The U.S. Catholic College Revolution

Aleteia ^ | 4/20/14 | Tom Hoopes

[marshmallow]

8 new “Catholic identity schools” since 2000 as dozens more renew themselves

A Spanish Marxist once famously said, “Give me 10 universities, and I'll change the face of Europe.”

It happened exactly as he said.

So it is significant to note that there is a major Catholic higher education revolution underway in the United States and Canada.

Eight new Catholic identity colleges have been founded since 2000 and more than 20 American colleges are promoting their Catholic identity — and that number could as much as double in the next 10 years.

I work at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, where we have seen 18 years of enrollment increases and opened 10 new dorms and three new academic buildings in the last 10 years. We regularly see new schools joining the “Catholic identity” club — and hear rumors of others who want to.

Patrick Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, told me he has noticed the same thing: “My hopeful prediction is that we might have upwards of 30-40 colleges and universities that have the standards of the current Newman Guide colleges in the next 10 years.”

“Today with the heightened competition especially with state universities, and the serious concerns about cost of education, colleges have had to do everything they can to distinguish themselves,” he said. “A lot of Catholic colleges are realizing that their Catholic identity is not just an obligation of their mission but is also a real marketing advantage.”

Six new schools have been started in the United States since 2000: Augustine Institute, a graduate school in Denver; Ave Maria in Florida; Holy Spirit College graduate school in Atlanta; John Paul the Great in San Diego, Calif.; and Wyoming Catholic College.

[xsmommy]

yes, it truly does. She loved it. Rick Santorum’s daughter was 2 years behind her. He spoke to their Young Republicans club, it was when he was thinking to run the last time.