Los Angeles Lakers, Oracle, Microsoft, NASA, PWC, RCA, NBC Universal, and the Smithsonian. Recent alumni have gone on to further their education in a range of disciplines at Georgetown, GWU, NYU, Stanford, Northwestern, and Notre Dame.

Academic Highlights: With a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio, the university keeps 47% of class sections at 19 or fewer students. Marquette offers more than 75 majors and 80+ minors across seven colleges.  Opportunities for hands-on training are available via the Office of Research and Innovation or via other discipline-specific postings available each semester. With 80+ partnerships throughout the world, 30% of Golden Eagles study abroad.

Professional Outcomes: Fifty-six percent of recent grads enjoyed full-time employment within six months of graduation, although that figure varied widely by discipline. The largest employers of Golden Eagle alumni include GE Healthcare, Northwestern Mutual, Rockwell Automation, Baird, Johnson Controls, and the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Other Midwestern powerhouses, including Kohl’s Medtronic and Milwaukee Tool, also employ hundreds of Marquette graduates. Slightly over half of 2023 grads stayed put in the state of Wisconsin while 24% went south to Illinois, and 6% settled in another Midwestern state.

Academic Highlights: Undergraduates can choose from a variety of majors and minors across four schools. 99% of courses at USD contain 39 or fewer students. If you desire to participate in undergraduate research, there is a faculty member willing to work with you, “regardless of major or class standing.” Students can participate through a number of formal on-campus programs like the Beginning Undergraduate Research Summer Training (BURST) program or the McNair Scholars Program, which provides faculty mentors and stipends as support. The 80 available study abroad programs attract an exceptional 70% of Toreros.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after being handed their diplomas, 89% of recent USD graduates had found their next destination. 63% were employed at a diverse range of employers such as EY, General Atomics, PwC, Deloitte, Northrop Grumman, NBC Universal, and Boeing. The median starting salary was a healthy $72k. Approximately 23% of recent grads immediately pursued an advanced degree.

Academic Highlights: A 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio is fully felt in the classroom as courses average only 20 students per section. While 42% come in under that marker and only a smattering of sections contain 40+ students, the greatest number of courses have enrollments in the 20-29 range. Each year, 300+ faculty-directed undergraduate research projects are completed and shown off at the university’s Annual Research and Creative Accomplishments Symposium. Study abroad programs have a 30% participation rate, and opportunities are available to travel to 60+ programs across 40 countries on five continents.

Professional Outcomes: Fairfield’s Class of 2023 found its next destination within six months of graduating at a hard-to-beat 99% clip. Major employers include PwC, Deloitte, EY, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Fidelity Investments, with 25% of grads working in the finance industry. Thus, it’s no wonder that the average starting salary is a healthy $68,733. Twenty-nine percent of 2023 grads enrolled directly in graduate or professional school.

Academic Highlights: As one of only 28 Jesuit universities in the nation, Creighton University offers students more than 60 distinct majors across 22 fields of study within a values-driven learning environment. The university’s exceptional 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures personalized attention, with half of all class sections enrolling fewer than 20 students. Creighton’s commitment to hands-on learning shines through its robust experiential programs; an impressive 83% of undergraduates participate in internships, research projects, or other applied learning opportunities. This combination of intimate classroom settings and practical experience prepares students to think critically and engage meaningfully with complex real-world challenges.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2023 achieved outstanding post-graduation success, with 68% securing employment, 27% enrolling in graduate programs, and just 1% still seeking opportunities six months after commencement. Graduates reported a strong median starting salary of $61,000, with many joining prestigious organizations including CHI Health, KPMG, Deloitte, Mayo Clinic, and Nebraska Medicine. These outcomes reflect both the quality of Creighton’s academic programs and the strong professional network cultivated by the university’s career services and engaged alumni community.

Academic Highlights: At PC, there are 47 majors on tap. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll find yourself surrounded by 50+ peers in more than a single course during your time at Providence—just 3% of undergraduate courses meet this criteria while 96% of classes enroll 29 students or fewer; the average class size is 19. The student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1 is low enough to make individual connections possible, including undergraduate research experiences that 36% of recent grads reported having the chance to engage in. With more than 300 study abroad programs, the opportunity to spend a semester in over 40 countries is on the table.

Professional Outcomes: Ninety-seven percent of Class of 2023 graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduating. Among the employed, 88% were working in their field of interest. More than 50 alumni are presently employed by Fidelity Investments, PwC, Citizens, CVS Health, Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, EY, and Dell Technologies. Sixteen percent of graduates immediately enroll in full-time graduate or professional degree programs, attending universities such as Brown, Columbia, Duke, Emory, and Tulane.

Academic Highlights: Saint Louis University stands as one of America’s most distinguished Catholic universities, offering students 97 bachelor’s programs within a nearly 200-year tradition of academic excellence. SLU’s global mission comes alive through its diverse community representing all 50 states and 87 countries, with 600+ students annually engaging in transformative international experiences that blend intellectual growth with Jesuit values of service and leadership.

Professional Outcomes: SLU graduates achieve remarkable career success, with 48% entering the workforce at leading employers like BJC HealthCare, Boeing, and Mercy, earning strong median salaries of $64,480. Another 39% continue their education, predominantly at SLU’s own highly-ranked graduate programs, demonstrating the university’s dual strength in launching careers and advancing scholarship. These outcomes reflect SLU’s unique ability to prepare graduates who combine professional excellence with ethical leadership in their communities.

Academic Highlights: Loyola University Chicago offers students a comprehensive liberal arts foundation through 80+ majors and minors across 13 distinguished schools and colleges. With 42% of classes enrolling fewer than 20 students, Loyola ensures personalized mentorship within its rigorous Core Curriculum while providing global learning opportunities through 50+ study abroad programs—including its historic John Felice Rome Center, the oldest continuously operated American university program in Italy. The university’s commitment to discovery is further demonstrated through 45 specialized research institutes that engage undergraduates in meaningful scholarship.

Professional Outcomes: Loyola graduates achieve exceptional career success, with 96% securing positive outcomes, 82% employed at industry leaders like Apple, NBCUniversal, and PwC, with median salaries of $53,284, while 14% pursue advanced degrees at prestigious institutions including Northwestern and Marquette. These outcomes reflect Loyola’s powerful integration of liberal arts critical thinking with professional preparation, preparing graduates to excel in Chicago’s dynamic economy and beyond while maintaining the university’s strong tradition of educating leaders.

Academic Highlights: As a premier Catholic, Marianist research university, the University of Dayton offers students 80+ undergraduate programs within a dynamic learning environment that blends faith, reason, and hands-on experience. With a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 24, students benefit from personalized attention while accessing the resources of a top-tier research institution, including 30+ specialized research centers. Every major culminates in a capstone experience, and students engage in transformative opportunities ranging from global study abroad to cutting-edge research and cooperative education programs.

Professional Outcomes: Dayton graduates achieve exceptional career outcomes, with a 98% success rate (70% employed, 24% in graduate school). Alumni launch careers with industry leaders like GE Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, and Sherwin-Williams, while others pursue advanced degrees at elite institutions including Duke and Notre Dame. Many choose to strengthen Ohio’s workforce, particularly in the Dayton metropolitan area, where they contribute to the region’s various sectors. These results demonstrate how Dayton’s unique integration of Marianist values, academic rigor, and experiential learning produces graduates who excel as both professionals and community leaders.

Academic Highlights: Seattle University delivers a personalized Jesuit education through its 65 undergraduate programs across six schools and colleges. With an exceptional 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 18, students benefit from close mentorship, with 100% of courses taught by faculty (no teaching assistants). The university emphasizes global engagement, sending 400+ students abroad annually, while maintaining its commitment to values-driven learning that combines academic rigor with ethical reflection.

Professional Outcomes: Seattle University graduates achieve outstanding results, with 97% securing employment or graduate school placement shortly after commencement. Alumni excel at Washington’s top employers, including Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing, while SU boasts the highest mid-career salaries among the state’s university graduates. The university’s strong regional network is evident as 64% of alumni remain in Washington, 61% specifically in the Puget Sound area—demonstrating SU’s pivotal role in developing the region’s professional workforce.

Academic Highlights: There are more than 130 undergraduate majors at the nation’s largest Catholic research university. The student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1 and 38% of courses enroll fewer than 20 students. Special study abroad initiatives like FY@broad cater to first-year students, while Identities Abroad programs focus on diversity and inclusion, providing scholarships to support underrepresented students. The university rates well in the areas of overall value and facilitating social mobility.

Professional Outcomes: 90% of recent graduates found their next positive step in life within six months of being awarded their diploma. 78% were employed earning a modest median salary of $45,000. Sample employers included JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte, Discover, AbbVie, Amazon, and United Airways, as well as a number of nonprofit entities. Less than 10% of DePaul graduates directly enter graduate or professional school right after completing their undergraduate education.

Academic Highlights: As the nation’s oldest Catholic research university, Catholic University offers students 90 undergraduate programs within a faith-based intellectual community. With an exceptional 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and access to 40+ research centers, students benefit from both personalized mentorship and substantial research opportunities. The university’s global presence includes study abroad programs in 25+ countries and its own Rome campus, serving a diverse student body from all 50 states and 84 countries while maintaining its distinctive Catholic identity.

Professional Outcomes: Catholic University graduates achieve outstanding results, with 93% of the Class of 2024 employed or in graduate school, with 74% earning starting salaries above $50,000. The university’s strong emphasis on experiential learning shows in its internship success: nearly 75% of graduates complete at least one internship, with 29% securing multiple opportunities. Alumni launch careers at prestigious organizations, including Children’s National Hospital, Deloitte, and Booz Allen Hamilton, while many choose to continue their academic journeys at Catholic University itself, demonstrating the institution’s dual strength in career preparation and academic excellence.

Academic Highlights: Loyola Maryland offers 45+ undergraduate programs through its three schools. A 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio leads to average class sizes of only twenty students. The vast majority of courses enroll between ten and twenty-nine students, 13% have a single-digit enrollment, and of 889 total sections, only 14 contained 40 or more undergraduates. Students are encouraged to apply for undergraduate research opportunities such as the Hauber Summer Research Fellowship Program which, in one recent year, gave 12 students in the natural and applied sciences fields a chance to conduct ten weeks of independent research. There are 20 countries that students can choose from as study abroad options, and the participation rate exceeds 60%, one of the highest figures of any master’s-granting school in the nation.

Professional Outcomes: Members of the Class of 2023 found their way to their next employment, volunteer, or grad school home within six months of receiving their diplomas at a stellar 99% clip. Major companies and organizations employing members of this cohort include Accenture, Bloomberg, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, NBC Universal, and Viacom. Thirty-three percent of the Class of 2023 immediately enrolled in graduate or professional school after completing their undergraduate work at Loyola Maryland, enrolling at prestigious institutions like Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Northwestern, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Rooted in Jesuit educational traditions, the University of Scranton delivers a rigorous liberal arts education through 69 majors and 47 minors across three colleges. With an excellent 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 20, students benefit from personalized mentorship while engaging in global learning opportunities across 53 countries on six continents. The university’s commitment to experiential education shines through its impressive 86% participation rate in hands-on learning, ensuring graduates combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills.

Professional Outcomes: Scranton graduates achieve extraordinary success, with 99% of the Class of 2023 employed or continuing their education. While 83% build careers in the tri-state area at top employers like Geisinger, PwC, and Merck, the university’s influence extends globally through alumni at multinational corporations such as Sanofi. Notably, 59% of graduates pursuing advanced degrees choose to continue at Scranton, while others attend prestigious institutions nationwide—a testament to the university’s dual strength in both career preparation and academic excellence.

Academic Highlights: Saint John’s University stands as a premier liberal arts college for men, distinguished by its innovative Integrations Curriculum that reveals the vital connections between arts, sciences, and humanities. With 37 majors, a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and an average class size of 15, SJU delivers an intensely personalized education where 100% of courses are taught by faculty. The university’s global perspective is enhanced by study abroad participation (40%) within a diverse community representing 40 states and 21 countries, creating well-rounded graduates prepared for leadership roles.

Professional Outcomes: SJU graduates achieve strong career outcomes, securing positions at elite employers like Mayo Clinic, Deloitte, and KPMG. Many choose to advance their education at prestigious institutions, including the University of Minnesota and Creighton University. Most alumni build their professional lives in Minnesota, particularly in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, where they contribute to the region’s thriving economy. These results demonstrate how SJU’s unique combination of interdisciplinary learning, global awareness, and all-male leadership development produces graduates who excel in both professional and academic pursuits.

Academic Highlights: Seton Hall University delivers a values-based Catholic education through 90+ majors and programs, fostering both intellectual growth and ethical development. With a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 21, students from 48 states and 40 countries benefit from personalized attention in a diverse learning community. The university emphasizes hands-on preparation, with 83% of students completing experiential learning opportunities that bridge classroom theory with real-world application.

Professional Outcomes: Seton Hall graduates achieve exceptional career success, boasting a 97% employment rate and mid-career earnings 50% above national averages. The university’s strong industry connections provide access to 17,000+ internships, with 81% of students gaining professional experience. Alumni launch careers at elite employers like Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, and Amazon, while graduate school applicants enjoy a 98% acceptance rate. Most build their professional lives in the New York City metropolitan area, demonstrating how Seton Hall’s combination of ethical formation, academic rigor, and unparalleled professional access creates highly sought-after graduates.

Academic Highlights: The University of San Francisco provides a personalized education through 40+ majors and 70+ minors, all supported by an excellent 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. This close-knit academic environment shines in the classroom—43% of courses enroll fewer than 20 students—while global perspectives come alive through 100+ study abroad programs across 45 countries. True to its Jesuit mission, USF integrates community-engaged learning (CEL) throughout the curriculum, requiring every student to complete at least one CEL course that combines academic study with meaningful service.

Professional Outcomes: USF graduates achieve exceptional career success, with 95% of the Class of 2023 employed (79%) or continuing their education (13%). The university’s emphasis on experiential learning pays dividends—76% of students complete multiple internships before graduation, contributing to strong median starting salaries of $71,000. Alumni excel at leading organizations across sectors, including healthcare innovators Kaiser Permanente and Stanford Health Care, and technology pioneers Google and Apple, demonstrating the versatility of a USF education in today’s evolving job market.

Academic Highlights: As Oregon’s only comprehensive Catholic university, UP delivers mission-driven education through 50+ majors and 40 minors across five schools. The distinctive UP Core curriculum merges liberal arts foundations with professional preparation, reflecting the university’s values while preparing students for evolving careers. With an exceptional 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, average class size of 17, and 100% faculty-taught courses, UP ensures personalized attention and meaningful mentorship.

Professional Outcomes: UP graduates achieve an 85% success rate, with alumni commanding median earnings of $82,804—well above national averages. They lead at top regional employers including Providence Health & Services, Legacy Health, and Oregon Health & Science University, while 14% pursue advanced degrees. Though most build careers in Portland, leveraging the university’s strong local networks, UP’s rigorous preparation equips graduates to excel in diverse professional and graduate school environments nationwide.