Catholic School CompassTrue north for Catholic families.
Thomas More College of Liberal Arts: Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Winter, Merrimack NH
Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Catholic college

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts

  • LocationMerrimack, NH
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 95 students
Official website

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, New Hampshire, is a Catholic liberal arts college that offers one required Bachelor of Arts curriculum for all students, with no departmental majors. Its catalog states that the college accepts Ex Corde Ecclesiae as a governing document. Daily Mass is offered in the college chapel, a chaplain is named, and the residence halls are single-sex.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint Christopher Catholic Church: 2.5 mi1Thomas More College of Liberal Arts (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Christopher Catholic Church — 2.5 mi · 62 Manchester Street, Nashua

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Faith 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.

CSacramental life: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Sacramental life

67 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Weekday Mass on campus during the academic yearEvery weekday (5 or more weekdays) (The college states that Daily Mass is available to all students.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Our Campus | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/new-hamp/our-campus · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Daily Mass and the sacraments are available for all students.”
      Daily Mass is available to all students on campus.
    2. Student Handbook 2025-2026 | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/TMC-Handbook-2025-26-1.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “the College discourages the scheduling of classes, meetings, or other College activities in conflict with the daily scheduled Mass.”
      The handbook refers to a daily scheduled Mass.
  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Sunday Mass on campus (including Saturday vigil)One weekend Mass (The handbook refers to Sunday Mass.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Student Handbook 2025-2026 | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/TMC-Handbook-2025-26-1.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “and on Sundays for brunch and Mass.”
      The handbook refers to Sunday Mass.
  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Scheduled confession on campusLess than weekly, or by appointment only (Confession is offered throughout the week.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Spiritual Life | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/new-hamp/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Confession is offered throughout the week.”
      Confession is offered throughout the week; no scheduled times are published.
  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Eucharistic adorationOccasional (monthly or seasonal) (Eucharistic adoration is practiced in the chapel.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Spiritual Life | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/new-hamp/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Our students are found in the College chapel loving and adoring Him in return.”
      Eucharistic adoration takes place in the college chapel; no schedule is published.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Priests serving studentsAt least one full-time priest chaplain (or a resident community of priests serving campus ministry) (Fr. John Healey is presented as the college chaplain.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Rev. John Healey | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/faculty-staff/rev-john-healey · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Father John Healey, of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Nashua, New Hampshire, has served as a chaplain at Thomas More College for over three decades.”
      A named priest, Fr. John Healey, is presented as a chaplain at the college.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Chapel open for prayer on campusYes
    Sources (1)
    1. Spiritual Life | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/new-hamp/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Our Chapel is always reserved and open as a place of prayer for students to visit throughout their daily rhythm.”
      The chapel is open as a place of prayer for students.
  • 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.
ATheology and core curriculum: 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.

Theology and core curriculum

100 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Theology or religious studies courses required of all bachelor's studentsThree or more courses (The B.A. requires 18 credit hours of Sacred Scripture and Theology (six three-credit courses), counted under the Sacred Scripture and Theology requirement. Applies to the B.A. curriculum for all students.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Thomas More College Catalogue 2025-2026thomasmorecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/Thomas-More-College-Catalogue-2025-26-30-January-2026-1.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts”
      The bachelor's degree requirements are listed by category, with credit totals.
      “Sacred Scripture 12 credit hours”
      Sacred Scripture requirement is 12 credit hours for the B.A.
      “Theology 6 credit hours”
      Theology requirement is 6 credit hours for the B.A.
      “A study of the initial stages in the history of salvation recounted in the narrative and prophetic books of the Old Testament.”
      Expectatio Gentium is a required Sacred Scripture course.
      “Our principal texts will be the four Gospels, together with select commentary by St. Leo the Great”
      Redemptor Hominis is a required course on the Gospels.
      “A careful journey through the writings of St. Paul with the goal of attaining a clear understanding of the mystery of salvation.”
      Mysterium Salutis is a required course on St. Paul.
      “An examination of the lex orandi, the law of prayer, through a consideration of such topics as worship, sacrifice,”
      Coram Angelis is a required course on Christian prayer and worship.
      “A study of the nature of theology and of the central mysteries of the faith—Creation, Fall, and Redemption.”
      Theology I is a required course on the central mysteries of the faith.
      “A study of the mystery of divine life granted to us in Christ.”
      Theology II is a required course on the mystery of divine life in Christ.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Required theology includes explicitly Catholic content (Scripture, Catholic tradition, sacraments)At least one required course is explicitly Catholic theology (Theology I and II have generic titles; counted as Catholic theology because the program describes its theology courses as reflection upon Catholic theology.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Thomas More College Catalogue 2025-2026thomasmorecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/Thomas-More-College-Catalogue-2025-26-30-January-2026-1.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “A study of the nature of theology and of the central mysteries of the faith—Creation, Fall, and Redemption.”
      Theology I is a required course on the central mysteries of the faith.
      “reflection upon the great works of Catholic theology”
      The program's academic life culminates in reflection on Catholic theology.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Philosophy courses required of all bachelor's studentsThree or more courses (The B.A. requires 18 credit hours of philosophy (six three-credit courses).)
    Sources (1)
    1. Thomas More College Catalogue 2025-2026thomasmorecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/Thomas-More-College-Catalogue-2025-26-30-January-2026-1.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts”
      The bachelor's degree requirements are listed by category, with credit totals.
      “A study of human action, the virtues as principles of good human action, friendship as its sustaining context,”
      On the Good Life I: Ethics is a required philosophy course.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Core curriculum explicitly draws on the Catholic intellectual traditionYes, stated in the catalog or core description
    Sources (1)
    1. Thomas More College Catalogue 2025-2026thomasmorecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/Thomas-More-College-Catalogue-2025-26-30-January-2026-1.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Indeed, the College’s integrated curriculum is ordered chiefly to the mutual flourishing of reason and faith envisioned not only by Ex Corde Ecclesiae, but also by John Paul II’s encyclical Fides et Ratio, subsequent papal statements on education, and, in general, by the venerable Catholic tradition of faith seeking understanding.”
      The integrated curriculum is ordered by the Catholic tradition of faith seeking understanding.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Theology or religious studies major offeredNo majors: every student follows one curriculum with substantial required theology (No majors; one curriculum for all students.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Thomas More College Catalogue 2025-2026thomasmorecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/Thomas-More-College-Catalogue-2025-26-30-January-2026-1.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “There is, therefore, one curriculum for all, without division into specialties or departments.”
      All students follow one curriculum; there are no departmental majors.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Publicly affirms Ex Corde Ecclesiae in mission or governance documentsYes
    Sources (1)
    1. Thomas More College Catalogue 2025-2026thomasmorecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/Thomas-More-College-Catalogue-2025-26-30-January-2026-1.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Thomas More College fully accepts the Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae (1990)”
      The college publicly accepts Ex Corde Ecclesiae.
      “recognizes the Constitution as one of its governing documents”
      The college recognizes Ex Corde Ecclesiae as a governing document.
N/ACampus culture and residence life: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Campus culture and residence life

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Campus ministry staffing (chaplains, ministers, and professional staff)Two to four (Two named ministry staff: the chaplain and the chapel coordinator.)
    Sources (3)
    1. Rev. John Healey | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/faculty-staff/rev-john-healey · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Father John Healey, of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Nashua, New Hampshire, has served as a chaplain at Thomas More College for over three decades.”
      A named priest, Fr. John Healey, is presented as a chaplain at the college.
    2. Faculty & Staff | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/about/faculty-staff · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fellow / Guildmaster / Chapel Coordinator”
      Fred Fraser is listed as Chapel Coordinator.
    3. Fred Fraser | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/faculty-staff/fred-fraser · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Separately, he also assists the chaplains as the chapel coordinator, overseeing the student sacristans.”
      The chapel coordinator assists the chaplains and oversees student sacristans.
  • 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.
    Retreats offered to students each yearNot 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 organizations and faith-formation groupsNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Single-sex residence optionsSingle-sex residence halls available
    Sources (1)
    1. Thomas More College Catalogue 2025-2026thomasmorecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/Thomas-More-College-Catalogue-2025-26-30-January-2026-1.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Kopka is the hall of residence for women.”
      Kopka Hall is a women's residence hall.
      “Stillman is the hall of residence for men.”
      Stillman House is a men's residence hall.
  • Yes: Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Overnight guest policy in residence hallsOvernight guests of the opposite sex not permitted (Inter-visitation between male and female students in the dormitories is prohibited; overnight guests also require a guest form.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Student Handbook 2025-2026 | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/TMC-Handbook-2025-26-1.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Inter-visitation between male and female students in the dormitories is strictly prohibited.”
      Inter-visitation between men and women in the dormitories is prohibited.
  • 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.
    Faith life in residence halls (hall chaplains, hall Masses, or faith-based living communities)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.
    Office or senior officer for mission and Catholic identityNot enough information: not found in official sources.
N/AService and Catholic social teaching: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Service and Catholic social teaching

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.
    Service or volunteer centerNot 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.
    Service-learning or community engagement in the curriculumNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic social teaching in the curriculum (course, minor, center, or core requirement)Offered (course, minor, or center) (A required politics course includes selections from the tradition of Catholic social thought; recorded as available.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Thomas More College Catalogue 2025-2026thomasmorecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/Thomas-More-College-Catalogue-2025-26-30-January-2026-1.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Texts include Aristotle’s Politics and selections from Augustine, Aquinas, and the tradition of Catholic social thought.”
      A required politics course includes selections from the tradition of Catholic social thought.
  • 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.
    Pro-life engagement (student pro-life group, support for pregnant and parenting students, or institutional initiatives)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.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersion trips, poverty, migration, or care-for-creation initiatives)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.
    Service explicitly rooted in the Catholic mission (run with campus ministry or the mission office, or framed by Catholic social teaching)Not enough information: not found in official sources.

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

Strengths

  • Daily Mass is available to students, and the chapel is open as a place of prayer.
    Sources (2)
    1. Our Campus | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/new-hamp/our-campus · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Daily Mass and the sacraments are available for all students.”
      Daily Mass is available to all students on campus.
    2. Spiritual Life | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/new-hamp/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Our Chapel is always reserved and open as a place of prayer for students to visit throughout their daily rhythm.”
      The chapel is open as a place of prayer for students.
  • Each B.A. student takes six three-credit Sacred Scripture and Theology courses, and the catalog names Ex Corde Ecclesiae as a governing document.
    Sources (1)
    1. Thomas More College Catalogue 2025-2026thomasmorecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/Thomas-More-College-Catalogue-2025-26-30-January-2026-1.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sacred Scripture 12 credit hours”
      Sacred Scripture requirement is 12 credit hours for the B.A.
      “Theology 6 credit hours”
      Theology requirement is 6 credit hours for the B.A.
      “recognizes the Constitution as one of its governing documents”
      The college recognizes Ex Corde Ecclesiae as a governing document.
  • The college has single-sex residence halls, Kopka Hall for women and Stillman House for men.
    Sources (1)
    1. Thomas More College Catalogue 2025-2026thomasmorecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/Thomas-More-College-Catalogue-2025-26-30-January-2026-1.pdf · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Kopka is the hall of residence for women.”
      Kopka Hall is a women's residence hall.
      “Stillman is the hall of residence for men.”
      Stillman House is a men's residence hall.

Concerns

  • Weekly schedules cannot be confirmed.
    Sources (1)
    1. Spiritual Life | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/new-hamp/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Confession is offered throughout the week.”
      Confession is offered throughout the week; no scheduled times are published.
      “Our students are found in the College chapel loving and adoring Him in return.”
      Eucharistic adoration takes place in the college chapel; no schedule is published.
  • The student services page lists counseling, career, and safety resources.
    Sources (1)
    1. Student Services, Resources, and Safety | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/current-students/services-resources-safety · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “pastoral care is available through TMC’s Chaplains”
      Pastoral care is available to students through the chaplains.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

Thomas More College Chapel

  • Address: Six Manchester Street, Merrimack, NH 03054
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: chapel, student lounge, dining hall

Source: thomasmorecollege.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026, thomasmorecollege.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026, thomasmorecollege.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026, thomasmorecollege.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026, thomasmorecollege.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

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

Other 1

  • Fall pilgrimage to the Auriesville ShrineOff campus
    Fall semester
    A three-day, 65-mile pilgrimage for restoration to the Auriesville Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs.

Liturgy and prayer 6

Faith formation 2

  • Spiritual direction with chaplains
    Chaplains are available for individual conferences and spiritual advice.
  • Traditio all-college lectures and seminars
    A regular all-college series of readings, lectures and seminars that includes the community's Mass on Traditio days.

Clubs and groups 1

  • Catholic guilds
    Medieval-style Catholic guilds, including the St. Philip Neri Sacred Music Guild, St. Joseph Woodworking Guild and St. Brigid of Ireland Brewing Guild, taught by master craftsmen.

Social life 1

  • Feasts and banquets of the liturgical calendar
    Regular feasts and banquets follow the liturgical calendar of the Church.

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

Campus ministry

Sources (3)
  1. Spiritual Life | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/new-hamp/spiritual-life · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Holy Mass is offered in the Thomas More College Chapel by a variety of our beloved College chaplains.”
    Holy Mass is offered in the college chapel by college chaplains.
    “The College’s chaplains are always available for individual conferences and spiritual advice”
    Chaplains are available for individual spiritual direction.
    “Holy Mass is offered in the Thomas More College Chapel by a variety of our beloved College chaplains.”
    Holy Mass is offered in the college chapel by college chaplains.
    “The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts Six Manchester Street Merrimack, NH 03054”
    The college's address is Six Manchester Street, Merrimack, NH 03054.
  2. Student Services, Resources, and Safety | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/current-students/services-resources-safety · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “pastoral care is available through TMC’s Chaplains”
    Pastoral care is available to students through the chaplains.
  3. Our Campus | Thomas More Collegethomasmorecollege.edu/new-hamp/our-campus · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “The large double doors marking the front of the barn open to the College chapel.”
    The college chapel is in the converted barn.
    “On the ground floor, just beyond the chapel one finds the Student Lounge”
    The student lounge is on the ground floor just beyond the chapel.
    “On the lowest level is the dining hall.”
    The dining hall is on the lowest level of the barn.

Reach out

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Academic Excellence

Academic Excellence is computed for four-year colleges with at least 100 undergraduates. Seminaries, graduate-only schools, and two-year colleges are not rated.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Value and outcomes
Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
95
Total students95
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$18,489
Cost of attendance (per year)$42,082
Median federal debt at graduation$25,000
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
63%
First-year retention88%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$53,565
Admission rate—
Students receiving Pell grants45%

Value index: 55 / 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 Manchester

The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Cathedral: St. Joseph Cathedral

Source: catholicnh.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

  • IPEDS unit ID 183275
  • Carnegie classification: Baccalaureate college (arts & sciences)
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Roman Catholic
  • Report an error or a newer source
  • Respond as this school

Questions families ask

Is Thomas More College of Liberal Arts a Catholic college?
Yes. Thomas More College of Liberal Arts is a Catholic college in the Diocese of Manchester.

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