Asian female in Catholic school uniform holding hands in prayer, looking at sky

5 Questions to Ask During Your Catholic College Search

As a Catholic student, you're likely figuring out how much you want your faith to factor into your college search. Here are five questions to guide you!

The college search is an enlightening experience because it requires students to ask themselves tough questions about their goals for the future and what they truly want out of a college—which means knowing themselves enough to know what they need. As a Catholic student (or student of any religion), you must take into account the bigger factor of your faith and how it will play into your college search. To help you as you search for your best-fit Catholic college, here are five questions to ask your prospective schools so you can have the best college experience while continuing to grow in your faith over those four formative years.

1. How prominent is faith on campus?

Catholic colleges typically have a larger focus on faith than non-religious institutions, but the interaction with religion and the commitment to it still varies from school to school. Many students choose Catholic colleges to live their faith and be ingrained in it every day on campus, while others want to be connected, just not every hour of every day. Being able to set your own boundaries by choosing how and when to practice your faith could be important to your emotional and academic balance—or maybe you want a school where Mass and chapel attendance is mandatory because it shows the school’s commitment to faith and holds you accountable to yours. In addition to asking how prominent faith is on campus, ask yourself: “Am I able to choose my level of involvement in my faith on campus, and how important is it to me that I am able to do this?”

Related: How to Live and Grow in Your Faith on a College Campus

2. Is it possible to participate in service and other ways to nurture your faith?

Most colleges and universities offer study abroad, but many Catholic schools offer the added benefit of spreading the Word of God while you study. If you’re interested in going on mission trips in college, ask what options exist through the school. Also ask about local service opportunities: How is the college helping the local community? Education experts often express how important hands-on learning is to your educational journey—and hands-on service learning is especially crucial when your faith is entwined with that journey. So in addition to asking if these opportunities are available, ask yourself: “What am I looking to gain from service learning experiences, and if what I need isn’t readily available, are there avenues for me to make these opportunities for myself with the school’s support?”

3. What’s the campus community like?

Many students at Catholic colleges say a big reason why they love their school is the tight bond they feel in the campus community. Some schools may have students who still participate, talk about, and act on your shared faith in their social groups, and that may be the comprehensive faith-based living you need. Other schools may have students whose social circles are removed enough to offer a healthy balance to the faith in your life. Your faith can be as all-encompassing, balanced, or reserved for your personal practice as you would like it to be as long as you’re attending a school that provides you the space to be who you want to be. In addition to asking what the community is like, ask yourself: “How did I feel when I visited campus? Will I feel like I’m really a part of the college’s family if I attend?”

Related: 5 Myths About Catholic Colleges: Busted!

4. How large is the student body?

Because so many people at Catholic schools talk about that familial feel, many students think those campuses are small—but what’s great about Catholic colleges and universities is that they come in all shapes and sizes. You can find that tight-knit community on a campus of 2,500 students or 15,000, and you’ll find Catholic colleges of those sizes and everything in between. College is about broadening your mind, and that can be through opportunities to interact with many different types of students or through deeper, long-lasting connections within a smaller community.  In addition to asking how large the student body is, ask yourself: “Do I want a large campus with a lot of sub-communities or a campus small enough where I could have the opportunity to really get to know everyone?”

5. What other religions are represented in the student body?

Having people who share your faith is helpful to making connections and lasting relationships with like-minded people at college—but don’t let that be the only student statistic you look into. As previously mentioned, college is a place to broaden your mind and perspectives, so be sure to inquire about the other faiths that are represented on campus at your colleges of interest as well. Learning from other cultures and religions can help you form a deeper connection to your own through cultural understanding and acceptance. While it’s important to have other Catholic students to share your faith with, also ask yourself: “What can I learn from other faiths while in college, and does this school offer opportunities for me to do so?”

Related: How College Changed My Outlook on Religion

Your faith means a lot to you, and it should also mean a lot in your college search if you want it to. Use these five questions—and the additional questions to ask yourself—to guide your search process, and you’ll be sure to find the best-fit Catholic or non-denominational school that allows you to practice your faith your way and get a great education.

For more advice on nurturing your faith on a college campus, check out our Catholic Colleges and Universities section.

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Tags:

About CollegeXpress

CollegeXpress

Welcome to CollegeXpress, your one-stop college shop! We’re a free college planning website used by millions of college-bound students, parents, and counselors—anyone who needs help navigating the college search and application process, financial aid opportunities, and more. You’ll find comprehensive College Search and Scholarship Search tools, tons of articles and expert advice, unique college Lists & Rankings, and lots of other resources to help make your life easier. Teen Vogue even named us one of the 7 Best College Search Websites! But current college students and recent grads also love CollegeXpress for our Graduate Program Search and endless information on student life, internships, and beyond. We really have something for everyone, no matter where you are in your college journey. 😊

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress
Nikole Dixon

Nikole Dixon

$500 Refer-a-Friend Scholarship Winner

Toward the beginning of last year, I was searching for scholarships to apply to through my school, town, websites online, and anything else I could find. I asked tons of questions [online] about scholarships and the best places to find them because I was desperate and needed as many as I could find. I came across a ton of bogus websites, but as soon as I found CollegeXpress, I knew I had to tell other people about it. It was definitely the most helpful site I came across, so I told my friends about it. CollegeXpress is definitely a website worth giving as a source.

Michael

Michael

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress showed me that Western New England University was a great match for me both with curriculum and location. CollegeXpress is an excellent resource both future and current college students.

Wendy Thompson

Wendy Thompson

Owner, Westport Educational Consulting

I just discovered your site and LOVE it—fun, interesting, full of incredible information you can’t find anywhere else, and a godsend for those of us in the college counseling business. I am a fan!

Hailey Riddile

Hailey Riddile

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress has helped me find scholarships to apply for and look into more colleges. While there are many websites similar to CollegeXpress, every website is different, and I've found a lot of good insight on this website. Receiving emails from CollegeXpress about scholarships is extremely useful, and getting insight about colleges near, far, and anywhere in between helps me narrow down my choices to what I want, which is also super helpful. The articles are always really good reads, and I can't stress enough how helpful this website has been to me. Anything related to college is beneficial to me as a senior, and I have learned lots of useful things to help me on my college journey this year.

Sierra Carranza

Sierra Carranza

High School Class of 2022

I had absolutely no idea where I wanted to go to school; I was considering colleges in almost every state. CollegeXpress was an amazing resource and helped me compare all of my top schools. Without the help of CollegeXpress, I probably wouldn't have made such an informed and confident decision.

College Matches
X

Colleges You May Be Interested In

Fordham University

Bronx, NY

Seton Hall University

South Orange, NJ

Iona University

New Rochelle, NY