Best Catholic colleges under $20,000 a year

The highest-rated Catholic colleges whose average yearly price after grants is under $20,000.

Best Catholic colleges under $20,000 a year11 schools

11 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.

How this list is made

Catholic undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
Faith grade B or better (Faith score 70 or higher). Cost and outcomes never change a grade.
Net price (average yearly cost after grants) under $20,000 from federal data (College Scorecard).
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 Mary
Bismarck, ND · Private nonprofit
- Net price $17,770 a year
- Mass every weekday
2
University of St. Thomas
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
- Net price $19,359 a year
- Mass every weekday
3
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN · Private nonprofit
- Net price $18,196 a year
- Mass every weekday
4
Niagara University
Niagara University, NY · Private nonprofit
- Net price $17,248 a year
- Mass every weekday
5
Newman University
Wichita, KS · Private nonprofit
- Net price $19,971 a year
- Mass 3–4 weekdays
6
Canisius University
Buffalo, NY · Private nonprofit
- Net price $17,940 a year
- Mass every weekday
7
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofit
- Net price $15,232 a year
- Mass every weekday
8
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Winona, MN · Private nonprofit
- Net price $11,704 a year
- Mass every weekday
9
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Ponce, PR · Private nonprofit
- Net price $13,192 a year
- Mass 3–4 weekdays
10
Regis University
Denver, CO · Private nonprofit
- Net price $18,397 a year
- Mass every weekday
11
Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, LA · Private nonprofit
- Net price $17,127 a year
- Mass every weekday

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
University of Mary	$17,770	$24,000	$60,909	67%
University of St. Thomas	$19,359	$19,928	$59,224	69%
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne	$18,196	$25,976	$55,362	55%
Niagara University	$17,248	$25,475	$56,196	75%
Newman University	$19,971	$20,801	$55,041	53%
Canisius University	$17,940	$24,250	$60,681	66%
University of Detroit Mercy	$15,232	$23,250	$71,030	67%
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota	$11,704	$21,500	$58,170	66%
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce	$13,192	$15,500	$24,908	49%
Regis University	$18,397	$25,000	$72,105	61%
Xavier University of Louisiana	$17,127	$24,053	$52,184	49%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.