Why This Matters
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44% OF STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN CATHOLIC COLLEGES
According to a survey conducted by EAB Enrollment Services, around 44% of students indicate that they are interested in attending a Catholic college.
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HIGHER JOB GROWTH EXPECTATIONS FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) breaks down the job growth expectations for all careers by education level. This data shows that while high school diploma holders can expect an average of 1.5% job growth, those with associate and bachelor’s degrees have an estimated job growth of around 6%.
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EARN HUNDREDS MORE WEEKLY WITH A DEGREE
The BLS also shows that the average weekly salary of high school graduates is around $746 per week, but at the bachelor’s level, this jumps to $1,173 per week.
Our Research
The colleges on our list offer associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degree options across many departments. To determine which schools made this list, we looked at factors such as cost per credit hour, whether classes were available online, and accreditations.
We made sure all the schools on our list are accredited either nationally or regionally, but most are accredited regionally. Some of the more common accrediting bodies include the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
- 55 hours to write this article
- 100 universities and colleges we assessed
- 161 education programs we compared
The Top 50 Online Catholic Colleges
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What You Should Know About This Degree
Many students choose to attend Catholic schools because they’re interested in religious studies. Catholic universities do often offer seminary and theology degrees, but they also offer traditional degree programs for everything from psychology to nursing. However, all students are usually required to take some core religious classes.
In order for your degree to be accepted by employers, it must be accredited either regionally or nationally — although regional accreditation is generally considered the best. Attending a program that’s accredited also makes it easier to transfer your credits to another school if needed.
The average job growth expectations for all careers is around 4%, according to the BLS. However, this is going to vary widely by industry. In general, the higher your education level, the better your chances of getting a job in a high-growth profession.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online Catholic colleges:
- Am I eligible for this program? To attend an associate or bachelor’s program, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED. You may also need test scores, letters of recommendation, and a statement of faith for competitive Catholic schools. For graduate programs, you’ll need a relevant undergraduate degree — usually with a GPA of 3.0 or higher — and GRE scores.
- Are courses offered synchronously or asynchronously? Most online schools offer courses that are delivered asynchronously. This means you can complete work when it’s convenient for you, but you’ll still need to submit assignments by the stated deadlines. If you’re working in a people-facing specialty, such as healthcare, you may also need to take synchronous classes, where you must be logged in and in attendance at certain times.
Once you’re ready to start the application process, make sure to keep ahead of all deadlines. If you need help paying for your degree, check with the financial aid office to see what options are available.