Methodology &
How It Works
We combine official data, AI-assisted research, and geospatial analysis to map Catholic higher education.
Institution Selection
We curate a list of 200+ institutions identified as Catholic through formal affiliation (diocesan or religious order) and mission statements. University rankings are sourced from Webometrics, a globally recognized web-based ranking system.
Program Research
Using large language models (LLMs) and manual verification, we tag each school for STEM majors: CS, Engineering, Math, Physics, Biology, and Chemistry.
Data Pipeline
Data is ingested into PostgreSQL with PostGIS. We use custom scripts to geocode locations and calculate precise distances for accurate search results.
Catholic Identity Categories
Each institution in our database is classified by its relationship to the Catholic Church. These categories appear as color-coded badges on search results and map markers.
Newman Guide Recommended
Schools recommended by The Cardinal Newman Society's Guide to Choosing a Catholic College. These institutions have been vetted for their fidelity to the Church's Magisterium, vibrant campus ministry, strong sacramental life, and commitment to Catholic intellectual tradition in their curricula.
Independent Catholic University
A standalone institution founded and operated under Catholic auspices — typically by a diocese or religious order — where the entire university is Catholic in its governance, mission, and campus life. Institutions were identified using the Wikipedia lists of Catholic universities in the United States and Canada.
Catholic College within a Secular University
A Catholic college operating within a larger secular university — common in Canadian higher education (e.g. St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto). Students access both the college's Catholic community and the broader university's resources. Affiliations were identified using LLMs.
Catholic Campus Ministry (Newman Club)
A Catholic campus ministry serving students at a secular university that has no formal Catholic affiliation. While the university itself is not Catholic, these ministries provide Mass, sacraments, faith formation, and Catholic community life for students on campus. Ministries were identified using Newman Connection, the national directory of Catholic campus ministries.
How Search Works
1. You Enter a Location
Type a city, state, or ZIP. The system accepts any geocodable string.
2. Geocoding
We convert your text into precise coordinates (latitude & longitude).
3. Search
The system queries the database for universities within the computed radius of your location. Results are ordered by distance.
4. Results
Universities are sorted by distance and displayed on our interactive map with full details.