Catholic colleges that require Catholic theology
Catholic colleges where at least one required theology course is explicitly Catholic: Scripture, Catholic tradition, or the sacraments.
Catholic colleges that require Catholic theology41 schools
41 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Catholic undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
- At least one required course is explicitly Catholic theology (rubric indicator T2).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 12, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 2
Providence College
Providence, RI · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 3
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 4
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 5
Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, CA · Private nonprofit- Required Catholic theology
- 3+ required theology courses
- 6
Benedictine College
Atchison, KS · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Required Catholic theology
- 3+ required theology courses
- 7
University of St. Thomas
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit- Required Catholic theology
- 1 required theology course
- 8
Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Required Catholic theology
- 1 required theology course
- 9
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Steubenville, OH · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 10
University of Dallas
Irving, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 11
Christendom College
Front Royal, VA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Required Catholic theology
- 3+ required theology courses
- 12
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit- Required Catholic theology
- 1 required theology course
- 13
University of St. Thomas
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 14
Seattle University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofit- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 15
John Paul the Great Catholic University
Escondido, CA · Private nonprofit- Required Catholic theology
- 3+ required theology courses
- 16
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit- Required Catholic theology
- 1 required theology course
- 17
St. John's University-New York
Queens, NY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 18
Assumption University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 19
- 20
King's College
Wilkes-Barre, PA · Private nonprofit- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 21
- 22
St. Bonaventure University
Saint Bonaventure, NY · Private nonprofit- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 23
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 24Tie
Marian University
Indianapolis, IN · Private nonprofit- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
- 24Tie
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga, CA · Private nonprofit- Required Catholic theology
- 2 required theology courses
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame | $26,780 | $19,000 | $99,980 | 95% |
| Providence College | $48,523 | $27,000 | $87,054 | 86% |
| University of Scranton | $32,568 | $27,000 | $74,652 | 80% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | $29,689 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 79% |
| Thomas Aquinas College | $26,196 | $18,000 | $55,619 | 84% |
| Benedictine College | $27,891 | $24,599 | $53,175 | 62% |
| University of St. Thomas | $29,155 | $23,250 | $73,739 | 76% |
| Saint Francis University | $23,526 | $27,000 | $62,101 | 74% |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | $23,589 | $23,384 | $50,030 | 75% |
| University of Dallas | $22,610 | $23,117 | $58,285 | 73% |
| Marquette University | $31,487 | $23,940 | $78,257 | 83% |
| University of St. Thomas | $19,359 | $19,928 | $59,224 | 69% |
| Seattle University | $34,662 | $19,883 | $75,272 | 76% |
| John Paul the Great Catholic University | $34,666 | $26,968 | $56,930 | 64% |
| Saint Louis University | $24,398 | $25,000 | $70,783 | 80% |
| St. John's University-New York | $29,999 | $25,000 | $69,571 | 66% |
| Assumption University | $29,498 | $27,000 | $74,895 | 75% |
| Carroll College | $23,960 | $25,757 | $61,772 | 69% |
| King's College | $23,093 | $27,000 | $59,498 | 60% |
| Stonehill College | $33,016 | $25,000 | $77,745 | 76% |
| St. Bonaventure University | $27,074 | $26,000 | $57,214 | 67% |
| Saint Mary's College | $25,292 | $27,000 | $59,354 | 69% |
| Marian University | $24,018 | $27,000 | $58,759 | 67% |
| Saint Mary's College of California | $30,378 | $23,691 | $78,812 | 70% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.