About the Compass

Catholic School Compass rates schools from a Catholic perspective, honestly, fully sourced, and free.

For a generation, Catholic families have relied on short lists of recommended colleges. Those lists are useful, but they cover a few dozen schools and speak to a particular audience. Catholic School Compass covers every accredited U.S. college and every Catholic high school, and it is written for Catholics across the spectrum. It reports strengths and concerns plainly and links every claim to its source.

Why a compass?

A list tells you where to go; a compass helps you find your own way. Catholic School Compass doesn’t hand families a short list of approved schools. It shows how every school measures up, with the evidence, so each family can choose the school that fits. Its mark is a cross at the heart of a radiance, after the motto Ad maiorem Dei gloriam, “for the greater glory of God.” Its aim is Veritas in Caritate, “truth in charity” (compare Ephesians 4:15).

Independence

Catholic School Compass is independent. It is not affiliated with any school it rates or any other ratings guide. No ads, no paid placements, and no money from the schools we rate. Honor Roll badges are free.

Who publishes it

The Compass is published by Thin Air Studios LLC, a Colorado company.

How it’s built

The data pipeline, rubric, and research records are kept in a public repository, so anyone can see exactly how each grade was computed. See the methodology.