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Western Connecticut State University: Western Connecticut State University (53564936634)
Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

Western Connecticut State University

  • LocationDanbury, CT
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 4,137 students
Official website

Western Connecticut 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.

The Diocese of Bridgeport owns and operates the WestConn Newman Center in Danbury, across the street from a Midtown campus dormitory.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Western Connecticut State University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint Peter Church: 0.6 mi1Saint Nicholas Catholic Church: 2.3 mi2Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Aparaceda Parish: 3.0 mi3WestConn Newman Center: 0.1 miWestern Connecticut State University (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Peter Church — 0.6 mi · 104 Main Street, Danbury
  2. Saint Nicholas Catholic Church — 2.3 mi
  3. Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Aparaceda Parish — 3.0 mi

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.

N/ACatholic life on campus: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Catholic life on campus

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

  • 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. Western Connecticut State University | Fairfield County Catholic Student Unionfccsu.org/wcsu · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “the Dicoese of Bridgeport owns and operates our own Newman Center, located on 7 8th Ave in Danbury, CT.”
      The Diocese of Bridgeport owns and operates a Newman Center in Danbury for WCSU students.
    2. What We Do | Fairfield County Catholic Student Unionfccsu.org/what-we-do · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “The three main public universities: Western Connecticut State University, UCONN-Stamford, and the University of Bridgeport”
      The diocese's Fairfield County Catholic Student Union office oversees campus ministry at WCSU.
  • 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 diocesan building across the street from a Midtown campus dormitory.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Western Connecticut State University | Fairfield County Catholic Student Unionfccsu.org/wcsu · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “the Dicoese of Bridgeport owns and operates our own Newman Center, located on 7 8th Ave in Danbury, CT.”
      The Diocese of Bridgeport owns and operates a Newman Center in Danbury for WCSU students.
      “It is conveniently located right across the street from the Newbury hall dormitory at the Midtown campus.”
      The Newman Center is across the street from a dormitory at the Midtown campus.
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.
  • 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.

Strengths

  • The Diocese of Bridgeport owns its own Newman Center, located across the street from a Midtown campus dormitory.
    Sources (1)
    1. Western Connecticut State University | Fairfield County Catholic Student Unionfccsu.org/wcsu · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “the Dicoese of Bridgeport owns and operates our own Newman Center, located on 7 8th Ave in Danbury, CT.”
      The Diocese of Bridgeport owns and operates a Newman Center in Danbury for WCSU students.
      “It is conveniently located right across the street from the Newbury hall dormitory at the Midtown campus.”
      The Newman Center is across the street from a dormitory at the Midtown campus.
  • The diocese's campus office oversees ministry at WCSU and lists a director for campus ministry.
    Sources (2)
    1. What We Do | Fairfield County Catholic Student Unionfccsu.org/what-we-do · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “The three main public universities: Western Connecticut State University, UCONN-Stamford, and the University of Bridgeport”
      The diocese's Fairfield County Catholic Student Union office oversees campus ministry at WCSU.
    2. Who We Are | Fairfield County Catholic Student Unionfccsu.org/who-we-are · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Robert is the current Director of Campus and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Bridgeport.”
      Robert Pascale is the diocese's Director of Campus and Young Adult Ministry.

Concerns

  • The ministry states that many events and opportunities have been discontinued and are being restored.
    Sources (1)
    1. Western Connecticut State University | Fairfield County Catholic Student Unionfccsu.org/wcsu · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Currently, as campus ministry efforts are being reoriented and refocused, many of these events and opportunities have gone away”
      The ministry states that many of its events and opportunities are no longer offered and that it is working to restore them.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

WestConn Newman Center

  • Address: 7 8th Ave, Danbury, CT
  • Location: Next to campus
  • Distance from campus: 0.1 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)

View on map ↗

Source: fccsu.org, verified Oct. 14, 2026, fccsu.org, verified Oct. 14, 2026, fccsu.org, verified Oct. 14, 2026

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (2)
  1. Western Connecticut State University | Fairfield County Catholic Student Unionfccsu.org/wcsu · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “the Dicoese of Bridgeport owns and operates our own Newman Center, located on 7 8th Ave in Danbury, CT.”
    The Diocese of Bridgeport owns and operates a Newman Center in Danbury for WCSU students.
    “the Dicoese of Bridgeport owns and operates our own Newman Center, located on 7 8th Ave in Danbury, CT.”
    The Diocese of Bridgeport owns and operates a Newman Center in Danbury for WCSU students.
    “It is conveniently located right across the street from the Newbury hall dormitory at the Midtown campus.”
    The Newman Center is across the street from a dormitory at the Midtown campus.
  2. Who We Are | Fairfield County Catholic Student Unionfccsu.org/who-we-are · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “Robert splits his time between the WestConn Newman Center in Danbury, and the diocesan offices in Shelton.”
    The diocesan campus director works partly at the WestConn Newman Center in Danbury.

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Academic Excellence

CAcademic Excellence: 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.
64 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.52%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.73%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,110
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.11 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$16,024

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

SportsNCAA Division III · Little East Conference
SettingCity
ROTCArmy · Air Force
Study abroadOffered
Students per faculty member11 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.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
3,542
Total students4,137
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$17,604
Cost of attendance (per year)$24,877
Median federal debt at graduation$24,147
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
52%
First-year retention73%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$59,115
Admission rate87%
Students receiving Pell grants35%
Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1040–1170
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1110
SAT reading & writing510–580
SAT math530–590
ACT composite—
Test policyConsidered but not required

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 Bridgeport

The Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

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

Diocese determined from the county using NCES Catholic school records. Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Western Connecticut State University a Catholic college?
No. Western Connecticut State University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by WestConn Newman Center (Diocese of Bridgeport).

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