College · Catholic life on campus
Brandeis University
- LocationWaltham, MA
- Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 5,302 students
Brandeis University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.
Brandeis University's own Catholic life pages were not available for this record. The Archdiocese of Boston's list of colleges with active campus ministry programs does not include Brandeis, and the list asks readers to contact its director about schools that are missing.
Catholic churches nearby
- Bethlehem Chapel — 0.2 mi
- Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church — 1.3 mi · 51 Hall Street
- Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church — 1.4 mi · 35 Ash Street
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church — 1.7 mi · 311 River Street
- Saint Jude Church — 2.4 mi · 147 Main Street
- Saint John the Evangelist Parish — 2.9 mi · 9 Glen Road, Wellesley
Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.
Catholic life scorecard
Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.
Catholic life on campus
Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
- Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 1 mile of campusComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adorationNot enough information: no verified Mass times are recorded.
Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.
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Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.86%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.87%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,462 · ACT 32.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.10 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$21,670
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
Cost and value
Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 3,675 |
|---|---|
| Total students | 5,302 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $35,736 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $86,448 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $25,648 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 86% |
| First-year retention | 87% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $77,231 |
| Admission rate | 41% |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 15% |
| Average SAT | 1462 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 690–750 |
| SAT math | 700–770 |
| ACT composite | 31–34 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value index: 57 / 100 (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Local Church
The Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, Archbishop of Boston
Formal address: “Your Excellency”
Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.
Diocese determined from the county using NCES Catholic school records. Confirm with the diocese.
About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 165015
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Report an error or a newer source
- Respond as this school
Questions families ask
- Is Brandeis University a Catholic college?
- No. Brandeis University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead.
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