<p>Lake Washington asked, 'How do Catholic colleges compare to secular schools in academic quality?"</p>
<p>Historically, the Achilles Heel of most Catholic colleges, and one they continue to struggle mightly with today, has been in science and the advancement of science. Catholic colleges rank among the lowest of all colleges and universities in the baccalaureate origins of PhDs in the sciences. </p>
<p>Today there are only five Catholic medical schools in the US, down from nine. They are at Georgetown, Creighton, Loyola, Saint Louis Universities and the New York Medical College (the only non-Jesuit school).</p>
<p>As to the overall quality of education, it appears highly, highly varied with many schools like Georgetown now almost a completely secular university. </p>
<p>Catholic colleges have also never been as highly endowed as their weathier secular peers. This was less a problem in the days when they didn't have to pay faculty (e.g. when the Jesuits were the only teachers) and many have lagged in terms of competitive salaries for faculty. A few like Georgetown, ND, BC etc. have begun to change in this regard with bigger endowments, but they still very much share a common legacy with their poorer cousins.</p>
<p>If I were a parent, I'd be a very careful buyer.</p>
<p>"There have in fact been some rather egregious errors and omissions at several prominent, historic, Jesuit and non-Jesuit Catholic colleges and universities regarding Catholic doctrine."</p>
<p>In my college search I came across Thomas Aquinas College, which I was very impressed with. It is not really my cup of tea, but it looks like it provides a very high-quality classical education in the ways that I have read the Jesuits used to.</p>
<p>Thomas Aquinas College (CA) and the Thomas More College of Liberal Arts (NH) are both excellent colleges. Thomas Aquinas is a Catholic Great Books college of 351 students similar to the secular St. John's College(s) in Annapolis, MD & Santa Fe, NM. It also offers a unique summer Great Books high school program. The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts has a solid core curriculum and concentrations in Literature, Philosophy and Political Science. It was hailed by Inside the Vatican as "a Catholic treasure". It also offers a Collegiate Summer Program for high school students.</p>
<p>Think perhaps of America's early Colonial Colleges with small student bodies and class sizes with heavy emphasis on Latin, Greek and a true classical education. No athletics departments at these two schools.</p>
<p>BalletGirl makes some very valid points on Catholic institiutions and science research..</p>
<p>Catholic University of America was established primarily as a graduate institution. According to the Washington Post, CUA dropped its membership in a organization of research institutions, an organization in which it was a charter member, because CUA was unable maintain the standards of the other member research institutions.</p>
<p>Margaret Lassister's two-volume history of American women in science noted that CUA and the Jesuit Fordham University were among the top 20 institutions to grant Ph.Ds to women scientists. CUA's degrees usually went to nuns who would to go on to teach at colleges established by their orders. Fordham was noted for its graduate program in psychology, which featured a number of brilliant women psychologists.</p>
<p>I think it was BalletGirl who said that not all Jesuit schools are seen as equal.</p>
<p>In western Pennsylvania, Georgetown and Holy Cross would be 1 and 1-A for parents and students wanted a Jesuit college education. Xavier used to very popular, but John Carroll has come on very strong the last few years. For some reason, Loyola of Maryland doesnt seem to be too popular nor does Canisius in Buffalo or the University of Scranton. Wheeling Jesuit is seen as a place to go when you don't know where to go.</p>
<p>I think Canisius, Scranton and Wheeling Jesuit would be more popular if they weren't located in Buffalo, Scranton or Wheeling. (I will admit the Wheeling gets a lot of government due to the efforts of Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia.)</p>
<p>Magdalen College (NH), Thomas Aquinas College (CA), Thomas More College of Liberal Arts (NH) and the University of Dallas (TX) are all excellent colleges reviewed and recommended in the aforementioned Newman Guide.</p>
<p>Khipper, I like the way you identify Wheeling as the "place to go when you don't know where to go." That's kind of like what John Carroll is at my high school.</p>
<p>The Program of Liberal Studies is arguably the best option at Notre Dame. Notre Dame is not recommended in the Newman Guide but as America's premier Catholic university, it does receive special attention in the Epilogue: "What About Notre Dame?"</p>
<p>I dont agree entirely with Khipper. John Carroll has gained in popularity. I know a John Carroll graduate and he is a very bright man and says he got a superb education there years ago. Its in Cleveland. That appeals to some people and not to others.</p>
<p>UScranton is a very regional school. Meaning most of its students are kids from Pennsylvania and western New Jersey. St. Josephs in Philadelphia is also a superb Jesuit school with a suprisingly large national following. Canisius is very popular with Upstate New York kids. Wheeling is the new kid on the block and trying hard to grow its reputation. I do think kids who go there are either regional or kids who did not get into St. Joes or Scranton,or Fairfield or the highly selective Jesuits like BC, Fordham, Holy Cross and Georgetown. </p>
<p>Fordham's President is Rev. Joseph McShane, SJ, a native New Yorker. He was formerly the President of UScranton and did a marvelous job there. He is a real charismatic and warm person with a memory like an elephant. He has BIG plans for Fordham. But I digress.</p>
<p>I know that Loyola Md is a very pretty campus with some of the best rated dorms in the country. Its very selective and attracts mid atlantic kids who didnt want to go to Fordham or Holy Cross and didnt get into Georgetown or BC. Its a very strong school. The problem with Loyola Md.is it is not well known outside the mid atlantic region. Loyola Chicago is much better known. Loyola Md is a very competitive lacrosse team and soccer team and much improved basketball program.</p>
<p>If you definitely want a Jesuit education you have so many choices and they are all unique and offer something different to each applicant. You have to decide what you want, where you want to spend four years and if you "fit" that campus and its culture. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any comments on St. Johns University in New York? I have read some interesting things about this school but don't know if it's all hype or not. Thanks in advance. Oh, I am not a Catholic but value the academic excellence at Catholic and Jesuit schools. I am also applying to Loyola Chicago, Boston College and Fordham.</p>
<p>St. Johns is not a Jesuit School. If you want another Jesuit in your list then Holy Cross, St. Louis University and Xavier could be in your mix. Good Luck.</p>
<p>I go to a Jesuit high school, and Jesuit universities are very popular among our graduates (as is ND).</p>
<p>Behind the University of Texas, the most popular college choice would probably be Saint Louis. It's generally recommended for most kids as a safety school as they are in the habit of accepting 95% of kids who graduated from Jesuit schools. It's that "school to go to when you don't know where else to go." Loyola New Orleans, Loyola Chicago, Loyola Marymount, and Spring Hill are also popular choices. For those wanting a high-end Catholic university, the top three choices are probably BC, ND, and Georgetown, probably in that order. Georgetown has the reputation of being more difficult to get into (don't know if its true) so not as many apply.</p>
<p>I personally applied to ND on a whim and wouldn't have now. I didn't apply to BC or Georgetown because I felt that I really just wouldn't be able to stand the weather (oddly enough, though, I'm still considering McGill in Montreal. Don't ask me why.).</p>
<p>Jesuit colleges and universities are great schools, with great faculty and usually great environments. I'd strongly encourage anyone wanting a great education, Catholic or not, to look into applying to a Jesuit college.</p>
<p>loneranger....just to give you some salient facts on Fordham:</p>
<p>Its President, Rev. Joseph McShane, S.J. said he intends on making Fordham the number one Catholic University in 10 years. I dont know if he will get there, but he is going to go down swingin! A VERY charismatic and visionary Jesuit priest. Just a great guy! Its an amazing school! Last year they had 22,500 applications for 1,700 seats. Acceptance rate is now at 39% and falling. This year they expect more than 24,000 applications. Its a white hot school among the Catholic colleges. </p>
<p>McGill is a superb school. I know they teach in English there but I hope you know french. Its a great school...but its very very cold. Some friends were up there last weekend and it was just hovering above zero all weekend. Brrrrrrrrr. LOL.</p>
<p>Anyway, Holy Cross, Georgetown, BC, Fordham and St. Louis U are commonly regarded as the top 5 in Jesuit colleges and they bicker about who is best...but some of that is related to sports fame and endowment size. Each is unique and special.</p>
<p>When it comes to going to a Catholic college in Philadelphia, St. Joseph's is behind Villanova. VU's suburban location gets points, while St. Joe's location in a tough Philly neighborhood loses point (LaSalle is third, unless you were educated by the Christian Brothers.)</p>
<p>You the description of Fairfield ... it is a school for the children of Fordham alumni who wanted their children to have a Jesuit education without having to go to the Bronx.</p>
<p>JCU in Cleveland is becoming more popular with western Pennsylvanians.</p>
<p>Did anyone read the piece on Cardinal Newman in the NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER?</p>