Question: Authentic Catholic Colleges

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meadeca

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I’m sure this question has been asked many times before so my apologies in advance. I’m about to start the daunting search for institutions of higher education for the first of three sons.
I’m worried that the secular colleges provide NEGATIVE social (if not intellectual) influence rather than simply educating their students. However, I also worry that some Catholic colleges might not be as strong in their Catholic underpinnings as one would hope and therefor might inadvertently do the same!
Does anyone know where I can find concrete information regarding Catholic institutions of higher education and specifically this aspect of the culture in which the students are immersed?
I’m also anxious to learn of anyone’s opinions or experiences.
Thanks in advance,
Carl
 
meadeca said:
I’m sure this question has been asked many times before so my apologies in advance. I’m about to start the daunting search for institutions of higher education for the first of three sons.
I’m worried that the secular colleges provide NEGATIVE social (if not intellectual) influence rather than simply educating their students. However, I also worry that some Catholic colleges might not be as strong in their Catholic underpinnings as one would hope and therefor might inadvertently do the same!
Does anyone know where I can find concrete information regarding Catholic institutions of higher education and specifically this aspect of the culture in which the students are immersed?
I’m also anxious to learn of anyone’s opinions or experiences.
Thanks in advance,
Carl
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For specific Catholic colleges, I would highly recommend Mount St. Mary’s University. It’s the perfect balance of Catholic orthodoxy and modern college atmosphere. Not too restrictive, but your son is unlikely to be lead astray. The campus is also gorgeous.

Good luck with whatever you decide!
 
meadeca said:
I’m sure this question has been asked many times before so my apologies in advance. I’m about to start the daunting search for institutions of higher education for the first of three sons.
I’m worried that the secular colleges provide NEGATIVE social (if not intellectual) influence rather than simply educating their students. However, I also worry that some Catholic colleges might not be as strong in their Catholic underpinnings as one would hope and therefor might inadvertently do the same!
Does anyone know where I can find concrete information regarding Catholic institutions of higher education and specifically this aspect of the culture in which the students are immersed?
I’m also anxious to learn of anyone’s opinions or experiences.
Thanks in advance,
Carl
Click to expand...
A lot of Catholic colleges seem more interested in what they can get away with as far as popular causes than being Catholic.

My priest told me there’s two real Catholic colleges left in America: Stuebenville and a small school in downtown LA. I’ve also heard good things about the University of Dallas.

But other than any of those, I cannot recommend any Catholic college. I regularly sign petitions to get them (particularly ones on the coasts) to stop activities that are against Catholic teaching.

You really just have to do your research on this. I don’t think there’s a fast and easy answer, but I am very concerned about what students are exposed to in most any American college.

I can say you’re already ahead of the curve just for asking this.
 
I am an alum of Benedictine College in Atchison, KS ('14), as is my brother ('16), and we could both testify that it is an authentic Catholic college that doesn’t try to hide its Catholic identity. In fact, the president of the college mentions the “four pillars of Benedictine College” every chance he gets, that the college is: Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts. He also frequently talks about his devotion to the Blessed Virgin and how one of his favorite prayers is the Memorare. Mass is celebrated daily at various locations. The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) was actually started at Benedictine. The theology and philosophy courses are top-notch (and don’t deviate from Catholic teaching), many of their other areas of study are also very strong, and they are continually growing. I grew a lot in my faith while at college, surrounded and supported by my friends, most of whom were also firm Catholics.

Of course, each campus is a bit different in its character, and none of them are perfect, so I couldn’t tell you which one is best for your son… Check out the Newman guide that AnnArbor posted. It will give you good information about all the reputable Catholic colleges.
 
There are two good guides to faithfully-Catholic colleges and universities in the U.S. One is the Newman guide identified in the second post here. The second is the annual guide provided by the “National Catholic Register”–the most recent edition of this is at ncregister.com/images/documents/NCR0904_Csection.pdf
For 35 years I was at a traditionally-Catholic university in the United States, until I retired, and it wasn’t actually Catholic at all. Such guides can be very helpful.
 
My son is graduating from High School in June. We used the Newman Guide as described in other posts…very helpful. We narrowed our search to Christendom College (Front Royal VA), Franciscan University (Ohio) and Ave Maria University (Florida)…all excellent and authentic Catholic Colleges. It was a difficult choice, but we decided on Ave Maria University in Florida. God bless you.
 
I think that the decision should also take into account what your child’s career goal is. My daughter was accepted at several Jesuit universities and UC schools. Her chosen university offered almost 85% in academic and sports grants and scholarships. I’m sure the schools academic reputation had some impact on her admittance into law school. 👍
 
kozlosap said:
I think that the decision should also take into account what your child’s career goal is. My daughter was accepted at several Jesuit universities and UC schools. Her chosen university offered almost 85% in academic and sports grants and scholarships. I’m sure the schools academic reputation had some impact on her admittance into law school. 👍
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Just to develop this a bit, I’d suggest the final decision should be up to the child and not the parent. Parents can advise, based on their life experience, but it’s the child’s life that depends on the decision. I know I was practically forced by my family to attend the nearby Catholic college, and I resent it to this day.

I know if it were my child, instead of saying, “I want my child to attend a Catholic college,” I’d be saying, “What’s best for my child?” I’d rather see somebody go somewhere where they can meet their career goals and where they’d be comfortable instead of going somewhere just because it’s Catholic.
 
signit said:
Just to develop this a bit, I’d suggest the final decision should be up to the child and not the parent. Parents can advise, based on their life experience, but it’s the child’s life that depends on the decision. I know I was practically forced by my family to attend the nearby Catholic college, and I resent it to this day.

I know if it were my child, instead of saying, “I want my child to attend a Catholic college,” I’d be saying, “What’s best for my child?” I’d rather see somebody go somewhere where they can meet their career goals and where they’d be comfortable instead of going somewhere just because it’s Catholic.
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It depends if the young adult is paying for the college, or the parent. If the parent is paying, than I believe it is the parent’s right to have 51% of the vote. We are paying for our son’s college. We provided him a range of Catholic colleges/universities to chose from (essentially those in the Newman Guide). It is our right as parents to refuse to put dollars in the pockets of secular universities (and those Catholic in name only), who seek to attack the faith of our sons and daughters. Even if our son/daughter is “strong enough” to survive the onslaught of relativistic and “progressive” attacks against the faith, why put money in the pockets of such an academic institution, who if not successful stealing the faith of our son/daughter, is successful with other young adults?
 
mdgspencer said:
There are two good guides to faithfully-Catholic colleges and universities in the U.S. One is the Newman guide identified in the second post here. The second is the annual guide provided by the “National Catholic Register”–the most recent edition of this is at ncregister.com/images/documents/NCR0904_Csection.pdf
For 35 years I was at a traditionally-Catholic university in the United States, until I retired, and it wasn’t actually Catholic at all. Such guides can be very helpful.
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Both the Newman Guide, and National Catholic Register Guide, are essential. Some of the criteria are explicitly required by the Church for an institution to be “Catholic”, while others are simply prudent policies. You may be better off at a college that is consistently secular than a college that pretends to be Catholic, and occasionally is, mixed in with lots of secularism.

The student can be prepared for the secular college: “Respect the persons who teach and study here, learn what useful information you can, but the prevailing philosophy is opposed to Christian Faith.” They may get a fairly good college experience, if they are given a realistic understanding of the situation. This is not the Catholic Church here.

The student probably cannot get adequate preparation for the faux “Catholic” institution. The end result may be cynicism towards the Church, relativism, etc.
 
Some secular colleges are right near a Catholic Church that has extraordinary programs such as bible studies, Eucharist Adoration, socials, Rosary gatherings, etc. They have been going on for quite some time and know what works for Catholic college students.
 
Not Catholic, but the Newman community at Virginia Tech are great, we always liked to joke that there were more Catholics at VT than at Notre Dame. There is a strong emphasis on service in the university and town communities, which I really liked.
 
Sculllaaay said:
Not Catholic, but the Newman community at Virginia Tech are great, we always liked to joke that there were more Catholics at VT than at Notre Dame. There is a strong emphasis on service in the university and town communities, which I really liked.
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🙂
 
I think a relevant question is also what your child wants to study. I am a firm believer that college is an enriching experience as well as an educational one, so I stress that courses outside their chosen major are just as important as what builds the focus of their degree. That being said, if your child has a specific field in mind, it’s prudent to include that information in your search.

If your child wants to study theology or philosophy, carry on with your search as you have been! However, if your child wants to become an engineer or a doctor, you need to be investigating schools that have strong undergrad program in that field. You can’t make it into med school if the school you choose just doesn’t do a good job preparing students for entry. College is just too over-sold and expensive to sell yourself short by not attending the one best suited to prepare you for future work-related success.

With that in mind, I must say that I know of many public colleges and universities with strong, vibrant, orthodox Catholic student associations. I went to a poor excuse for a Catholic college-- I found myself longing for a CSA at my Jesuit school because the general campus ministry was so watered down and fearful of excluding non-Catholics that it lost all identity and purpose. When Catholics have to band together for faith support, beautiful things happen.

Just some thoughts to keep in mind, from someone who wishes very much that she had belonged to her husband’s CSA at a neighboring state school.
 
As a Catholic dad that went to a Catholic school that many consider atop Catholic school (Franciscan Uni of Steubenville) who is the parent of a college student, I have to counsel parents that the school is not a guarantee that the student will be protected from everything. There are parties and such at Steubenville. Some really good parties. Drugs too. Many parents of troubled students sent their kids to FUS so they could be “straightened out”.

On to my daughter. She is a really good kid. Steubenville was not on her prospect list because of what she wanted to study - and it is too far away for mom’s comfort. She is just finished her 2nd year at a mid-sized state school that in some circles is know as “oh, the party school”. My daughter is a good kid. She is very involved with (was just elected to the leadership team) of the campus’ Newman Catholic Center. She is actually at the beach with some of the Catholic kids.

If you are trying to protect your kids, raise them well before sending them to school.
 
I’d be willing to send my kids to a secular college IF the Neumann center was strong, but as it is, my oldest 3 have/are attended Catholic Universities that can be a bit controversial, but we also know of specific professors to avoid or to take. So far so good, but they went into the school as strong faith-filled Catholics and have only grown due to their choices. Child #4 is going to a secular school…due to specific major/field. His faith is ok…we will have to be extra involved and engage him often to help him grow in the faith.
 
dconklin said:
As a Catholic dad that went to a Catholic school that many consider atop Catholic school (Franciscan Uni of Steubenville) who is the parent of a college student, I have to counsel parents that the school is not a guarantee that the student will be protected from everything. There are parties and such at Steubenville. Some really good parties. Drugs too. Many parents of troubled students sent their kids to FUS so they could be “straightened out”.
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I believe it.

As I said in my previous post I was encouraged, maybe forced, to attend a Catholic college, and the people there were not exactly angels. Sure, there was a strong Catholic presence; there were individuals who participated in the religious activities and lived accordingly; but there were a lot of other things, like “freshman drink night” which ended in people being taken to the hospital. And that’s one of the milder things; I think if my mother ever knew of some of the things that went on she would have regretted encouraging me to go there.
dconklin said:
On to my daughter. She is a really good kid. Steubenville was not on her prospect list because of what she wanted to study - and it is too far away for mom’s comfort. She is just finished her 2nd year at a mid-sized state school that in some circles is know as “oh, the party school”. My daughter is a good kid. She is very involved with (was just elected to the leadership team) of the campus’ Newman Catholic Center. She is actually at the beach with some of the Catholic kids.

If you are trying to protect your kids, raise them well before sending them to school.
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Right.

No matter where you go there are going to be the serious students and the party animals.

The college experience is what you make of it.
 
My kiddo is at Ole Miss. Great CCM, she’s very involved in the parish that is just off campus, has gone on several retreats this year including the FOCUS event in San Antonio. We couldn’t be happier.
 
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