Attending a Catholic college or uni

Attending a Catholic college or university has many advantages. The Catholic Church, especially in the Jesuit tradition, has a long history of emphasizing scholarly excellence, so it shouldn't be much of a surprise that some of the best colleges in the country are affiliated with Catholicism. Thinking and questioning tend to be central to the college missions, not religious indoctrination. The church also emphasizes service, so students looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities will typically find many options that are often integral to the educational experience.While there are some schools in the United States with religious affiliations that require students to attend mass and sign statements of faith, Catholic colleges and universities tend to welcome students of all beliefs. For students who are Catholic, however, campus can be a comfortable place with a large population of students who share common values, and students will have easy access to religious services right on campus.The top Catholic colleges and universities listed below have been selected for a range of factors including reputation, retention rates, graduation rates, academic quality, value, and curricular innovations. The schools vary widely in size, location, and mission, so I have not tried to force any kind of arbitrary ranking on them. Instead, I simply list them alphabetically.