If you’re interested in earning your degree at a Catholic college or university, you have great options all across the country. This time we’re focusing on the Northeastern and Southern United States. To help simplify your search, we’ve made it easy to quickly connect with all the schools on this list. Just click the “Connect me” button underneath each featured school, then they'll reach out to you with more information to aid in your college search. Let’s get started!
Caldwell University
Caldwell University is a church-affiliated liberal arts institution with a 70-acre campus in Caldwell, New Jersey—20 miles from New York City. The University enrolls approximately 2,300 full-time, part-time, and graduate students while offering small class sizes and a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. On the annual Service Day, classes are canceled as students, faculty, and staff provide assistance at various locations in New Jersey, from helping local food banks to painting classrooms in local Catholic schools to providing companionship to the elderly.
Carlow University
Carlow University is a private Catholic liberal arts institution located on a 14-acre campus in Pittsburgh. With a supportive 12:1 student-faculty ratio, the university is well-regarded for its primary programs in nursing, education, and business administration. The school maintains an accessible 87% acceptance rate with no application fee, and notably, 100% of undergraduate students receive financial aid. Beyond academics, students enjoy an active campus life featuring various varsity sports and proximity to downtown. It remains a top choice for those seeking a community-oriented environment that blends professional training with a major city experience.
College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross is an exclusively undergraduate private liberal arts institution located on a 174-acre campus in Worcester, Massachusetts—around 50 miles from Boston. At Holy Cross, students design their own course of study with a curriculum consisting of common requirements, a major, and freely elected courses—allowing you to combine majors and/or add a minor or concentration. The College also offers many opportunities to participate in dialogues, identify and pursue your passions, and engage in meaningful community service.
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private Jesuit research university in New York City with two primary residential campuses: the 85-acre Rose Hill campus in the Bronx and the Lincoln Center campus in the heart of Manhattan. As the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the Northeast, Fordham serves approximately 17,000 students (including over 10,000 undergraduates) and offers more than 60 undergraduate majors. The University is renowned for its Gabelli School of Business and its commitment to cura personalis, or "care of the whole person," providing a rigorous liberal arts core that prepares students for leadership and service.
Georgian Court University
Georgian Court University is a church-affiliated, coeducational liberal arts university with a 156-acre campus in Lakewood, New Jersey—60 miles from both Philadelphia and New York City. The University provides a comprehensive liberal arts education in the Roman Catholic tradition while maintaining its special, historic focus on the education of women. The Office of Campus Ministry supports the spiritual growth of all members of the GCU community and offers a wide range of programs and events to nurture spirituality, deepen a sense of vocation, and embody mercy.
Connect me with Georgian Court!
Iona University
Iona University is a coeducational Roman Catholic liberal arts institution with a 45-acre campus located on the Long Island Sound in New Rochelle, New York—just 16 miles from New York City. The University enrolls approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds and 43 countries while offering more than 60 combined programs of study in the School of Arts & Science and the School of Business. Iona’s Office of Mission & Ministry fosters a caring community through campus events, mission trips, and thousands of hours of volunteer service each year.
Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University is a private coeducational institution with a 50-acre campus located in Fairfield, Connecticut. As the second-largest Catholic university in New England, SHU provides students with an education rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition. Approximately 9,000 students are enrolled in more than 80 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs, benefitting from professional career coaches and peer mentors, short-term and semester-long programs around the globe, a First-Year Experience course, and more.
Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University is a church-affiliated college of liberal arts and sciences with a 600-acre campus in Loretto, Pennsylvania—90 miles east of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1847, SFU is one of the oldest Catholic universities in the country and the oldest one dedicated to Franciscan values. The University was also named the safest college campus in Pennsylvania by Niche for its safe and healthy environment with little or no campus crime, drugs, or alcohol usage.
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private, comprehensive church-affiliated university with a 58-acre campus in South Orange, New Jersey—14 miles from New York City. Over 6,000 undergraduates benefit from a 14:1 student-faculty ratio, an average class size of 21 students, and over 90 majors and programs to choose from. Seton Hall values integrity, compassion, and a commitment to helping others, embracing students of all faiths and inspiring them to become servant leaders who make a difference in the world.
University of the Incarnate Word
University of the Incarnate Word is a private, religious-affiliated liberal arts university with a 200-acre main campus near the center of San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, UIW is the largest Catholic university in Texas and the only Catholic university in the Southwest with NCAA Division I athletics. With the Class of 2020 performing 45,151 hours of service alone, the University is committed to social justice and community service through transformative education.
The University of Scranton
The University of Scranton, founded in 1888, is a private Catholic university in Pennsylvania known for its Business, Nursing, and Education programs. With a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, it offers a close-knit feel on a 58-acre campus. Students appreciate the Jesuit values and opportunities for international service trips to places like Belize and Ecuador. Housing is required for the first two years, featuring quad-style suites for sophomores. The school has an 84% acceptance rate and provides 100% of its undergrads with financial aid, averaging $30,389. It’s a great spot for those seeking a balanced, community-focused education just two hours from NYC and Philly.
Connect me with University of Scranton!
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private coeducational institution on a 254-acre campus in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1842 by the Order of Saint Augustine, Villanova is the nation’s only Augustinian Catholic university. As part of their education, students are encouraged to enrich their lives by working for those in need, using their knowledge, skills, and compassion to better the world around them through academic and service programs.
Looking for colleges on the other side of the map? Check out our Great Catholic Colleges and Universities in the Midwest and West list too.
