Catholic colleges that maintain clear religious missions are bucking national enrollment declines while dozens have closed or merged since 2016. Ave Maria University, Franciscan University of Steubenville, and the University of St. Thomas in Houston report record enrollments, emphasizing orthodox teaching and vibrant campus ministry. Meanwhile, institutions struggling with identity face enrollment drops of 15 to 18 percent and tuition discounts approaching 60 percent. The distinction between thriving and failing schools appears less about market forces than mission fidelity, suggesting renewal depends on recovering distinctive Catholic formation rather than conventional academic metrics alone.

Restoring Catholic Universities

While dozens of Catholic colleges have closed or merged over the past decade, a smaller group of institutions faithful to their religious mission has quietly bucked the trend. Twenty-one Catholic colleges closed or merged from 2016 to 2024, with more expected in 2025, yet certain schools continue posting record enrollments even as demographic pressures intensify.

Ave Maria University enrolled 1,342 undergraduates with its largest incoming freshman class, while Franciscan University of Steubenville reached 3,079 undergraduates with a record freshman class. The University of St. Thomas in Houston achieved 92 percent growth over ten years, reaching 3,465 undergraduates. Christendom College operates at capacity with 554 undergraduates, an 18 percent increase in ten years. These institutions share a commitment to orthodox Catholic teaching and vibrant campus ministry. Many of these schools emphasize stewardship and generosity as part of their campus formation programs.

The broader landscape tells a different story. St. Ambrose University saw enrollment fall 16.7 percent to 2,500 from 2020 to 2024, while Mount Mercy University declined 17.8 percent to 1,402 students in the same period. Ursuline College experienced a 14 percent drop to 923 students over five years before seeking merger stability with Gannon University. A shrinking pool of high school graduates has forced many colleges to offer tuition discounts of 50 to 60 percent just to attract students.

The crisis extends to earlier education levels, where Catholic elementary and secondary schools shrank 27.3 percent to 5,920 from 2000 to 2023. Catholic high schools increasingly enroll non-Catholic students as traditional sources dry up. Yet Florida Catholic schools grew 6 percent, the highest national rate, suggesting geographic variation in the trend.

The distinction between thriving and struggling institutions appears less about market forces than mission clarity. Schools on the Newman Guide, which emphasizes fidelity to Catholic identity, report flourishing enrollments for 2025-26. The University of Mary in Bismarck posted record undergraduate enrollment of 2,430 with a record incoming freshman class. Meanwhile, institutions with strong metrics still face uncertainty: leading Catholic colleges show acceptance rates from 25 to 81 percent and costs between $71,410 and $89,575, yet these numbers alone do not guarantee stability. Georgetown and Notre Dame, despite enrollments of nearly 8,000 and 9,000 respectively, maintain retention rates above 95 percent while their median SAT scores reach 1500. The future of Catholic higher education may depend less on adapting to market pressures than on renewing the distinctive mission that once made these institutions essential.