In state college or out of state Catholic College?

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wannabecatholic7

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I’m in need of some advice. I live in a state in which there are no Catholic colleges. There are many Protestant colleges but no Catholic. I don’t know for sure because I still have a year left until I graduate, but I believe I want to go for a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. Also of course I don’t know for sure what I want to do with this degree, but I feel like God is calling me for mission work. My question is should I go to a non-catholic college in my state for a theology degree, or go out of state to a Catholic college? The only problem with going out of state is that the cost will be MUCH greater, and most grants only qualify for in state colleges. I’ve still got a year to decide what I want to do with my life, but I feel God is calling me towards spreading the truth in my region. Thank you all for your responses!
 
I am looking into an online Catholic University at the moment, because I am on the autism spectrum and I have a hard time in certain social situations , so you can always look into that. I don’t think they really have an in-state or out-of-state tuition, but I do know that American Financial Aid does pay for them.
 
I was considering that, the only problem is that I kind of want the College experience still. I want to be able to form those relationships with people, and I feel like a Catholic college would provide me with friends of the faith. Also most Catholic colleges support the faith in supplying daily mass, adoration, and fellowship.
 
If your major is theology, then unfortunately, it’s pretty important to go to a Catholic college.

Out-of-state tuition is robbery so you might want to find ways to reduce the cost.
 
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  1. Do you want the more expensive college experience enough to justify the added cost?
  2. Realistically, and taking into account your family resources and the type of job you’re likely to get after college, can you afford the more expensive option?
  3. Will debt that you take on from the more expensive option possibly prevent you from doing things you want to do after college, such as: move out of your parents’ house, buy or rent your own house, travel, join a religious order, get married, etc.?
  4. Are there any ways you can reduce the cost of the more expensive option, such as work-study programs, grants, scholarships, or attending locally for a year or two and then transferring to the more expensive college?
 
Go somewhere cheap. Seriously, going to a catholic college out of state to do mission work is basically a way to be chained to student loan debt for a large segment of your life.

For that matter, consider a double major. Theology is great but you have to consider pairing it with business or something to pay the bills.

The college experience is overrated IMHO.
 
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In addition to what everyone else has said, I recommend you get as much information from people currently studying at the universities you’re considering. It might be that although some universities are Catholic, they do not have much of a “Catholic feel” to it. I’ve read more than one thread here on CAF by people at Catholic universities who don’t feel as though there’s much Catholic about them. If you want to go out of state and spend a lot more money, make sure you get what you want.
 
A theology program at a protestant school is going to have significant gaps.
 
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Plus, the cited tuition cost is like the sticker price on a car. Colleges often have scholarships to reduce the cost. If you check the vast majority of students at private colleges receive financial aid. Don’t let the price overwhelm your choice at this moment. Get accepted and see what kind of aid is offered.
 
I agree with two points mentioned.

1- Go to a local community or state college for 2 years, transfer to Catholic college for remainder.

2- Double major. Unless you have a clear understanding of what you will do with a theology degree, you need to have a back up plan.

As you are still young and in school, give some thought to where you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years etc. It’s all well and good that you are interested in theology, many people are. But you have to be realistic about what kind of employment you will be able to get. And if you hope to marry and raise a family, employment matters. You can be totally into learning theology, but earn your degree in teaching, engineering, or law or any number of things.
 
Which is most affordable? Mission work is not a lucrative career, so, stay as far away from student loans as possible!
 
wannabecatholic7 said:
I don’t know for sure because I still have a year left until I graduate, but I believe I want to go for a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. Also of course I don’t know for sure what I want to do with this degree, but I feel like God is calling me for mission work. My question is should I go to a non-catholic college in my state for a theology degree, or go out of state to a Catholic college?
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You managed to say “I don’t know for sure” twice in the same paragraph. Before you rack up 100K+ in debt going to a private college, you need to know for sure. Even then, theology is a low-paying field, and it will take you a long time to pay it off.

Even state schools are creating debt these days.

My highly unorthodox advice - and I beg you to take it with an open mind - is to graduate from high school and then spend a year doing mission work. You could even live in community and see if the religious life, the diaconate, or working for the Church as a lay-person is right for you. Search Volunteer Programs | Catholic Volunteer Network

College will be waiting when you’re back, and you’ll go with greater maturity, experience, and sense of direction. Theology is also a possibility for a Master’s degree, and likely cheaper than 4-5 years of a B.A. program.
 
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I’m applying to seminary once I finish my undergraduate degree in a month. I spent a year at an in-state Catholic college, went to community college for two years, and am now finishing my second year at a formerly Methodist university. My major is philosophy, and while I wouldn’t consider myself a proper theologian, I’ve grown in faith, love- and theological knowledge- since leaving the Catholic college.

It’s a sad reality, but finances should play some role in your decision. Catholic colleges are more expensive than public schools. That said, you’re going to receive the theological training you desire, and not be settling with whatever a public or private protestant school has to offer. If you can get good scholarships and grants from them, and the price afterwards is comparable, then you can rest easy on your decision.

Is graduate school a possibility for you? If that’s the case, you could “settle” with a cheaper university and get a degree either in religious studies or philosophy (both would more than prepare you for grad school). You’ll get the college experience, but won’t be paying the “Catholic college” price, and your studies are going to prepare you for work at the graduate level, which is where the more “intense” learning is.
 
Thank you all for the replies, they’re certainly useful. One of you mentioned going directly into mission work after I leave high school, which is something I have not considered. I understand that theology is not a high paying degree, and neither is missionary work. I may have to create another thread for this, but I need some names of organizations that are for Catholic missionaries. God bless!
 
I grew up in a state that didn’t have a Catholic College.

For me, part of the problem is that I don’t know which state you live in. If I knew the state, I could give you better advice.

Regardless: here is my generic advice
  1. only attend a Catholic College which is on one of these two lists:
  1. Try to only attend a public college which has a thriving Catholic Campus ministry (Newman Center). Some are listed in these 4 websites.
 
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wannabecatholic7 said:
I live in Georgia
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I don’t know what kind of major you want, but the following two colleges in GA appear to have a good Catholic ministry, as they are listed on both the Best College top Newman Center 50 list & have FOCUS ministries.
  • Georgia Southern University
  • Georgia College and State University
While Georgia Tech has a FOCUS Ministry
 
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