Colleges recommended for strong Catholic identity rated highly among all schoolsColleges recommended in The Newman Guide ranked well in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2015 edition of Best Colleges.
Aquinas College was ranked 14th in Best Regional Colleges in the South, up from a ranking of 30th in 2013. According to Aquinas College’s news release, “contributing to the high ranking were the low class sizes and student-to-faculty ratio, high freshman retention rate, high test scores, high graduation rate, and high peer assessment score.”
Belmont Abbey College was ranked 37th in Best Regional Colleges in the South, up from last year’s ranking of 39th. Belmont Abbey College scored well on average freshman retention rate and low class sizes. “Our ranking as a top tier college reflects our students’ ability to think clearly and find solutions to the toughest problems,” Dr. Bill Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College, stated in a press release.
Benedictine College was ranked 20th in Best Regional Colleges in the Midwest. This is Benedictine College’s eighth consecutive year ranked in “America’s Best Colleges.” According to the college’s press release, president Stephen Minnis stated: “We are definitely doing things right. Through proper planning, we have been able to set attendance records while still maintaining a tremendous sense of community and faith.”
The Catholic University of America was ranked 116th in Best National Universities. The Catholic University of America has an 82 percent average freshman retention rate and a strong track record of connecting students to opportunities and internships in the DC area, which aided its overall ranking.
DeSales University was ranked 70th in Best Regional Universities in the North. The University offers “a supportive environment for academic and spiritual growth,” according to its description in the U.S. News.
Franciscan University of Steubenville was ranked 30th in Best Regional Universities in the Midwest. Franciscan ranked 8th best for freshman retention rate and 8th best for its overall graduation rate, according to Franciscan’s press release. University president Father Sean Sheridan stated in the release that the report “confirms statistically what our students tell us anecdotally…[n]amely, that our students want to be immersed in our campus culture because of how Franciscan University forms them intellectually and as men and women of God.”
Mount St. Mary’s University was ranked 19th in Best Regional Universities in the North, placing in the top 20 for the first time in its history. The ranking made the Mount second among Maryland’s eight other public and private regional universities. “Rankings like these are the direct result of a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication from our students, faculty and staff, and our unrelenting commitment to providing the very best academic experience,” said president Thomas Powell in the University press release.
St.Gregory’s University was ranked 25th in Best Regional Colleges in the West.
Thomas Aquinas College was ranked 77th in Best National Liberal Arts Colleges. The College was also ranked first in the country for the highest proportion of classes under 20 students (100%) and 26th nationally for Best Value Liberal Arts Schools. College president Michael McLean stated in a press release that the positive reports “are strong indicators of what some do not think possible, but what we at the College have firmly held from the beginning: An institution of higher learning can be faithfully Catholic while providing excellent academics at a competitive price.”
The University of Dallas was ranked 13th in Best Regional Universities in the West. U.S. News & World Report also recognized the University as one of eight Best Value Schools in the West region.
Walsh University was ranked 65th in Best Regional Universities in the Midwest.
The above colleges are all listed in The Newman Guide for their strong Catholic identity.
Kim Scharfenberger is a contributor to Catholic Education Daily. Originally published by Catholic Education Daily, an online publication of The Cardinal Newman Society. All rights reserved.
