Is University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth a Catholic college?

No. University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by Newman Catholic Ministry at UMass Dartmouth.

Where is Mass celebrated at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth?

Mass is listed at Reflection Room, Campus Center, Newman House and 359 Old Westport Road. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

College · Catholic life on campus

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

LocationNorth Dartmouth, MA
Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 7,759 students

Official website

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

Newman Catholic Ministry at UMass Dartmouth serves Catholic students from Newman House, a facility just off campus, and from campus office and worship space in the Campus Center. Its pages list Sunday and Tuesday Masses on campus, Thursday Mass at Newman House, weekly Tuesday confession, a Newman Catholic Student Association, a Knights of Columbus roundtable, and formation programs.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 3

Sunday7:00 PMReflection Room, Campus Center · Listed on an undated page of the ministry's site; confirm current times with the ministry.
Tuesday12:00 PMReflection Room, Campus Center · Listed on an undated page of the ministry's site; confirm current times with the ministry.
Thursday6:00 PMNewman House, 359 Old Westport Road · Listed on an undated page of the ministry's site; confirm current times with the ministry.

Confession 1

Tuesday2:00 PMCampus Center, second-floor office conference room · Also by appointment. Listed on an undated page of the ministry's site.

Adoration 1

Tuesday1:00 PMReflection Room, 2nd floor Campus Center · Listed on an undated page of the ministry's site.

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)

Mass, Confession and Adoration Schedules | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/mass.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
“7;00 pm Reflection Room Campus Center TUESDAY 12:00 pm Reflection Room Campus Center”
The ministry lists a Sunday 7:00 PM Mass and a Tuesday 12:00 PM Mass in the Reflection Room of the Campus Center.
“7;00 pm Reflection Room Campus Center TUESDAY 12:00 pm Reflection Room Campus Center”
The ministry lists a Sunday 7:00 PM Mass and a Tuesday 12:00 PM Mass in the Reflection Room of the Campus Center.
“Thursday evening Mass and Newman Nights begin at 6:00 pm with Mass”
The ministry lists a Thursday 6:00 PM Mass at Newman House.
“On Campus: Tuesdays at 2:00 pm and by appointment at our office conference room on the second floor of campus center”
The ministry lists confession on campus on Tuesdays at 2:00 PM and by appointment.
“Tuesdays at 1:00 pm in the Reflection Room on the 2nd floor of Campus Center”
The ministry lists Eucharistic adoration on campus on Tuesdays at 1:00 PM.

Plan a campus visit Mass times for your dates, questions to ask, and a calendar button.

Catholic churches nearby

CampusCatholic centerOpen a street map ›

No Catholic churches are mapped in OpenStreetMap within 3 miles. The map may be incomplete; check the local diocese’s parish directory.

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

71 of 100 points on what we could document.

Yes:
Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes (Newman Catholic Ministry's own site serves UMass Dartmouth students.)
Sources (1)
1. Newman Catholic Ministry at UMass Dartmouthumassdcatholics.com/index.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Welcome to Newman Catholic Ministry at UMASS D”
  Newman Catholic Ministry is the Catholic campus ministry serving UMass Dartmouth.
Yes:
Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusYes (Newman House is described as an off-campus facility a few hundred feet from the campus entrance.)
Sources (1)
1. Transition Programs for Incoming Catholic Students | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/incoming.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Novus 2026 is offered two days before the official first year move-in day, on campus and at Newman House (our just off campus facility located just a few hundred feet west of the campus entrance).”
  Newman House is the ministry's facility just off campus, a few hundred feet from the campus entrance.
Partly:
Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryPart-time or shared priest (A priest, Fr. David Frederici, is listed on the campus ministry team. No page states his role as chaplain or his full-time status; the value is recorded as part-time.)
Sources (1)
1. About Newman Catholic Ministry at UMass Dumassdcatholics.com/about.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Fr David Frederici Office: Center for Religious and Spiritual Life Campus Center, Rm. 205”
  Fr. David Frederici is listed on the ministry's campus ministry team.
Partly:
Weekday Mass at the campus ministry1–4 weekdays (Two weekdays at the ministry's own sites: Tuesday at noon in the Campus Center Reflection Room and Thursday at 6:00 PM at Newman House.)
Sources (1)
1. Mass, Confession and Adoration Schedules | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/mass.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “7;00 pm Reflection Room Campus Center TUESDAY 12:00 pm Reflection Room Campus Center”
  The ministry lists a Sunday 7:00 PM Mass and a Tuesday 12:00 PM Mass in the Reflection Room of the Campus Center.
  “Thursday evening Mass and Newman Nights begin at 6:00 pm with Mass”
  The ministry lists a Thursday 6:00 PM Mass at Newman House.
Partly:
Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelOne weekend Mass (One weekend Mass on campus, Sunday at 7:00 PM. Saint Mary's Dartmouth parish Masses are off campus and are not counted.)
Sources (1)
1. Mass, Confession and Adoration Schedules | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/mass.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “7;00 pm Reflection Room Campus Center TUESDAY 12:00 pm Reflection Room Campus Center”
  The ministry lists a Sunday 7:00 PM Mass and a Tuesday 12:00 PM Mass in the Reflection Room of the Campus Center.
Yes:
Scheduled confession at the campus ministryWeekly or more often (Confession is scheduled on campus each Tuesday at 2:00 PM.)
Sources (1)
1. Mass, Confession and Adoration Schedules | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/mass.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “On Campus: Tuesdays at 2:00 pm and by appointment at our office conference room on the second floor of campus center”
  The ministry lists confession on campus on Tuesdays at 2:00 PM and by appointment.
Yes:
Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Two or more (Two Catholic student groups are named: the Newman Catholic Student Association and a Knights of Columbus roundtable at UMass Dartmouth.)
Sources (2)
1. NCSA - Newman Catholic Student Association | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/newmanclub.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “The UMass Dartmouth Newman Catholic Student Association (NCSA) is a student community rooted in the Catholic tradition which strives to foster spiritual, intellectual, and social growth of all students through faith-sharing, education, fellowship, service and celebration.”
  The Newman Catholic Student Association is a student community of the ministry.
2. Newman Men | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/newmanmen.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Join the Knights of Columbus Roundtable at UMass D”
  The ministry's page invites students to join a Knights of Columbus roundtable at UMass Dartmouth.
Yes:
Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Two or more kinds (Several kinds are listed: OCIA, retreats, service, and small groups.)
Sources (4)
1. Curious About Catholicism? | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/becomingcatholic.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Join Us: Beginning September 23, 2026 Reflection Room Campus Center”
  The OCIA process for adults begins September 23, 2026 in the Campus Center Reflection Room.
2. Retreats | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/retreats.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “THE JESUS RETREAT - WHO DO YOU SAY I AM? Dates: October 23-25, 2026 LaSalette Retreat Center Attleboro, MA”
  The Jesus Retreat is scheduled for October 23-25, 2026 at LaSalette Retreat Center in Attleboro, MA.
3. Outreach | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/outreach.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Once a month, on the fourth Tuesday of September, October, November, January, February, March and April, join us at the Salvation Army location Soup Kitchen in New Bedford.”
  The ministry's soup kitchen service in New Bedford takes place monthly on the fourth Tuesday from September through April.
4. Newman Small Groups | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/smallgroups2.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Groups are 4-6 people who meet to discuss faith, go deeper in the weekly homily”
  Newman Small Groups are groups of four to six people who meet to discuss faith.
No:
Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)None mapped within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
Partly:
Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration1 to 5 times a week (5 weekly times documented: 3 Mass, 1 confession, 1 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

The ministry lists Masses on campus on Sunday and Tuesday, plus a Thursday Mass at Newman House.
Sources (1)
1. Mass, Confession and Adoration Schedules | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/mass.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “7;00 pm Reflection Room Campus Center TUESDAY 12:00 pm Reflection Room Campus Center”
  The ministry lists a Sunday 7:00 PM Mass and a Tuesday 12:00 PM Mass in the Reflection Room of the Campus Center.
  “Thursday evening Mass and Newman Nights begin at 6:00 pm with Mass”
  The ministry lists a Thursday 6:00 PM Mass at Newman House.
Confession is scheduled on campus every Tuesday, plus by appointment.
Sources (1)
1. Mass, Confession and Adoration Schedules | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/mass.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “On Campus: Tuesdays at 2:00 pm and by appointment at our office conference room on the second floor of campus center”
  The ministry lists confession on campus on Tuesdays at 2:00 PM and by appointment.
The ministry lists several student groups and formation programs, including OCIA, retreats, and service.
Sources (4)
1. NCSA - Newman Catholic Student Association | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/newmanclub.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “The UMass Dartmouth Newman Catholic Student Association (NCSA) is a student community rooted in the Catholic tradition which strives to foster spiritual, intellectual, and social growth of all students through faith-sharing, education, fellowship, service and celebration.”
  The Newman Catholic Student Association is a student community of the ministry.
2. Curious About Catholicism? | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/becomingcatholic.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Join Us: Beginning September 23, 2026 Reflection Room Campus Center”
  The OCIA process for adults begins September 23, 2026 in the Campus Center Reflection Room.
3. Retreats | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/retreats.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “THE JESUS RETREAT - WHO DO YOU SAY I AM? Dates: October 23-25, 2026 LaSalette Retreat Center Attleboro, MA”
  The Jesus Retreat is scheduled for October 23-25, 2026 at LaSalette Retreat Center in Attleboro, MA.
4. Outreach | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/outreach.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “Once a month, on the fourth Tuesday of September, October, November, January, February, March and April, join us at the Salvation Army location Soup Kitchen in New Bedford.”
  The ministry's soup kitchen service in New Bedford takes place monthly on the fourth Tuesday from September through April.

Concerns

The published schedule lists weekday Mass on two days (Tuesday and Thursday) and not every weekday.
Sources (1)
1. Mass, Confession and Adoration Schedules | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/mass.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
  “7;00 pm Reflection Room Campus Center TUESDAY 12:00 pm Reflection Room Campus Center”
  The ministry lists a Sunday 7:00 PM Mass and a Tuesday 12:00 PM Mass in the Reflection Room of the Campus Center.
  “Thursday evening Mass and Newman Nights begin at 6:00 pm with Mass”
  The ministry lists a Thursday 6:00 PM Mass at Newman House.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

Newman Catholic Ministry at UMass Dartmouth (Newman House)

Address: 359 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747
Location: Next to campus
Distance from campus: 0.5 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)
Facilities: Newman House (Thursday Mass and Newman Night dinners)

View on map ↗

Source: umassdcatholics.com, verified Oct. 12, 2026, umassdcatholics.com, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

14 groups and regular activities · 2 on campus, 3 off campus, 9 location not published

Retreats 1

Jesus Retreat: Who Do You Say I Am?Off campus
October 23-25, 2026
A peer retreat at LaSalette Retreat Center in Attleboro, MA.
umassdcatholics.com

Service 2

Soup kitchen in New BedfordOff campus
Fourth Tuesday monthly, September through April
Students serve a meal at the Salvation Army soup kitchen in New Bedford.
umassdcatholics.com
Arnie's Cupboard food pantryOn campus
The ministry's on-campus food pantry for students, faculty and staff experiencing food insecurity.
umassdcatholics.com

Social life 3

Newman Night dinnersOff campus
Thursdays, 6:30 PM, after the 6:00 PM Mass
Dinner at Newman House after Thursday Mass.
umassdcatholics.com
Newman Men's Community
Gathers for fun, food, prayer and friendship.
umassdcatholics.com
Newman Women's Community
A small group for women that meets for faith and friendship.
umassdcatholics.com

Faith formation 6

OCIA (Becoming Catholic)On campus
Beginning September 23, 2026
Welcomes those exploring Catholicism, those seeking Confirmation or First Communion, and returning Catholics.
umassdcatholics.com
Newman Small Groups
Groups of four to six people who discuss faith and the weekly homily.
umassdcatholics.com
Connect First Year Fellowship Program
Weekly through both semesters
Faith-based fellowship groups for first-year students, led by peer ministers.
umassdcatholics.com
The Search (small group series)
Begins October 7, 2026
A seven-episode small-group series on the questions of faith.
umassdcatholics.com
Alpha at UMass Dartmouth
Wednesdays beginning September 16, 2026, 6:30 PM, for ten weeks
An online introduction to the Christian faith held over ten weeks.
umassdcatholics.com
NOVUS 2026 (incoming Catholic student program)
August 26-28, 2026
Pre-orientation program for first-year Catholic students, held on campus and at Newman House.
umassdcatholics.com

Clubs and groups 2

Newman Catholic Student Association (NCSA)
A student community rooted in the Catholic tradition, offering faith-sharing, education, fellowship, service and celebration.
umassdcatholics.com
Knights of Columbus roundtable at UMass Dartmouth
A Knights of Columbus roundtable for students, as invited by the ministry's page.
umassdcatholics.com

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

Newman Catholic Ministry at UMass Dartmouth

Sources (2)

Newman Catholic Ministry at UMass Dartmouthumassdcatholics.com/index.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
“Welcome to Newman Catholic Ministry at UMASS D”
Newman Catholic Ministry is the Catholic campus ministry serving UMass Dartmouth.
“Welcome to Newman Catholic Ministry at UMASS D”
Newman Catholic Ministry is the Catholic campus ministry serving UMass Dartmouth.
Transition Programs for Incoming Catholic Students | Newman Catholic Ministryumassdcatholics.com/incoming.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
“Novus 2026 is offered two days before the official first year move-in day, on campus and at Newman House (our just off campus facility located just a few hundred feet west of the campus entrance).”
Newman House is the ministry's facility just off campus, a few hundred feet from the campus entrance.

Reach out

Contact details for Fr. David Frederici (Priest, Newman Catholic Ministry campus ministry team) and 6 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

We keep campus ministers’ emails behind sign-in to protect them from spam.

My rating and notes

Academic Excellence

62 of 100

From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

Graduation rate 35% of score52%
First-year retention 20% of score64%
Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreSAT 1,182 · ACT 28
Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of score16 to 1
Instructional spending per student 15% of score$16,600

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))

Campus facts

Sports	NCAA Division III · Little East Conference
Setting	Suburb
ROTC	Army
Study abroad	Offered
Students per faculty member	16 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.

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)	5,602
Total students	7,759
Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid	$20,927
Cost of attendance (per year)	$33,485
Median federal debt at graduation	$25,000
Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time	52%
First-year retention	64%
Median earnings 10 years after entry	$68,804
Admission rate	91%
Students receiving Pell grants	37%

Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1050–1270ACT 26–30

Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT	1182
SAT reading & writing	530–640
SAT math	520–630
ACT composite	26–30
Test policy	Considered but not required

Value index: 53 / 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 Fall River

The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, Bishop of Fall River

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Cathedral: St. Mary's Cathedral

Source: fallriverdiocese.org, fallriverdiocese.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 167987
Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (high research)
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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Questions families ask

Is University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth a Catholic college?: No. University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by Newman Catholic Ministry at UMass Dartmouth.
What is University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth’s Catholic Life Score?: 69 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 University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth?: Mass is listed at Reflection Room, Campus Center, Newman House and 359 Old Westport Road. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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