Catholic colleges with the strongest Catholic core
Catholic colleges ranked by the theology and core pillar: required theology and philosophy, Catholic content, and the core curriculum.
Catholic colleges with the strongest Catholic core126 schools
126 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.
- Has a graded theology and core pillar and a complete Compass Score.
- Ordered by the theology and core pillar score alone, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 12, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1Tie
Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, CA · Private nonprofit- Catholic core: grade A
- 3+ required theology courses
- 1Tie
Benedictine College
Atchison, KS · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Catholic core: grade A
- 3+ required theology courses
- 1Tie
Christendom College
Front Royal, VA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Catholic core: grade A
- 3+ required theology courses
- 1Tie
John Paul the Great Catholic University
Escondido, CA · Private nonprofit- Catholic core: grade A
- 3+ required theology courses
- 5Tie
University of Dallas
Irving, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Catholic core: grade A
- 2 required theology courses
- 5Tie
University of St. Thomas
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Catholic core: grade A
- 2 required theology courses
- 7
Ave Maria University
Ave Maria, FL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Catholic core: grade A
- 3+ required theology courses
- 8Tie
Providence College
Providence, RI · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Catholic core: grade A
- 2 required theology courses
- 8Tie
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Steubenville, OH · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Catholic core: grade A
- 2 required theology courses
- 8Tie
- 8Tie
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont, NC · Private nonprofit- Catholic core: grade A
- 2 required theology courses
- 12Tie
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Catholic core: grade B
- 2 required theology courses
- 12Tie
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Catholic core: grade B
- 2 required theology courses
- 12Tie
St. John's University-New York
Queens, NY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Catholic core: grade B
- 2 required theology courses
- 12Tie
Assumption University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit- Catholic core: grade B
- 2 required theology courses
- 12Tie
- 12Tie
St. Bonaventure University
Saint Bonaventure, NY · Private nonprofit- Catholic core: grade B
- 2 required theology courses
- 12Tie
Saint Anselm College
Manchester, NH · Private nonprofit- Catholic core: grade B
- 2 required theology courses
- 19
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Ponce, PR · Private nonprofit- Catholic core: grade B
- 3+ required theology courses
- 20
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Catholic core: grade B
- 2 required theology courses
- 21Tie
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Catholic core: grade B
- 2 required theology courses
- 21Tie
Georgetown University
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit- Catholic core: grade B
- 2 required theology courses
- 21Tie
Fordham University
Bronx, NY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Catholic core: grade B
- 2 required theology courses
- 21Tie
University of Portland
Portland, OR · Private nonprofit- Catholic core: grade B
- 2 required theology courses
- 21Tie
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH · Private nonprofit- Catholic core: grade B
- 2 required theology courses
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% |
| Benedictine College | $27,891 | $24,599 | $53,175 | 62% |
| John Paul the Great Catholic University | $34,666 | $26,968 | $56,930 | 64% |
| University of Dallas | $22,610 | $23,117 | $58,285 | 73% |
| University of St. Thomas | $19,359 | $19,928 | $59,224 | 69% |
| Ave Maria University | $24,860 | $20,776 | $49,520 | 54% |
| Providence College | $48,523 | $27,000 | $87,054 | 86% |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | $23,589 | $23,384 | $50,030 | 75% |
| King's College | $23,093 | $27,000 | $59,498 | 60% |
| Belmont Abbey College | $24,639 | $26,000 | $47,937 | 47% |
| University of Scranton | $32,568 | $27,000 | $74,652 | 80% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | $29,689 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 79% |
| 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% |
| St. Bonaventure University | $27,074 | $26,000 | $57,214 | 67% |
| Saint Anselm College | $34,779 | $27,000 | $73,371 | 80% |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce | $13,192 | $15,500 | $24,908 | 49% |
| University of Notre Dame | $26,780 | $19,000 | $99,980 | 95% |
| Boston College | $41,704 | $19,000 | $103,937 | 91% |
| Georgetown University | $40,815 | $15,500 | $103,494 | 95% |
| Fordham University | $44,338 | $24,300 | $85,569 | 82% |
| University of Portland | $28,210 | $21,370 | $82,804 | 80% |
| Xavier University | $32,997 | $23,250 | $64,873 | 69% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.