Best small Catholic colleges
Catholic colleges with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
64 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.
- Fewer than 2,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- 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.
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Ave Maria University
Ave Maria, FL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- 1,250 undergraduates
- Mass every weekday
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John Paul the Great Catholic University
Escondido, CA · Private nonprofit- 298 undergraduates
- Mass every weekday
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University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN · Private nonprofit- 1,601 undergraduates
- Mass every weekday
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St Bonaventure University
Saint Bonaventure, NY · Private nonprofit- 1,914 undergraduates
- Mass every weekday
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Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Winona, MN · Private nonprofit- 1,075 undergraduates
- Mass every weekday
- 25
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Aquinas College | $26,196 | $18,000 | $55,619 | 84% |
| Ave Maria University | $24,860 | $20,776 | $49,520 | 54% |
| University of Dallas | $22,610 | $23,117 | $58,285 | 73% |
| John Paul the Great Catholic University | $34,666 | $26,968 | $56,930 | 64% |
| Assumption University | $29,498 | $27,000 | $74,895 | 75% |
| University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | $18,196 | $25,976 | $55,362 | 55% |
| Carroll College | $23,960 | $25,757 | $61,772 | 69% |
| King's College | $23,093 | $27,000 | $59,498 | 60% |
| Holy Cross College | $26,728 | $24,000 | $50,416 | 73% |
| St Bonaventure University | $27,074 | $26,000 | $57,214 | 67% |
| Saint Mary's College | $25,292 | $27,000 | $59,354 | 69% |
| Walsh University | $20,493 | $27,000 | $59,764 | 59% |
| Belmont Abbey College | $24,639 | $26,000 | $47,937 | 47% |
| Saint Johns University | $25,672 | $27,000 | $76,786 | 75% |
| College of Saint Benedict | $26,640 | $26,944 | $63,260 | 77% |
| Marywood University | $23,388 | $26,186 | $55,817 | 72% |
| Saint Vincent College | $23,510 | $27,000 | $59,982 | 69% |
| Saint Michael's College | $25,239 | $26,922 | $61,317 | 73% |
| Canisius University | $17,940 | $24,250 | $60,681 | 66% |
| Benedictine University | $22,313 | $22,500 | $63,446 | 50% |
| Loras College | $20,716 | $26,000 | $58,289 | 68% |
| Spring Hill College | $20,449 | $27,000 | $51,500 | 52% |
| Neumann University | $27,804 | $27,000 | $57,817 | 54% |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | $11,704 | $21,500 | $58,170 | 66% |
| Quincy University | $20,359 | $24,000 | $50,369 | 45% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.