The Center – the research division of The Cardinal Newman Society – commissioned this report in response to the economic recession as a way of helping parents and students as they consider various options for colleges. The study compares the Catholic colleges recommended in The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College: What to Look for and Where to Find It with other Catholic and private colleges on issues such as tuition, institutional aid, student debt and overall affordability. The Catholic colleges profiled in The Newman Guide were chosen for their quality education and for the priority that they place on Catholic identity in all aspects of campus life.

“In these challenging economic times, this news will certainly be a reassurance for students and parents to learn that UST’s outstanding quality education has garnered recognition for providing an affordable value competitive with other Catholic colleges and private colleges throughout the United States,” said UST President Dr. Robert Ivany.

Among the study’s key findings:

• Average tuition for students at the recommended Catholic colleges is about $3,000 less than at other Catholic colleges, and about $1,000 less than the average private college.
• The Newman Guide colleges provide students a larger portion of institutional aid (39 percent)
• than the average private college (29 percent).
• Students at the Catholic recommended colleges graduate with fewer loans and less debt – on average, about $2,000 less than at other private colleges, and $1,400 less than other Catholic colleges.