<p>My family has personal experience with three Jesuit colleges - UScranton, Marquette and St. Joe’s (Philadelphia). None were overly religious - I never once attended church or any religious service while I was at my Jesuit institution, nor did I feel any pressure to do so. There were requirements that you take religion classes, but I took comparative religions and something else I don’t recall that was completely unrelated to Catholicism - I remember them being interesting. I can’t say there was less drinking at my Jesuit school than at other schools - there was plenty of drinking going on. Overall, I feel I got a good, well rounded education in an accepting environment. And I didn’t feel like I was going to a Catholic school - even the presence of the Jesuit priests didn’t make me feel that way.</p>
<p>US News Rankings for Jesuit colleges</p>
<p>NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES - TIER 1</p>
<ol>
<li>Georgetown University</li>
<li>Boston College</li>
<li>Fordham University</li>
<li>Marquette University</li>
<li>Saint Louis University</li>
<li>Loyola University Chicago</li>
<li>University of San Francisco</li>
</ol>
<p>LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES - TIER 1</p>
<ol>
<li>College of the Holy Cross</li>
</ol>
<p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>Santa Clara University is the number 2 masters university in the West…and has been for MANY years. Masters universities are schools which have master’s and maybe a couple of PhD programs. They are not included with LACs. This group of Masters Universities is typically FORGOTTEN when folks are looking at the USNews rankings. Most folks only report the LACs and Universities.</p>
<p>And following up on Thumper’s post, in the Master’s North category, 5 of the top seven colleges listed are Catholic with 3 of those being Jesuit (Loyola, Fairfield and Scranton) and St. Joe’s follows closely at #10. And in the new category of undergraduate teaching, 3 of the top 6 are Catholic, with two of those being Jesuit (Scranton and Loyola)</p>
<p>Okay…first of all, for clarification, the Jesuit Order is an Order of Priests and Brothers, not monks. Many serve in parishes to assist a diocese, many are actually in residence at state schools or non sectarian schools, teaching religious studies and such. Many are also doctors, lawyers, accountants. Originally, the Society of Jesus was largely Spanish and was evangelical, travelling with the great world explorers (Portuguese and Spanish Armadas) evangelizing South America, Latin America and the Orient. In the past 150 years or so, they have become a largely teaching order. They operate or associate with 28 Colleges in the United States. More on that below. They are distinct from Augustinian priests, Franciscan friars, Dominican friars, Spiritan fathers, Holy Cross fathers, Benedictine friars, Assumptionist fathers, ALL OF WHOM OPERATE CATHOLIC COLLEGES in the United States. There are also diocesan operated and funded Universities, such as the University of San Diego, Saint Thomas University (St. Paul Minnesota). (Trinity College is not a Catholic college.)</p>
<p>Jesuit Colleges all have Jesuits as Presidents and in executive positions. But the number of teaching Jesuits varies from school to school. I know that Fordham prides itself on having a number of Jesuit scholars in residence, and until his death 9 months ago, had His Eminence Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J. (the nephew of John Foster Dulles and Allen Dulles). </p>
<p>There is a pecking order for Jesuit colleges, but essentially the education at one will be similar to an education at another vis a vis many of the course offerings and certainly the overall Jesuit ethics and ethos. The most well known Jesuit colleges are: Georgetown, BC, Holy Cross, Fordham, Marquette, Saint Louis University, Creighton University, Gonzaga University, Santa Clara University, Seattle University, Loyola-Chicago, University of San Francisco, St. Joseph’s University and Xavier University. Other Jesuit colleges not as well known but also EXCELLENT schools are University of Scranton, Canisius College, LeMoyne College, Loyola-Maryland, Loyola-New Orleans, Loyola-Marymount, Rockhurst University, Spring Hill College, Regis University, Wheeling Jesuit, Fairfield University, John Carroll University, University of Detroit-Mercy, St. Peter’s College. </p>
<p>Most of these colleges are highly ranked by USNWR in various categories (either National Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, or Masters Regional Universities). Most of them are very, very old, but a handful are relative newcomers. </p>
<p>Santa Clara University is one of the best Jesuit Colleges west of the Mississippi, ranked number one in Western Regional Universities. Its a stunningly gorgeous campus in the heart of Silicon Valley. Its a very rigorous college with a highly selective admissions rating. </p>
<p>Jesuit Colleges were prized years ago for the no nonsense academic rigors of the Jesuit fathers and their ruthless basketball programs! Some of that history has waned a bit. Some schools are less “Jesuit” than others, the most notable being Georgetown. Though Georgetown students/alums will argue that point.</p>
<p>Point of order: Holy Cross College is Jesuit. But the Holy Cross fathers run Notre Dame. (They also run University of Portland and Stonehill College). </p>
<p>Its hard to define a Jesuit education, but you know when you see it, and Jesuit educated students are highly prized for their broad based knowledge, breadth of knowledge and academic rigors. The Jesuit ethics and ethos is instilled in them, even if taught by non Jesuits.</p>
<p>My kid is at Fordham. The number of Catholics is roughly 60%. Her professors have included a Princeton Lutheran minister, a number of Jewish professors, and some non sectarian protestants. </p>
<p>As for partying and drinking, its no worse at Jesuit colleges than it is anywhere else. Notwithstanding that slur about Irish Catholics above (even if unintentioned), you will always find kids at Jesuit colleges who drink to excess, though they are not officially dry campuses. I can name names at HIGHLY prestigious universities (top 10) in the US where I know for a fact that drinking is a serious problem. But if you are a non drinker, Jesuit colleges are equally as hospitable, even if you are non spiritual/religious in nature. Most Jesuit colleges are working diligently to drastically reduce underage and obsessive/abusive drinking both on and off campus by their students. </p>
<p>Jesuit degrees are recognized throughout the world. </p>
<p>If your kid is considering Santa Clara University, I commend you both. Good luck.</p>