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Towson University: Towson University Sun on Stephen's Hall (16668411069)
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College · Catholic life on campus

Towson University

  • LocationTowson, MD
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 19,527 students
Official website

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

The Catholic Campus Ministry at Towson runs from the Newman Center at 7909 York Road, which the Archdiocese of Baltimore describes as its campus ministry center. The university's religious life page lists Mass Sunday through Thursday at 5:30 PM, with confession and adoration on Thursdays and Sundays at 4:30 PM, and a Thursday Newman Nights dinner. The university lists Brian Rhude as the ministry contact, and the archdiocese lists the chaplain position as to be announced.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 2

  • Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday5:30 PMNewman Center
  • Monday, Wednesday5:30 PMUniversity Union (on campus)

Confession 1

  • Sunday, Thursday4:30 PMNewman Center

Adoration 1

  • Sunday, Thursday4:30 PMNewman Center

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. Religious & Spiritual Life | Towson Universitytowson.edu/studentdiversity/development-diversity-programs/religious-spiritual-life.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Join the Newman Center for Mass Sunday-Thursday at 5:30pm including Mass on campus in the Union on Mondays and Wednesdays.”
    Mass is offered Sunday through Thursday at 5:30 PM, with Monday and Wednesday Masses in the University Union.
    “Join the Newman Center for Mass Sunday-Thursday at 5:30pm including Mass on campus in the Union on Mondays and Wednesdays.”
    Mass is offered Sunday through Thursday at 5:30 PM, with Monday and Wednesday Masses in the University Union.
    “Confession and Adoration will be available at the Newman Center on Thursday and Sunday at 4:30pm.”
    Confession and adoration are offered at the Newman Center on Thursdays and Sundays at 4:30 PM.
    “Confession and Adoration will be available at the Newman Center on Thursday and Sunday at 4:30pm.”
    Confession and adoration are offered at the Newman Center on Thursdays and Sundays at 4:30 PM.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Towson University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miNewman Center: 0.4 mi1Church of the Immaculate Conception: 0.8 mi2The Grotto: 1.5 mi3Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church: 2.5 mi4Cathedral of Mary Our Queen: 2.5 mi5Church of the Nativity: 2.7 mi6Newman Center (Catholic Campus Ministry, Towson University): 0.4 miTowson University (campus)N2 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Newman Center — 0.4 mi · 7909 York Road, Towson
  2. Church of the Immaculate Conception — 0.8 mi · 200 Ware Avenue, Towson
  3. The Grotto — 1.5 mi
  4. Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church — 2.5 mi · 8501 Loch Raven Boulevard, Parkville
  5. Cathedral of Mary Our Queen — 2.5 mi · 5200 North Charles Street, Baltimore
  6. Church of the Nativity — 2.7 mi · 20 East Ridgely Road, Lutherville

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.

BCatholic life on campus: Good (grade B): 70 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

72 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 (2)
    1. Religious & Spiritual Life | Towson Universitytowson.edu/studentdiversity/development-diversity-programs/religious-spiritual-life.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Brian Rhude | Catholic Campus Ministry, Newman Center | 410-660-7064”
      Towson's Religious and Spiritual Coordinating Council lists Brian Rhude as the contact for the Catholic Campus Ministry, Newman Center.
    2. College Campus Ministry | Archdiocese of Baltimorearchbalt.org/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Towson University- Chaplain – TBA”
      The Archdiocese of Baltimore lists a Towson University campus ministry with the chaplain position shown as TBA.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusYes (The Newman Center is a dedicated Catholic center. Towson's page lists it among its campus community centers.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Religious & Spiritual Life | Towson Universitytowson.edu/studentdiversity/development-diversity-programs/religious-spiritual-life.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Newman Center Location”
      Towson lists the Newman Center among its community centers.
    2. Campus ministry at Towson University | Archdiocese of Baltimorearchbalt.org/campus-ministry-at-towson-university-among-those-planning-parties-to-mark-cardinal-newmans-canonization · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “outside the grounds of its Newman Center, 7909 York Road, Towson, MD 21204”
      The Newman Center of the Towson campus ministry is at 7909 York Road, Towson, MD 21204.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryPart-time or shared priest (Regular Mass is published; the archdiocese lists the chaplain as TBA.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Religious & Spiritual Life | Towson Universitytowson.edu/studentdiversity/development-diversity-programs/religious-spiritual-life.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Join the Newman Center for Mass Sunday-Thursday at 5:30pm including Mass on campus in the Union on Mondays and Wednesdays.”
      Mass is offered Sunday through Thursday at 5:30 PM, with Monday and Wednesday Masses in the University Union.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministry1–4 weekdays (Tuesday and Thursday Mass at the Newman Center. Monday and Wednesday Mass is listed in the University Union, not at the Newman Center.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Religious & Spiritual Life | Towson Universitytowson.edu/studentdiversity/development-diversity-programs/religious-spiritual-life.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Join the Newman Center for Mass Sunday-Thursday at 5:30pm including Mass on campus in the Union on Mondays and Wednesdays.”
      Mass is offered Sunday through Thursday at 5:30 PM, with Monday and Wednesday Masses in the University Union.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelOne weekend Mass (One weekend Mass: Sunday at 5:30 PM at the Newman Center.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Religious & Spiritual Life | Towson Universitytowson.edu/studentdiversity/development-diversity-programs/religious-spiritual-life.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Join the Newman Center for Mass Sunday-Thursday at 5:30pm including Mass on campus in the Union on Mondays and Wednesdays.”
      Mass is offered Sunday through Thursday at 5:30 PM, with Monday and Wednesday Masses in the University Union.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryWeekly or more often (Scheduled confession Thursday and Sunday at 4:30 PM.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Religious & Spiritual Life | Towson Universitytowson.edu/studentdiversity/development-diversity-programs/religious-spiritual-life.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Confession and Adoration will be available at the Newman Center on Thursday and Sunday at 4:30pm.”
      Confession and adoration are offered at the Newman Center on Thursdays and Sundays at 4:30 PM.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)One (FOCUS campus team is the one outside group confirmed.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Towson University | FOCUSfocus.org/campus/towson-university · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “HOME | CAMPUSES | Towson University”
      FOCUS lists a campus team at Towson University.
  • 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: 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 adoration6 to 11 times a week (9 weekly times documented: 5 Mass, 2 confession, 2 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 published on campus and at the Newman Center from Sunday through Thursday.
    Sources (1)
    1. Religious & Spiritual Life | Towson Universitytowson.edu/studentdiversity/development-diversity-programs/religious-spiritual-life.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Join the Newman Center for Mass Sunday-Thursday at 5:30pm including Mass on campus in the Union on Mondays and Wednesdays.”
      Mass is offered Sunday through Thursday at 5:30 PM, with Monday and Wednesday Masses in the University Union.
  • Confession and adoration are scheduled weekly at the Newman Center on Thursdays and Sundays.
    Sources (1)
    1. Religious & Spiritual Life | Towson Universitytowson.edu/studentdiversity/development-diversity-programs/religious-spiritual-life.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Confession and Adoration will be available at the Newman Center on Thursday and Sunday at 4:30pm.”
      Confession and adoration are offered at the Newman Center on Thursdays and Sundays at 4:30 PM.
  • A Newman Center at 7909 York Road serves as the ministry's center.
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus ministry at Towson University | Archdiocese of Baltimorearchbalt.org/campus-ministry-at-towson-university-among-those-planning-parties-to-mark-cardinal-newmans-canonization · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “outside the grounds of its Newman Center, 7909 York Road, Towson, MD 21204”
      The Newman Center of the Towson campus ministry is at 7909 York Road, Towson, MD 21204.

Concerns

  • The archdiocese lists the chaplain position as TBA.
    Sources (1)
    1. College Campus Ministry | Archdiocese of Baltimorearchbalt.org/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Towson University- Chaplain – TBA”
      The Archdiocese of Baltimore lists a Towson University campus ministry with the chaplain position shown as TBA.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

Newman Center (Catholic Campus Ministry, Towson University)

  • Address: 7909 York Road, Towson, MD 21204
  • Distance from campus: 0.4 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)
  • Facilities: chapel

View on map ↗

Source: archbalt.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, towson.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

2 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 0 off campus, 2 location not published

Clubs and groups 1

  • FOCUS campus team
    FOCUS missionaries serving the Towson campus.
    focus.org

Social life 1

  • Newman Nights
    Thursdays
    Weekly dinner, prayer, and fellowship.
    towson.edu

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. Religious & Spiritual Life | Towson Universitytowson.edu/studentdiversity/development-diversity-programs/religious-spiritual-life.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Brian Rhude | Catholic Campus Ministry, Newman Center | 410-660-7064”
    Towson's Religious and Spiritual Coordinating Council lists Brian Rhude as the contact for the Catholic Campus Ministry, Newman Center.
    “Newman Center Location”
    Towson lists the Newman Center among its community centers.
  2. College Campus Ministry | Archdiocese of Baltimorearchbalt.org/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Towson University- Chaplain – TBA”
    The Archdiocese of Baltimore lists a Towson University campus ministry with the chaplain position shown as TBA.
  3. Campus ministry at Towson University | Archdiocese of Baltimorearchbalt.org/campus-ministry-at-towson-university-among-those-planning-parties-to-mark-cardinal-newmans-canonization · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “outside the grounds of its Newman Center, 7909 York Road, Towson, MD 21204”
    The Newman Center of the Towson campus ministry is at 7909 York Road, Towson, MD 21204.

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Academic Excellence

BAcademic Excellence: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
70 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.69%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.83%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,095 · ACT 23
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.14 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$10,084

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)
16,517
Total students19,527
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$17,413
Cost of attendance (per year)$28,535
Median federal debt at graduation$18,718
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
69%
First-year retention83%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$64,390
Admission rate82%
Students receiving Pell grants36%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1095
SAT reading & writing490–635
SAT math460–600
ACT composite19–27
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 73 / 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

Archdiocese of Baltimore

The Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Cathedral: Cathedral of Mary Our Queen

Source: archbalt.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

Questions families ask

Is Towson University a Catholic college?
No. Towson University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by Catholic Campus Ministry, Newman Center.
What is Towson University’s Catholic Life Score?
71 out of 100 (grade B). 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 Towson University?
Mass is listed at Newman Center and University Union (on campus). Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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