Whether or not you are Catholic, you’ve likely heard of some Catholic colleges in the United States. These private institutions follow the Catholic intellectual tradition, meaning they promote a liberal arts education, community service, and ethics. While you don't need to be Catholic to attend one of these schools, many Catholic students enjoy having an academic atmosphere that both reflects and supports their faith.
In this guide, we introduce our picks for the 11 best Catholic colleges and offer tips for deciding whether a Catholic college is the ideal choice for you. Before we get into that, though, let’s go over exactly what Catholic colleges are and what kind of experience they can offer students.