Jesuit universities what is

After all, these schools are for students wishing to enter the priesthood. For the most part, Jesuit Universities have good name recognition, some regionally and other nationally. Degrees from these schools are neither automatically better or worse than those acquired at public or non-Jesuit private institutions.

Nonetheless, the AJCU contains a variety of schools, including some smaller colleges that may lack the renown associated with some of the previously mention institutions. In general, however, the curriculum at Jesuit schools is often perceived as tougher than that of other colleges. Many have top-rated graduate school and professional programs. Many Jesuit schools have competitive athletic programs and access to the same extracurricular activities and clubs that other colleges and universities offer.

Few if any universities can do everything well. But what does the world need today? In a world that we habitually characterize as fragmented, divided, polarized, tribalistic, balkanized and broken, what would seem to be most urgent is a vision of the whole: an understanding of reality and the place of humans within it. That is no easy thing to imagine today. The reform of Jesuit universities needs to be inspired by a serious, substantive vision of what universities are and can be.

But this is of course the challenge of the Gospel: to be a leavening of an ancient faith in the world of today. He entered the Society in , having studied politics at Chicago and Texas. He is a contributing editor for America Magazine. Skip to content. October 1, — What is the future of Jesuit universities? What should it be? Jesuit Universities Can Be a Leavening in the World The greatest threat in the reform of the university is not that we will be too slow to adapt to new technological, economic and social realities.

About Us. Our Work. Become a Jesuit. Support Us. Support Our Work Menu. During the 20th century, the University grew to encompass eleven schools, with campuses in the Bronx, Manhattan and Westchester County. Drawing upon this legacy, we provide students with a world-class learning experience focused on educating the whole person through exposure to different faiths, cultures and beliefs.

With our Jesuit values and location in Washington, D. The academic heart of Gonzaga's Catholic, Jesuit, humanistic liberal arts tradition lies in its core curriculum. In addition, undergraduates may participate in several distinctive academic programs to enrich academic coursework through service, leadership and community, including the Comprehensive Leadership, Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership, Honors and Military Science Programs. John Carroll University founded in and located outside of Cleveland, OH is known for academic excellence in the Jesuit tradition, for its beautiful campus, and for preparing students in four years to successfully serve their communities and to provide leadership to their organizations.

Founded by the Society of Jesus in , Le Moyne is the second youngest of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, and the first to open as a coeducational institution. It was named in honor of Simon Le Moyne, S. The acre campus is on a bluff overlooking Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean.

This location is a key to its strength, success and potential. At LMU, the city becomes an extension of the classroom, offering a rich diversity of culture, interests, access and opportunities. Loyola was founded in and now has 10 schools and colleges with several campuses around the world four in the Chicago area and one in Rome, plus academic centers in China and Vietnam. Loyola is consistently ranked among the top universities in the country, and U.

When Jesuit priests founded Loyola University Maryland in , they looked to the very heart of their order for inspiration in choosing a name. They found their inspiration in St. To this day, we remain committed to the ideals embodied by the priests of the Society of Jesus throughout its rich history. Those Jesuit ideals include an emphasis on academic excellence, the importance of the liberal arts, and cura personalis—the education of the whole person.

We strive to live up to the ideals set by St. Ignatius, and know they are integral to what Loyola has become. Loyola is committed to its Catholic, Jesuit identity and offers a wide array of programs that prepare its students for ethical leadership, personal, and professional excellence. Founded in , Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university dedicated to serving God by serving our students and contributing to the advancement of knowledge.

Our mission, therefore, is the search for truth, the discovery and sharing of knowledge, the fostering of personal and professional excellence, the promotion of a life of faith, and the development of leadership expressed in service to others.

All this we pursue for the greater glory of God and the common benefit of the human community. Regis University, inspired by its Jesuit Catholic heritage, has been committed to academic excellence, personal development and community engagement since its founding in Jesuit colleges are private colleges affiliated with the Jesuit order a form of Catholicism.

However, you don't need to be a Jesuit or a Catholic in order to attend one of these schools—or to get the most out of your experience at one. If you're strongly considering going to a Jesuit college, you're probably wondering just how good these colleges really are, academically speaking.

In this guide, we introduce our picks for the top nine Jesuit colleges in the US. We then offer some tips on whether you should attend one or not. Before we go over our list of Jesuit colleges, though, let's briefly go over what a Jesuit college is. Jesuit colleges are private colleges and universities with a Jesuit affiliation in addition to a history of strong Jesuit influence.

So what is a Jesuit? A Jesuit is a member of the Society of Jesus, an order of Roman Catholic priests founded in Spain in the 16th century. In other words, all Jesuit colleges are Catholic, but not all Catholic colleges are Jesuit.

Jesuit colleges are known for being welcoming to students of all faiths and strive to instill values of meaning and empathy in students.

That being said, these schools typically offer a particularly wide array of resources and opportunities for students of the Catholic faith. These can include activities such as religious retreats, mission trips, and community service projects.

Jesuit colleges stress key Jesuit principles, such as ethics, leadership, and community service. Students must usually take core courses in several disciplines in order to provide them with a well-rounded intellectual foundation. Many Jesuit colleges also encourage students to participate in volunteering projects outside of school.

Here's how the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities describes its network of schools and their academic principles :. Inspired by the tenets of Catholic social teaching and its intellectual and social justice traditions, a Jesuit education places great emphasis on forming 'people for others. In total, there are 28 Jesuit colleges in the US.

These schools range from small liberal arts colleges to large research universities, and all are members of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities:. Generally, Jesuit colleges place a high emphasis on living on-campus, volunteering, and assuming social responsibility. Finally, Jesuit schools don't appear all that different from other private schools in the US.

Many students enjoy Jesuit colleges' unique focus on making positive contributions to society as well as their lack of an overtly religious atmosphere. Seattle University's got a fountain To determine which schools belong on our list of Jesuit colleges, we developed a methodology that took into consideration several key factors.

These points were totaled to get a final score out of 40 for each school. So the closer a school was to 40, the higher it ranked on our list. Below, we reveal our picks for the top nine Jesuit colleges in the US. Each school includes a ranking remember that these are still somewhat subjective , information about the school, and links to the school's official website and our PrepScholar admissions page for it.

A well-known liberal arts college, Boston College ranks highly on several best colleges lists and offers a vast array of more than 60 undergraduate majors. Boston College maintains strong ties to its Jesuit roots and strives to share tenets of Catholicism with students of all faiths and backgrounds.

The school offers a daily Catholic Mass service and regular talks and symposia on Catholicism. It also provides more than options for student organizations. Ranked among the top 25 schools nationwide on several rankings lists, Georgetown is one of the most well-known and competitive Jesuit colleges in the US. In addition to being a highly prestigious research university, Georgetown is the oldest Jesuit college in the country.

The school takes immense pride in its rich history and Jesuit roots. Students can choose from more than clubs , from religious and cultural groups to academic and social organizations. College of the Holy Cross is a small college located in the vibrant college town of Worcester about 45 minutes from Boston.