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Aerial view of Nicholls State University
Aerial imagery: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). USGS

College · Catholic life on campus

Nicholls State University

  • LocationThibodaux, LA
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 6,180 students
Official website
Campus Ministry Honor Roll badge

Nicholls State University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

Colonel Catholics, the campus ministry of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, is located on the Nicholls State University campus in Thibodaux. The parish's published schedule lists weekday Mass at 12:15 PM, Saturday vigil and Sunday Masses, and confession before Mass, with perpetual adoration. Listed student activities include FOCUS missionaries, weekly Bible studies, the Awakening retreat, and a SEEK conference trip.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 6

  • Saturday5:00 PMSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church · Saturday vigil Mass.
  • Sunday10:30 AMSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
  • Sunday7:00 PMSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
  • Sunday9:00 PMSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
  • Monday–Friday12:15 PMSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
  • Saturday8:00 AMSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church · First Saturday of the month.

Confession 3

  • Monday–Friday11:45 AM–12:10 PMSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church · Before daily Mass.
  • Saturday4:30 PM–4:55 PMSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church · Before the Saturday vigil Mass.
  • Saturday7:30 AM–7:55 AMSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church · First Saturday of the month, before Mass.

Adoration 1

  • Sunday–Saturday12:00 AM–11:59 PMTwo Hearts Perpetual Adoration Chapel · Perpetual adoration, listed as open 24/7.

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 12, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Sunday: 10:30 AM English English EN 7:00 PM English English EN 9:00 PM”
    Sunday Masses are listed at 10:30 AM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 PM, and a Saturday vigil at 5:00 PM.
    “Sunday: 10:30 AM English English EN 7:00 PM English English EN 9:00 PM”
    Sunday Masses are listed at 10:30 AM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 PM, and a Saturday vigil at 5:00 PM.
    “Sunday: 10:30 AM English English EN 7:00 PM English English EN 9:00 PM”
    Sunday Masses are listed at 10:30 AM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 PM, and a Saturday vigil at 5:00 PM.
    “Sunday: 10:30 AM English English EN 7:00 PM English English EN 9:00 PM”
    Sunday Masses are listed at 10:30 AM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 PM, and a Saturday vigil at 5:00 PM.
    “Daily Mass Schedule MonFri 12:15 PM”
    Daily Mass is listed Monday through Friday at 12:15 PM.
    “1st Saturday: 8:00 AM”
    A Mass is listed on the first Saturday of the month at 8:00 AM.
    “MonFri 11:45 AM to 12:10 PM Before Daily Mass”
    Confession is listed Monday through Friday from 11:45 AM to 12:10 PM before daily Mass.
    “Saturday 4:30 PM to 4:55 PM Before Vigil Mass”
    Confession is listed on Saturdays from 4:30 PM to 4:55 PM before the vigil Mass.
    “1st Saturday 7:30 AM to 7:55 AM Before Mass”
    Confession is listed on the first Saturday from 7:30 AM to 7:55 AM before Mass.
    “Perpetual Open 24/7”
    Perpetual adoration is listed as open 24/7.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Nicholls State University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church: 0.1 mi1Saint Joseph Co-Cathedral: 1.1 mi2Saint Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church: 1.2 mi3Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church: 2.2 mi4Saint Genevieve Catholic Church: 2.3 mi5Nicholls State University (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church — 0.1 mi
  2. Saint Joseph Co-Cathedral — 1.1 mi · 721 Canal Boulevard, Thibodaux
  3. Saint Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church — 1.2 mi · 1100 Bourbon Street, Thibodaux
  4. Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church — 2.2 mi · 720 Talbot Avenue, Thibodaux
  5. Saint Genevieve Catholic Church — 2.3 mi · 815 Barbier Avenue, Thibodaux

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.

ACatholic life on campus: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Catholic life on campus

91 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes
    Sources (1)
    1. About Us | St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org/about-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Colonel Catholics is the campus ministry component of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church at Nicholls State University”
      Colonel Catholics is the Catholic campus ministry at Nicholls State University, run by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusYes (The campus ministry's site says it is located on the Nicholls campus across from Peltier Hall.)
    Sources (1)
    1. About Us | St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org/about-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “We are located on Nicholls State Campus across from Peltier Hall.”
      The campus ministry is located on the Nicholls State campus.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryPart-time or shared priest (The diocese lists Fr. John David Matherne as pastor of the parish that runs the campus ministry. The campus ministry's pages do not present a separate campus chaplain.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Active Priests | Diocese of Houma-Thibodauxhtdiocese.org/our-priests · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Rev. John David Matherne Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish”
      Rev. John David Matherne is pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryEvery weekday (5 or more weekdays) (Mass is listed Monday through Friday at 12:15 PM at the parish that runs the campus ministry.)
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Daily Mass Schedule MonFri 12:15 PM”
      Daily Mass is listed Monday through Friday at 12:15 PM.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelTwo or more weekend Masses (Sunday Masses at 10:30 AM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 PM, plus a Saturday vigil at 5:00 PM, at the parish that runs the campus ministry.)
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sunday: 10:30 AM English English EN 7:00 PM English English EN 9:00 PM”
      Sunday Masses are listed at 10:30 AM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 PM, and a Saturday vigil at 5:00 PM.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryWeekly or more often (Confession is listed before the Monday through Friday Mass and before all Sunday Masses.)
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “MonFri 11:45 AM to 12:10 PM Before Daily Mass”
      Confession is listed Monday through Friday from 11:45 AM to 12:10 PM before daily Mass.
      “Confession - 30 minutes before ALL Sunday Masses”
      Confession is offered 30 minutes before all Sunday Masses.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Two or more (FOCUS missionaries, weekly Bible studies, and the Colonel Catholic Association are listed.)
    Sources (3)
    1. St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Click here to learn more about our FOCUS missionaries on campus!”
      FOCUS missionaries serve students on the Nicholls campus.
    2. Bible Study | St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org/bible-study · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “We have many small group Bible studies happening each week for both men and women”
      Small group Bible studies for students meet each week.
    3. Meet Our CCA Board | St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org/meet-our-cca-board · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Colonel Catholic Association (CCA)”
      The Colonel Catholic Association is listed with a student board.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Two or more kinds (Retreats, Bible studies, and service programs are listed.)
    Sources (3)
    1. Awakening Retreat | St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org/awakening-retreat · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Awakening is an incredible weekend retreat that will change your life”
      The Awakening weekend retreat is offered to college students; the page lists Colonel Awakening #59, October 9-11, 2026.
    2. Bible Study | St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org/bible-study · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “We have many small group Bible studies happening each week for both men and women”
      Small group Bible studies for students meet each week.
    3. Service | St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org/service · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Every second Saturday of the month, Colonel Catholics assists in bringing meals”
      Colonel Catholics helps bring meals to homebound people every second Saturday.
  • 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.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration20 to 29 times a week (24 weekly times documented: 10 Mass, 7 confession, 7 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • Mass is listed every weekday and on Saturdays and Sundays, with confession before Mass.
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sunday: 10:30 AM English English EN 7:00 PM English English EN 9:00 PM”
      Sunday Masses are listed at 10:30 AM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 PM, and a Saturday vigil at 5:00 PM.
      “Daily Mass Schedule MonFri 12:15 PM”
      Daily Mass is listed Monday through Friday at 12:15 PM.
      “MonFri 11:45 AM to 12:10 PM Before Daily Mass”
      Confession is listed Monday through Friday from 11:45 AM to 12:10 PM before daily Mass.
      “Confession - 30 minutes before ALL Sunday Masses”
      Confession is offered 30 minutes before all Sunday Masses.
  • FOCUS missionaries and weekly Bible studies are listed for students.
    Sources (2)
    1. St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Click here to learn more about our FOCUS missionaries on campus!”
      FOCUS missionaries serve students on the Nicholls campus.
    2. Bible Study | St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org/bible-study · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “We have many small group Bible studies happening each week for both men and women”
      Small group Bible studies for students meet each week.
  • The campus ministry is located on the Nicholls campus.
    Sources (1)
    1. About Us | St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org/about-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “We are located on Nicholls State Campus across from Peltier Hall.”
      The campus ministry is located on the Nicholls State campus.

Concerns

  • The pastor is listed for the parish that runs the campus ministry.
    Sources (1)
    1. Active Priests | Diocese of Houma-Thibodauxhtdiocese.org/our-priests · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Rev. John David Matherne Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish”
      Rev. John David Matherne is pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.
  • Sunday confession is listed only as 30 minutes before Mass, without a clock time.
    Sources (1)
    1. St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Confession - 30 minutes before ALL Sunday Masses”
      Confession is offered 30 minutes before all Sunday Masses.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

Colonel Catholics (St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church campus ministry)

  • Address: 204 Alumni Drive, Thibodaux, LA 70301
  • Location: On campus

Source: nsucatholics.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, nsucatholics.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

6 groups and regular activities · 1 on campus, 1 off campus, 4 location not published

Retreats 2

  • FOCUS national conference (SEEK)Off campus
    Each January
    Colonel Catholics takes a group to the FOCUS national conference each January.
    nsucatholics.org
  • Awakening retreat
    Colonel Awakening #59, October 9-11, 2026
    Weekend retreat for college students, ages 18 to 24, run by Colonel Catholics.
    nsucatholics.org

Clubs and groups 2

  • FOCUS missionariesOn campus
    FOCUS missionaries on the Nicholls campus invite students to Bible studies and discipleship.
    nsucatholics.org
  • Colonel Catholic Association
    Student association of Colonel Catholics, with a board listed for 2025.
    nsucatholics.org

Faith formation 1

  • Small group Bible studies
    Each week
    Small group Bible studies for men and women students.
    nsucatholics.org

Service 1

  • Homebound meal visits
    Every second Saturday of the month
    Colonel Catholics helps bring meals to homebound people and visits with them.
    nsucatholics.org

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (3)
  1. About Us | St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org/about-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Colonel Catholics is the campus ministry component of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church at Nicholls State University”
    Colonel Catholics is the Catholic campus ministry at Nicholls State University, run by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
    “Colonel Catholics is the campus ministry component of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church at Nicholls State University”
    Colonel Catholics is the Catholic campus ministry at Nicholls State University, run by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
  2. Active Priests | Diocese of Houma-Thibodauxhtdiocese.org/our-priests · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Rev. John David Matherne Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish”
    Rev. John David Matherne is pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.
  3. Contact Us | St. Thomas Aquinas | Thibodaux, LAnsucatholics.org/contact-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Stop by and visit with us at: 204 Alumni Drive Thibodaux, LA 70301”
    The parish office and Colonel Catholics are at 204 Alumni Drive, Thibodaux, LA 70301.

Reach out

Contact details for Rev. John David Matherne (Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, which runs Colonel Catholics) and 3 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

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Academic Excellence

DAcademic Excellence: Limited (grade D): 40 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
54 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.54%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.77%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,090 · ACT 21.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.19 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$5,948

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)
5,612
Total students6,180
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$12,947
Cost of attendance (per year)$23,481
Median federal debt at graduation$22,675
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
54%
First-year retention77%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$45,454
Admission rate91%
Students receiving Pell grants34%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1090
SAT reading & writing472–608
SAT math462–588
ACT composite19–24
Test policyRequired

Value index: 54 / 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

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

The Most Reverend Simon Peter Engurait, Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux

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 159966
  • Carnegie classification: Master's university (medium programs)
  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Report an error or a newer source
  • Respond as this school

Questions families ask

Is Nicholls State University a Catholic college?
No. Nicholls State University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by Colonel Catholics (St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church).
What is Nicholls State University’s Catholic Life Score?
82 out of 100 (grade A). It measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes, together with academics.
Where is Mass celebrated at Nicholls State University?
Mass is listed at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.
Is Nicholls State University Compass Recommended?
Yes. Nicholls State University meets the Compass Recommended standard for Catholic life on campus.

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