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Youngstown State University: Youngstown State University clock tower as seen from Moser Hall
Photo: Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

Youngstown State University

  • LocationYoungstown, OH
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 11,040 students
Official website
Campus Ministry Honor Roll badge

Youngstown 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.

Youngstown State University is served by the St. John Henry Newman Center, located just off campus at 254 Madison Avenue, which is also the home of the Catholic Penguins student association. The diocese and the ministry's About page each name a chaplain, and the ministry lists open-door hours on weekdays and an adoration chapel. The diocese states that Mass is offered during the YSU semester.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Youngstown State University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 mi0.5 miSaint Columba Cathedral: 0.2 mi1St. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church: 0.4 mi2Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: 0.4 mi3Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church: 0.6 mi4Immaculate Conception Catholic Church: 0.7 mi5Saints Peter and Paul Croatian Catholic Church: 0.7 mi6St. John Henry Newman Center at YSU: 0.5 miYoungstown State University (campus)N0.25 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Columba Cathedral — 0.2 mi · 154 West Wood Street, Youngstown
  2. St. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church — 0.4 mi
  3. Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel — 0.4 mi
  4. Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church — 0.6 mi
  5. Immaculate Conception Catholic Church — 0.7 mi
  6. Saints Peter and Paul Croatian Catholic Church — 0.7 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.

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

92 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. Youngstown State University | The Catholic Diocese of Youngstowndoy.org/youngstown-state-university · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Youngstown State University is ministered to by the Catholic Newman Center, located just off campus and the spiritual home of the YSU Catholic Student Association (CSA).”
      The Catholic Newman Center ministers to Youngstown State University, is located just off campus, and is the spiritual home of the YSU Catholic Student Association.
    2. Who We Are | Catholic Penguinscatholicpenguins.org/about · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Both there and on campus, we seek to fulfill the spiritual, service, and social needs of the YSU students, faculty, and staff by sustaining a strong and active Catholic community.”
      The ministry seeks to meet the spiritual, service and social needs of YSU students, faculty and staff.
  • 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 described as located just off campus, with an adoration chapel.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Youngstown State University | The Catholic Diocese of Youngstowndoy.org/youngstown-state-university · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Youngstown State University is ministered to by the Catholic Newman Center, located just off campus and the spiritual home of the YSU Catholic Student Association (CSA).”
      The Catholic Newman Center ministers to Youngstown State University, is located just off campus, and is the spiritual home of the YSU Catholic Student Association.
      “254 Madison Ave.,Youngstown, OH 44504”
      The St. John Henry Newman Center is located at 254 Madison Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44504.
    2. Mass and Event Schedule | Catholic Penguinscatholicpenguins.org/hours · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “or pray in the adoration chapel”
      The Newman Center has an adoration chapel open to visitors during open-door hours.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryFull-time priest chaplain (The ministry's About page presents Fr. William Wainio as chaplain. The diocese directory names a different chaplain, Rev. John Rovnak.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Who We Are | Catholic Penguinscatholicpenguins.org/about · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. William Wainio Chaplain”
      Fr. William Wainio is listed as chaplain of the Catholic Penguins.
  • 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.
  • 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 (The Catholic Penguins are the YSU Catholic Student Association, the only student group confirmed on official pages.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Youngstown State University | The Catholic Diocese of Youngstowndoy.org/youngstown-state-university · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Youngstown State University is ministered to by the Catholic Newman Center, located just off campus and the spiritual home of the YSU Catholic Student Association (CSA).”
      The Catholic Newman Center ministers to Youngstown State University, is located just off campus, and is the spiritual home of the YSU Catholic Student Association.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Two or more kinds (Faith formation and study sessions, and outreach and volunteer service.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Catholic Penguins | Youngstown, OHcatholicpenguins.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Faith Formation & Study Sessions”
      The ministry lists faith formation and study sessions among its programs.
      “Outreach & Volunteer”
      The ministry lists outreach and volunteer service among its programs.
  • 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 Newman Center is located just off campus and has an adoration chapel open during its weekday open-door hours.
    Sources (2)
    1. Youngstown State University | The Catholic Diocese of Youngstowndoy.org/youngstown-state-university · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Youngstown State University is ministered to by the Catholic Newman Center, located just off campus and the spiritual home of the YSU Catholic Student Association (CSA).”
      The Catholic Newman Center ministers to Youngstown State University, is located just off campus, and is the spiritual home of the YSU Catholic Student Association.
    2. Mass and Event Schedule | Catholic Penguinscatholicpenguins.org/hours · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Open door hours are generally Monday-Friday: 11:00am-7:00pm.”
      The Newman Center has open-door hours generally Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
      “or pray in the adoration chapel”
      The Newman Center has an adoration chapel open to visitors during open-door hours.
  • The diocese states that Mass is offered during the YSU semester, and the ministry names a chaplain.
    Sources (2)
    1. Youngstown State University | The Catholic Diocese of Youngstowndoy.org/youngstown-state-university · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “MASSES: During YSU Semester (No Mass in Summer) check the website for full schedule of events:”
      Mass is offered during the YSU semester and not during summer; the full schedule is on the ministry's website.
    2. Who We Are | Catholic Penguinscatholicpenguins.org/about · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. William Wainio Chaplain”
      Fr. William Wainio is listed as chaplain of the Catholic Penguins.
  • Faith formation and outreach and volunteer service are listed as programs.
    Sources (1)
    1. Catholic Penguins | Youngstown, OHcatholicpenguins.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Faith Formation & Study Sessions”
      The ministry lists faith formation and study sessions among its programs.
      “Outreach & Volunteer”
      The ministry lists outreach and volunteer service among its programs.

Concerns

  • The ministry's page says the fall schedule will be posted later.
    Sources (1)
    1. Catholic Penguins | Youngstown, OHcatholicpenguins.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “We do not have any summer liturgies. Check back for our Fall semester schedule.”
      The ministry holds liturgies during the academic semesters and will publish its fall schedule.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

St. John Henry Newman Center at YSU

  • Address: 254 Madison Ave., Youngstown, OH 44504
  • Location: Next to campus
  • Distance from campus: 0.5 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)
  • Facilities: adoration chapel

View on map ↗

Source: doy.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, doy.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, catholicpenguins.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

4 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 1 off campus, 3 location not published

Social life 1

  • Open-door hours at the Newman CenterOff campus
    Generally Monday-Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; hours may vary
    Open hours for students to study, have lunch, meet friends, or pray in the adoration chapel.
    catholicpenguins.org, catholicpenguins.org

Faith formation 1

  • Faith Formation & Study Sessions
    Faith formation and study sessions listed among the ministry's programs.
    catholicpenguins.org

Clubs and groups 1

  • Catholic Penguins (YSU Catholic Student Association)
    The Catholic student association for YSU, based at the Newman Center.
    doy.org

Service 1

  • Outreach & Volunteer
    Outreach and volunteer service listed among the ministry's programs.
    catholicpenguins.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. Youngstown State University | The Catholic Diocese of Youngstowndoy.org/youngstown-state-university · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Youngstown State University is ministered to by the Catholic Newman Center, located just off campus and the spiritual home of the YSU Catholic Student Association (CSA).”
    The Catholic Newman Center ministers to Youngstown State University, is located just off campus, and is the spiritual home of the YSU Catholic Student Association.
    “Youngstown State University is ministered to by the Catholic Newman Center, located just off campus and the spiritual home of the YSU Catholic Student Association (CSA).”
    The Catholic Newman Center ministers to Youngstown State University, is located just off campus, and is the spiritual home of the YSU Catholic Student Association.
    “254 Madison Ave.,Youngstown, OH 44504”
    The St. John Henry Newman Center is located at 254 Madison Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44504.
  2. Who We Are | Catholic Penguinscatholicpenguins.org/about · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Both there and on campus, we seek to fulfill the spiritual, service, and social needs of the YSU students, faculty, and staff by sustaining a strong and active Catholic community.”
    The ministry seeks to meet the spiritual, service and social needs of YSU students, faculty and staff.
  3. Mass and Event Schedule | Catholic Penguinscatholicpenguins.org/hours · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “or pray in the adoration chapel”
    The Newman Center has an adoration chapel open to visitors during open-door hours.

Reach out

Contact details for Bernadette (Sartor) Mashonga (Director of Campus Ministry) and 5 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.50%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.76%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,120 · ACT 22
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.20 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$8,188

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)
8,436
Total students11,040
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$12,767
Cost of attendance (per year)$21,708
Median federal debt at graduation$24,000
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
50%
First-year retention76%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$41,544
Admission rate84%
Students receiving Pell grants34%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1120
SAT reading & writing510–620
SAT math500–610
ACT composite19–25
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 48 / 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

Catholic Diocese of Youngstown

The Most Reverend David J. Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: doy.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 Youngstown State University a Catholic college?
No. Youngstown State University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by St. John Henry Newman Center at YSU (Catholic Penguins).
What is Youngstown 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.
Is Youngstown State University Compass Recommended?
Yes. Youngstown State University meets the Compass Recommended standard for Catholic life on campus.

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