Catholic higher education includes universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education privately run by the Catholic Church, typically by religious institutes. Those tied to the Holy See are specifically called pontifical universities.
By definition, Catholic canon law states that "A Catholic school is understood to be one which is under control of the competent ecclesiastical authority or of a public ecclesiastical juridical person, or one which in a written document is acknowledged as Catholic by the ecclesiastical authority" (Can. 803). Although some schools are deemed "Catholic" because of their identity and a great number of students enrolled are Catholics, it is also stipulated in canon law that "no school, even if it is in fact Catholic, may bear the title 'Catholic school' except by the consent of the competent ecclesiastical authority" (Can. 803 §3). Some institutions are said to be "dependent" on the church.
The Dominican Order was "the first order instituted by the Church with an academic mission", founding in every convent of the order, and studia generalia at the early European universities such as the University of Bologna and the University of Paris. In Europe, most universities with medieval history were founded as Catholic. Many of them were rescinded to government authorities in modern times. Some, however, remained Catholic, while new ones were established alongside the public ones.
Like other private schools, Catholic universities and colleges are generally nondenominational, in that they accept anyone regardless of religious affiliation, nationality, ethnicity, or civil status, provided the admission or enrollment requirements and legal documents are submitted, and rules and regulations are obeyed for a fruitful life on campus. However, non-Catholics, whether Christian or not, may or may not participate in otherwise required campus activities, particularly those of a religious nature.
History The International Federation of Catholic Universities has its origins in 1924, in collaboration between the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan and the Catholic University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands.International Federation of Catholic Universities, About , fiuc.org, France, retrieved November 2, 2023 In 2023, it had 226 member universities in the world.International Federation of Catholic Universities, About , fiuc.org, France, retrieved November 2, 2023
The Second Vatican Council's Declaration on Christian Education (1965), after setting out the Church's pronouncements on primary and secondary school education, outlined its "concern... also with schools of a higher level, especially colleges and universities", adding that "Catholic colleges and universities [should] be conveniently located in different parts of the world, but in such a way that they are outstanding not for their numbers but for their pursuit of knowledge".Holy See, Declaration on Christian Education, Second Vatican Council, section 10, published on 28 October 1965, accessed on 27 March 2026
Purpose The Declaration on Christian Education portrays its higher education institutions as places where students can form "a deeper realization of the harmony of faith and science". Within them, "there is accomplished a public, enduring and pervasive influence of the Christian mind in the furtherance of culture", and from them, students should emerge "truly outstanding in their training, ready to undertake weighty responsibilities in society and witness to the faith in the world".
Global scale The Catholic Church is the largest non-governmental provider of higher education in the world. Many of its institutions are internationally competitive. According to the census of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, the total number of Catholic universities and higher education institutions around the world is 1,358. On the other hand, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) counts it at 1,861. The Catholic religious order with the highest number of universities around the world today is the Society of Jesus with 114.
List of Catholic institutions of higher education
To prevent repetition, for Ecclesiastical universities and faculties, see Ecclesiastical university, and for Pontifical universities, see Pontifical university.
Albania Catholic University "Our Lady of Good Counsel", Tirana
Angola Catholic University of Angola, Luanda
Argentina Austral University, Buenos Aires Catholic University of Santiago del Estero, Santiago del Estero Facultades de Filosofía y Teología de San Miguel, San Miguel Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, Buenos Aires Saint Thomas Aquinas University of the North, San Miguel de Tucumán Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Cordoba Universidad Católica de Cuyo, San Juan Universidad Católica de La Plata, La Plata Universidad Católica de Salta, Salta Universidad Católica de Santa Fe, Santa Fe Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires Universidad FASTA, Mar del Plata
Australia Australian Catholic University: seven campuses nationwide, including Sydney Campion College, Toongabbie, near Sydney Catholic Institute of Sydney, Strathfield University of Notre Dame Australia: campuses in Fremantle, Sydney, and Broome
Austria Benedict XVI Philosophical-Theological University, Heiligenkreuz Catholic Private University Linz, Linz Catholic University College of Education Graz, Graz; f.2007 International Theological Institute, Trumau (near Wien) Pázmáneum, Wien Private University College of Education of the Diocese of Linz, Linz; f.1968 University College of Teacher Education Edith Stein, Innsbruck University of Innsbruck Faculty of Catholic Theology, Innsbruck University of Salzburg Faculty of Catholic Theology, Salzburg University of Vienna Faculty of Catholic Theology, Wien
Bangladesh Notre Dame University Bangladesh, Dhaka
Belarus John the Baptist Catholic College, Minsk
Belgium Artevelde University of Applied Sciences, Ghent ICHEC Brussels Management School (Institut catholique des hautes études commerciales), Woluwe-Saint-Pierre Institut des hautes etudes des communications sociales (IHECS), Brussels Institut libre Marie Haps (ILMH), Ixelles Institut Saint-Luc, Saint-Gilles Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Antwerp LUCA School of Arts, Brussels Saint Ignatius University Centre, Antwerp (UCSIA), Antwerp Saint-Louis University, Brussels, (Université Saint-Louis - Bruxelles), Brussels St John Berchmans University College, Heverlee, Heverlee University of Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU Leuven), Leuven Kulak (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven associatie Kortrijk), Kortrijk University of Louvain (Université catholique de Louvain, UC Louvain), Louvain-la-Neuve UCLouvain FUCaM Mons (Facultés universitaires catholiques de Mons), Mons University of Namur (Université de Namur, UNamur), Namur
Belize John Paul the Great College, Benque Viejo del Carmen St. John's College, Belize, Belize City
Benin Université Catholique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Cotonou
Bolivia Luis Espinal Higher Institute of Philosophy and Humanities, Cochabamba Unidad Académica Campesina-Carmen Pampa, Carmen Pampa; a satellite campus of the Catholic University of Bolivia Universidad Católica Boliviana, La Paz Universidad Católica Boliviana Cochabamba; Unidad Académica Regional Cochabamba Universidad Católica Boliviana Santa Cruz; Unidad Académica Regional Santa Cruz Universidad Católica Boliviana Tarija; Unidad Académica Regional Tarija Universidad La Salle Bolivia, La Paz Universidad Loyola de Bolivia, La Paz Universidad Salesiana de Bolivia, La Paz University of San Francisco Xavier, Sucre
Brazil Católica de Vitória Centro Universitário, Vitória, ES Centro Universitário Católica de Santa Catarina, Jaraguá do Sul, SC Centro Universitário Católico do Sudoeste do Paraná, Palmas, PR Centro Universitário Claretiano, Batatais, SP Centro Universitário da FEI, São Bernardo do Campo, SP Centro Universitário Franciscano, Santa Maria, RS Centro Universitário São Camilo, Ipiranga, SP Faculdade Católica do Tocantins, Palmas, TO Faculdade La Salle, Manaus, AM Institutos Supereriores de Ensino La Salle, Niteroi, RJ La Salle College of Lucas do Rio Verde, Lucas do Rio Verde, MT Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, São Paulo Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, Recife, PE Universidade Católica de Petrópolis, Petropolis, RJ Universidade Católica de Santos, Santos, SP Universidade Católica do Salvador, Salvador, BA Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS Universidade da Amazônia, Belem, PA Universidade do Sagrado Coração, Bauru, SP Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS Universidade La Salle, Canoas, RS Universidade Santa Úrsula, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Universidade São Francisco, Bragança Paulista, SP University of Vale do Paraíba, São José dos Campos, SP
Burkina Faso Université Catholique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (UCAO) - Unité Universitaire de Bobo-Dioulasso, Bobo-Dioulasso Saint Thomas Aquinas University in Ouagadougou (Université Saint Thomas d'Aquin; USTA), Ouagadougou
Burundi Olivia University Bujumbura, Bujumbura
Cambodia Saint Paul Institute (SPI), Tram Kak District
Cameroon Catholic University Institute of Buea, Buea Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda Catholic University of Central Africa, Yaoundé Saint Monica University, Buea
Canada Public universities that claim Catholic affiliation Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec Université Sainte-Anne, Pointe-de-l'Église, Nova Scotia
Catholic institutions affiliated or federated to public universities Assumption University, Windsor, Ontario (University of Windsor) Brescia University College, London, Ontario (University of Western Ontario) Campion College, Regina, Saskatchewan (University of Regina) Corpus Christi College, Vancouver, British Columbia (University of British Columbia) Dominican University College, Ottawa, Ontario (Carleton University) King's University College, London, Ontario (University of Western Ontario) Regis College, Toronto, Ontario (University of Toronto) Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Ontario (University of Ottawa) St. Jerome's University, Waterloo, Ontario (University of Waterloo) St. Joseph's College, Edmonton, Alberta (University of Alberta) St. Mark's College, Vancouver, British Columbia (University of British Columbia) St. Michael's College, Toronto, Ontario (University of Toronto) St. Paul's College, Fort Garry, Manitoba (University of Manitoba) St. Thomas More College, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (University of Saskatchewan) Université de Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba (University of Manitoba)
Private Catholic universities Catholic Pacific College, Langley, British Columbia Newman Theological College, Edmonton, Alberta Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College, Barry's Bay, Ontario St. Mary's University, Calgary, Alberta
Central African Republic Catholic University Center (Centre Catholique Universitaire; CCU), Bangui
Chile Academy of Christian Humanism University, Santiago Alberto Hurtado University, Santiago Catholic University of the Holy Conception, Concepcion Catholic University of the Maule, Talca Catholic University of the North, Antofagasta Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago