Best Catholic Colleges

At Canisius, students receive an education from a university dedicated to Jesuit values, real-world experiences, rigor, and quality. Canisius, located in Buffalo, NY, offers 12 unique degrees and 6 advanced certificates with fully online and hybrid classes. One of the best online Catholic colleges and universities, Canisius has multiple options for individuals who hold teacher certifications, including Educational Leadership, Physical Education, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Master’s degrees in sports and health and arts and sciences are available. Online students have 24/7 accessibility to the virtual classroom and library and are assigned an advisor and an internship coordinator upon enrollment. Students have access to an online writing tutor program. Instructors individually design courses and online students can expect to complete a variety of requirements and assignments, including projects, standard testing, and hands-on tests. The student to faculty ratio is 12:1, allowing students to engage and collaborate closely with classmates and the teacher.

Lewis, located in Romeoville, IL, is a regionally accredited, not-for-profit, Catholic university sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers. The school offers a variety of customizable, fully online, master’s degree programs. Students can choose between master’s degrees in Aviation and Transportation, Organizational Leadership, Computer Science, Data Science, Criminal/Social Justice, Public Safety Administration, or Nursing. Graduate students can opt to work towards certificates as well. Lewis boasts small class sizes and individualized attention from expert faculty. By accessing the virtual classroom through an online learning system, students can expect to complete readings and assignments, write papers, complete projects, and participate in group discussions. Students at this Catholic online college are assigned a personal student services coordinator and have access to 24/7 technical support. Online courses are 100% online and are taught asynchronously. Financial aid is available to students who qualify.

Saint Joseph’s, founded in 1851 by the Society of Jesus, is a Jesuit institution located in Philadelphia. The school offers a variety of online programs. Students can choose from many undergraduate and graduate degrees, including a MS in Business Intelligence and Analytics, MBA, MS in Criminal Justice, MS of Ed in Special Education, and a MS in Strategic Human Resource Management. Online graduate certificates available include K–12 English as a Second Language Endorsement, Instructional Technology Specialist, and Wilson’s Reading System. (the Wilson Reading System teaches struggling students how to read more fluently using a multi-sensory, structured language program.) Dedicated to helping adult students achieve their educational goals, Saint Joseph offers adult learner several options through their Professional and Liberal Studies program. These degrees are designed for adults looking to earn a bachelor's degree or complement their degree with a post-baccalaureate certificate. Adult learner classes can be taken part-time or full-time at this online Catholic college.

A top-tier Catholic research university, The University of Dayton is made up of a diverse community devoted to the Marianist tradition of education for service, justice, and peace. This online Catholic college offers many online programs across the School of Education and Health Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of Business Administration, which offers an online MBA. Few students complete their master’s degree entirely online, but it is an option for select programs. (Blended online and traditional courses are more common.) University of Dayton's online course options are offered asynchronously and taught by qualified educators. Online students are expected to be part of class discussion. Classes are kept small to increase student engagement and allow for individual attention from the teachers. The University of Dayton boasts an Office of E-Learning that supports the teaching and learning initiatives for online programs and is dedicated to providing an equal level of quality for the online classroom.

DeSales, located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, is grounded in Roman Catholic principles. The school’s online program, ACCESS, offers many bachelor's degrees and certificates. Undergraduate programs include business administration, accounting, criminal justice, finance, marketing, nursing, psychology, and theology. In order to graduate, ACCESS programs require students to complete 40, three-credit courses. Certificate programs consists of six to twelve courses focuses on one key area, such as digital art, human resources management, or financial planning. DeSales will accept up to 75 previously earned credits from other accredited universities. Online students have maximum flexibility with full-time and part-time options, synchronous and asynchronous courses, blended formats, and eleven start dates every year. Coursework is delivered through Blackboard Learn. All online students at this Catholic online college are assigned an academic advisor who helps plan their degrees and support them for the duration of the program.

Sacred Heart, one of the largest online Catholic colleges and universities in New England, is a contemporary liberal arts school. The school has a mission to prepare students to lead and serve in the world, and the faculty is committed to providing a rigorous interdisciplinary education for their students. The university offers multiple online undergraduate and graduate degree programs across many fields, including nursing, applied psychology, social work, and english as a second language. Students at Sacred Heart can expect to work both independently and in groups with online peers. Online coursework is delivered through Blackboard and is available to students 24/7. The school has an Office of Instructional Technology that supports online students with application of the educational tools. Online students are assigned a student services coordinator to support them throughout duration of program. The school is regionally accredited.

Based in Chicago, DePaul University has a distinctive Catholic, Vincentian, and urban identity. DePaul offers several online programs with small class sizes and one-on-one attention from professors. Undergraduate options include communication and media, computer science, IT, and psychology. Multiple master of science degrees are available, including accounting, business information technology, game programming, and public service management. Online students can choose from MA, MPA, and MEd options. Classes are delivered through the Desire2Learn learning management system, where students read content, complete assignments, and participate in group discussions. Online distance learners have the same access and library privileges as on-campus students, including the virtual student center and a virtual learning center. The learning center supports students as they navigate through their online degrees. DePaul offers a book delivery service. Online materials are available 24/7 at this Catholic online college. The university’s online program are currently available in all states.

Carlow, originally named Mount Mercy College, was founded in 1929 by the Sisters of Mercy. Carlow has been recognized for outstanding faculty and a commitment to innovative, learner-centric programs. The university offers a variety of online degrees, including an all-online RN-to-BSN undergraduate level program. Graduate programs include Master of Business Administration — which is offered completely online or in a hybrid format — Master of Science in Fraud and Forensics, and a Master of Science in Education with Certification in Special Education (Pre K–8 and 7–12). Carlow’s official campus learning management system is CelticOnline. Online students at Carlow complete weekly assignments, readings, discussions, group work, exams, and other activities through modern communication technologies like chat, video conferencing, phone calls, email, social media, bulletin boards, and online office hours. The schools boasts a Center for Digital Learning and Innovation that assists learners through the process of earning their online degrees.

Saint Joseph’s, a Roman Catholic liberal arts college near Sebago Lake in Standish, Maine, is the state’s only Catholic college. The school, founded by the Portland Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in 1912, offers two different options for online learning. Self-directed learning is an independent model available all year, with start dates at the beginning of each month. Classes are offered in 15-week periods and involve assignments, exams, and participation in discussion boards. Students who opt for cohort online learning complete the program in small groups of 10–15 students over 10-week periods. Coursework is delivered through the learning management system, Brightspace. Saint Joseph’s is one of the only Catholic colleges online that has a study abroad opportunity for online students. The school has an Office of Continuing Education and Training that provides further educational opportunities, including professional development non-credit courses. Saint Joseph's offers many tools and resources for online learners, such as personal advisors and an online tutoring service through Smart Thinking.

Saint Louis is a Jesuit, Catholic university located in the heart of St. Louis, MO. The school has a sister campus in Madrid, Spain, and is dedicated to providing a rigorous education to transform students into bold leaders. Saint Louis offers many quality, fully online bachelor and master degree programs through SLU for Busy Adults. Online classes include bachelor’s degrees in Aviation Management, Computer Information Systems, Nursing - RN to BSN, and Security & Strategic Intelligence. Graduate options include MA in Leadership & Organizational Development and MS in Applied Analytics. The school offers five accelerated bachelor’s to master’s programs, saving students time and money. SLU utilizes Blackboard as its online course management system. Students at this Catholic college online interact with instructors and classmates through discussions in message board format and online chats. Students complete homework and audio and video assignments. SLU online classes are organized into weekly tasks and are synchronous.

Benedictine is a liberal arts school rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition and Benedictine heritage. The school has several online master’s options, such as MBA, MPH and MSN, and multiple dual degree options. Undergraduate options include BA in Management and BA in Organizational Leadership. Upon acceptance into programs, students enroll in the self-paced Success Strategies Course and the New Student Orientation, both are designed to acclimate students to the online learning environment. Classes are offered in an asynchronous format. Coursework is based on the latest research from the Community of Inquiry Framework, which works to ensure the communal aspect of teaching and learning is not lost online. This online catholic college partners with the online student tutoring service, Smart Thinking, and provides a 24-hour online writing center and more. Faculty are available for online students through weekly webinars, office hours, live chat, and discussion boards. Benedictine offers 24/7 technology support for online students.

Viterbo, founded by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in 1890, is a liberal arts school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. One of the best online Catholic colleges and universities in the nation, Viterbo boasts many student-focused, flexible online programs designed for busy working adults. Through the Center for Adult Learning, online students can earn their associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in accounting, nursing, healthcare management, criminal justice, and more. The school offers four hybrid programs, including Substance Abuse Counseling and Organizational Management. Online students can work towards teaching certifications in special education and endorsements in early childhood and talented and gifted education. Online students at Viterbo have access to the center for student success and an academic resource center that offers online resources and math and writing tutoring with Smart Thinking. Coursework if delivered through Moodle, Viterbo’s chosen learning management system.

Newman, located in Wichita, Kansas, is a Catholic university named after John Henry Cardinal Newman. The school was founded in 1933 by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ. Newman is committed to a global perspective, justice, and peace. Newman University offers two online undergraduate programs — RN to BSN and Business Studies — and two online master's degree programs — Master of Theological Studies and Master of Arts in Theology. Those who are interested in the the Bachelor of Business Online degree may qualify for the Adult Re-Entry Program, which features reduced tuition rate options for anyone who has been out of school four years or longer. Online instruction is delivered through Blackboard and Moodle and includes interactive online modules such as video clips, PowerPoint presentations, web-based group interactions, and discussion boards. Distance learners are expected to complete reading and writing assignments and participate in discussion boards. Students are provided with online versions of the lectures, discussions and other activities.

Saint Mary, a Catholic liberal arts university founded by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth in 1923, boasts a close-knit community with a faculty dedicated to a personalized approach to teaching. Located in Leavenworth, Kansas, this Catholic online college offers fully online degree programs, including RN to BSN, BS in Health Information Management, MS in Nursing, and a Master of Business Administration. Saint Mary offers several start dates per year to provide maximum flexibility. Online students have access to a student services coordinator, an admissions advisor, and the Personal Support Center, which is open 24/7 to answer questions. Coursework is delivered through eSpire, the school’s chosen learning management system. Online Saint Mary faculty ensure the curriculum is just as challenging as the on-campus programs. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Siena Heights University, located in Adrian, Michigan, is a Catholic University founded and sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Siena Heights’ College for Professional Studies Distance Learning program has been offering online courses since 2004. The college, designed for adult students, has undergraduate online education programs offered in flexible eight-week formats and ten-week blended-online graduate programs. Students can choose between business, nursing, communication, and multidisciplinary studies. The school offers minors in IT, healthcare management, and marketing. Communication is either synchronous or asynchronous, depending on the course taken. Students participate in chat sessions, discussion forums, and bulletin boards. Learners at this online Catholic college have access to numerous resources online, including academic advising, financial aid, online library database and support, student accounts, and technical support. The school tries to create a classroom environment in the online world by designing a curriculum that has students communicating on discussion boards, one-on-one for group projects, and other activities.