The Newman Guide: Choosing a Faithful Catholic College
The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College, often referred to as The Newman Guide, serves as a valuable resource for students seeking a Catholic college or university that aligns with their faith. Published annually by the Cardinal Newman Society, this guide is available both as a printed book and online, offering comprehensive evaluations of Catholic institutions.
The Cardinal Newman Society and Its Mission
Founded in 1993, The Cardinal Newman Society aims to "promote and defend faithful Catholic education." A key aspect of their work is identifying and promoting standards of Catholic identity in higher education, recognizing institutions committed to providing a faithful Catholic education. The Newman Guide is a primary tool used to achieve this mission.
What is the Newman Guide?
The Newman Guide is a curated list of higher education institutions that the Cardinal Newman Society deems authentically and faithfully Catholic, based on their own standards of competent Catholic education. Schools included in the Guide demonstrate a firm commitment to Catholic truth across all disciplines. The Saint Robert Bellarmine Fund (SRBF) relies almost exclusively upon the Newman Society’s list of recommended colleges, commonly known as the Newman Guide, to determine whether or not an institution is faithfully Catholic.
Criteria for Inclusion
The Cardinal Newman Society's reviews are based on extensive research and dialogue with Catholic educators and families, focusing on what the Church expects of Catholic colleges. The Newman Guide emphasizes the lasting impact of education on students’ faith and character. The Guide asks, “If large numbers of students lose their faith - or fail to become wise and virtuous - then are they really getting a ‘good’ education? And at what cost?”
The Cardinal Newman Society recommends colleges for their commitment to a faithful Catholic education, asserting that no secular education is a complete education, especially when much of secular education is opposed to Catholic belief and morality. Parents and students are encouraged to carefully examine each college and, ideally, visit the campus, staying overnight if possible.
Read also: Applying for the Cardinal Newman Scholarship
Recognition Levels
The Newman Guide recognizes colleges at different levels:
- Full Recommendation: This is the highest level of recognition, awarded to colleges that demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to faithful education and formation.
- Provisional Recognition: This is granted to a college that The Cardinal Newman Society affirms has standards and policies that meet Newman Guide criteria but is either a new college or the college has not yet completed CNS’s periodic review. For a new college, in order to receive full recognition in The Newman Guide, a college must have been in operation for four or more years and graduated a first class.
Benefits of Attending a Newman Guide College
Choosing a college recommended by The Newman Guide offers several advantages:
- Faithful Catholic Education: Students receive an education grounded in Catholic teachings and values.
- Strong Catholic Community: These colleges foster a joyful, Catholic community centered on prayer, Scripture, and the Sacraments.
- Integral Formation: Students experience formation in mind, body, and soul.
- Preparation for a Vocation: In a world full of distractions and confusing messages, these colleges help students discern their particular calling.
Examples of Newman Guide Colleges and Their Programs
The Newman Guide features a diverse range of colleges and universities across the United States and internationally. Here are some examples of colleges included in the Guide and the programs they offer:
- Ave Maria University: Offers programs in business, education, and fine and performing arts.
- Belmont Abbey College: Competes at the Division II level of the NCAA and offers programs in education, business, and fine and performing arts.
- Benedictine College: Has a record undergraduate class and offers programs in engineering, architecture, business, education, and fine and performing arts.
- The Catholic University of America: Welcomed a student body evenly split 50/50, male to female, had the highest number of applications and deposits they have experienced in the last five years. Offers programs in business, education, fine and performing arts, and participates in NCAA Division III athletics.
- Christendom College: Demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to faithful education and formation, refusing to compromise on things like opposite-sex visitation in residences and accepting government aid.
- Franciscan University of Steubenville: Offers programs in business, education, fine and performing arts, and participates in NCAA Division III athletics.
- Holy Angel University: Offers programs in business and education.
- John Paul the Great Catholic University: Offers programs in business and fine and performing arts.
- Thomas Aquinas College: Instills in students “a love of learning” and a desire to be an educator “to provide joy and hope to younger students.”
- University of Dallas: Offers programs in business, education, fine and performing arts, and participates in NCAA Division III athletics.
- University of Mary: Competes at the Division II level of the NCAA and offers programs in business, education, and fine and performing arts.
- University of St. Thomas-Houston: Offers programs in fine and performing arts.
- Walsh University: Competes at the Division II level of the NCAA and offers programs in fine and performing arts.
- University of Navarra: Offers programs in education.
- Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas:
- The College of St. Scholastica:
Many Newman Guide colleges also offer nursing programs, including Ave Maria University, Belmont Abbey College, Benedictine College, The Catholic University of America, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Holy Angel University, University of Dallas, University of Mary, and University of St.
Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is offered at a number of our recommended colleges, sometimes in partnership with other local universities. ROTC-colleges include Belmont Abbey College, Benedictine College, The Catholic University of America, Franciscan University of Steubenville, University of Dallas, and University of St.
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The Growing Popularity of Faithful Catholic Colleges
Increasing numbers of Catholic families are choosing the faithful Catholic colleges recommended in The Cardinal Newman Society’s Newman Guide. Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, has a record undergraduate class of 2,213.
The Importance of a Liberal Arts Education
Recent reports indicate that corporate executives increasingly list the liberal arts as a great background for jobs in business. Kay says, “I love that graduate who has a Catholic, liberal arts perspective, because that individual has a discipline associated with seeking the truth.” Dr. Andrew Abela, founding dean of the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America, believes that Catholic values are directly applicable to a career in business.
Michael Van Hecke says that the liberal arts education at Thomas Aquinas College instilled in him “a love of learning” and a desire to be an educator “to provide joy and hope to younger students.”
Read also: Newman University Costs
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