Catholic higher education


Catholic higher education includes universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education privately run by the Catholic Church, typically by religious institutes. Those tied to the Holy See are specifically called pontifical universities.
By definition, Catholic canon law states that "A Catholic school is understood to be one which is under control of the competent ecclesiastical authority or of a public ecclesiastical juridical person, or one which in a written document is acknowledged as Catholic by the ecclesiastical authority". Although some schools are deemed "Catholic" because of their identity and a great number of students enrolled are Catholics, it is also stipulated in canon law that "no school, even if it is in fact Catholic, may bear the title 'Catholic school' except by the consent of the competent ecclesiastical authority".
The Dominican Order was "the first order instituted by the Church with an academic mission", founding studia conventualia in every convent of the order, and studia generalia at the early European universities such as the University of Bologna and the University of Paris. In Europe, most universities with medieval history were founded as Catholic. Many of them were rescinded to government authorities in the Modern era. Some, however, remained Catholic, while new ones were established alongside the public ones. The Catholic Church is the largest non-governmental provider of higher education in the world. Many of them are internationally competitive. According to the census of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, the total number of Catholic universities and higher education institutions around the world is 1,358. On the other hand, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops counts it at 1,861. The Catholic religious order with the highest number of universities around the world today is the Society of Jesus with 114.
Like other private schools, Catholic universities and colleges are generally nondenominational, in that they accept anyone regardless of religious affiliation, nationality, ethnicity, or civil status, provided the admission or enrollment requirements and legal documents are submitted, and rules and regulations are obeyed for a fruitful life on campus. However, non-Catholics, whether Christian or not, may or may not participate in otherwise required campus activities, particularly those of a religious nature.
Beyond its academic offerings, a Catholic university or college cultivates an active and engaging community that supports teamwork and creative thinking. By working with different organizations and institutions, the university strengthens its research efforts and expands its influence. It aims to develop graduates who are not only skilled in their disciplines but also socially conscious and prepared to positively impact society.

History

The International Federation of Catholic Universities has its origins in 1924, in collaboration between the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan and the Catholic University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands. In 2023, it had 226 member universities in the world.

List of Catholic institutions of higher education

To prevent repetition, for Ecclesiastical universities and faculties, see Ecclesiastical university, and for Pontifical universities, see Pontifical university.

Albania

  • Catholic University "Our Lady of Good Counsel", Tirana

    Angola

  • Catholic University of Angola, Luanda

    Argentina

  • Austral University, Buenos Aires
  • Catholic University of Santiago del Estero, Santiago del Estero
  • Facultades de Filosofía y Teología de San Miguel, San Miguel
  • Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, Buenos Aires
  • Saint Thomas Aquinas University of the North, San Miguel de Tucumán
  • Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Cordoba
  • Universidad Católica de Cuyo, San Juan
  • Universidad Católica de La Plata, La Plata
  • Universidad Católica de Salta, Salta
  • Universidad Católica de Santa Fe, Santa Fe
  • Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires
  • Universidad FASTA, Mar del Plata

    Australia

  • Australian Catholic University, 7 campuses
  • Campion College, Toongabbie, near Sydney
  • Catholic Institute of Sydney, Strathfield
  • University of Notre Dame Australia, campuses in Fremantle, Sydney, and Broome

    Austria

  • Benedict XVI Philosophical-Theological University, Heiligenkreuz
  • Catholic Private University Linz, Linz
  • Catholic University College of Education Graz, Graz; f.2007
  • International Theological Institute, Trumau
  • Pázmáneum, Wien
  • Private University College of Education of the Diocese of Linz, Linz; f.1968
  • University College of Teacher Education Edith Stein, Innsbruck
  • University of Innsbruck Faculty of Catholic Theology, Innsbruck
  • University of Salzburg Faculty of Catholic Theology, Salzburg
  • University of Vienna Faculty of Catholic Theology, Wien

    Bangladesh

  • Notre Dame University Bangladesh, Dhaka

    Belarus

  • John the Baptist Catholic College, Minsk

    Belgium

  • Artevelde University of Applied Sciences, Ghent
  • ICHEC Brussels Management School, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
  • Institut des hautes etudes des communications sociales, Brussels
  • Institut libre Marie Haps, Ixelles
  • Institut Saint-Luc, Saint-Gilles
  • Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Antwerp
  • LUCA School of Arts, Brussels
  • Saint Ignatius University Centre, Antwerp, Antwerp
  • Saint-Louis University, Brussels,, Brussels
  • St John Berchmans University College, Heverlee, Heverlee
  • University of Leuven, Leuven
  • *Kulak, Kortrijk
  • University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve
  • *UCLouvain FUCaM Mons, Mons
  • University of Namur, Namur

    Belize

  • St. John's College, Belize, Belize City

    Benin

  • Université Catholique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest - Unité universitaire à Cotonou

    Bolivia

  • Luis Espinal Higher Institute of Philosophy and Humanities, Cochabamba
  • Unidad Académica Campesina-Carmen Pampa, Carmen Pampa; a satellite campus of the Catholic University of Bolivia
  • Universidad Católica Boliviana, La Paz
  • ; Unidad Académica Regional Cochabamba
  • ; Unidad Académica Regional Santa Cruz
  • ; Unidad Académica Regional Tarija
  • Universidad La Salle Bolivia, La Paz
  • Universidad Loyola de Bolivia, La Paz
  • Universidad Salesiana de Bolivia, La Paz
  • University of San Francisco Xavier, Sucre

    Brazil

  • Católica de Vitória Centro Universitário, Vitória, ES
  • Centro Universitário Católica de Santa Catarina, Jaraguá do Sul, SC
  • Centro Universitário Católico do Sudoeste do Paraná, Palmas, PR
  • Centro Universitário Claretiano, Batatais, SP
  • Centro Universitário da FEI, São Bernardo do Campo, SP
  • Centro Universitário Franciscano, Santa Maria, RS
  • Centro Universitário São Camilo, Ipiranga, SP
  • Faculdade Católica do Tocantins, Palmas, TO
  • Faculdade La Salle, Manaus, AM
  • Institutos Supereriores de Ensino La Salle, Niteroi, RJ
  • La Salle College of Lucas do Rio Verde, Lucas do Rio Verde, MT
  • Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas
  • Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia
  • Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte
  • Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, São Paulo
  • Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba
  • Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
  • Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre
  • Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF
  • Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS
  • Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, Recife, PE
  • Universidade Católica de Petrópolis, Petropolis, RJ
  • Universidade Católica de Santos, Santos, SP
  • Universidade Católica do Salvador, Salvador, BA
  • Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS
  • Universidade da Amazônia, Belem, PA
  • Universidade do Sagrado Coração, Bauru, SP
  • Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS
  • Universidade La Salle, Canoas, RS
  • Universidade Santa Úrsula, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
  • Universidade São Francisco, Bragança Paulista, SP
  • University of Vale do Paraíba, São José dos Campos, SP

    Burkina Faso

  • Université Catholique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest - Unité Universitaire de Bobo-Dioulasso, Bobo-Dioulasso
  • Saint Thomas Aquinas University in Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou

    Burundi

  • Olivia University Bujumbura, Bujumbura

    Cambodia

  • Saint Paul Institute, Tram Kak District

    Cameroon

  • Catholic University Institute of Buea, Buea
  • Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda
  • Catholic University of Central Africa, Yaoundé
  • Saint Monica University, Buea

    Canada

Public universities that claim Catholic affiliation
  • Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia
  • St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick
  • Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec
  • Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec
  • Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec
  • Université Sainte-Anne, Pointe-de-l'Église, Nova Scotia
Catholic institutions affiliated or federated to public universities
  • Assumption University, Windsor, Ontario
  • Brescia University College, London, Ontario
  • Campion College, Regina, Saskatchewan
  • Corpus Christi College, Vancouver, British Columbia
  • Dominican University College, Ottawa, Ontario
  • King's University College, London, Ontario
  • Regis College, Toronto, Ontario
  • Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Ontario
  • St. Jerome's University, Waterloo, Ontario
  • St. Joseph's College, Edmonton, Alberta
  • St. Mark's College, Vancouver, British Columbia
  • St. Michael's College, Toronto, Ontario
  • St. Paul's College, Fort Garry, Manitoba
  • St. Thomas More College, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
  • Université de Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Private Catholic universities
  • Catholic Pacific College, Langley, British Columbia
  • Newman Theological College, Edmonton, Alberta
  • Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College, Barry's Bay, Ontario
  • St. Mary's University, Calgary, Alberta