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2023 Most Affordable Online Catholic Colleges

By the OnlineU team | Updated 1/23/2023
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Prospective students who practice Catholicism can find several online Catholic colleges providing the flexibility and affordability to complete an online bachelor’s degree. Most Catholic colleges follow Benedictine and Franciscan core values, which are implemented into their degree programs. As a result, future students can expect to take religion-focused classes for various specialties, like nursing, business administration, and computer science. In addition, for students looking to major in subjects related to Christianity directly, many online Catholic colleges offer bachelor’s degree programs covering topics like theology, religion, and pastoral studies. 

Our list below is based on the manually collected tuition of online Catholic colleges. View our methodology for details about rankings or learn more about us. You can also check out our overall list of the most affordable online degrees for inspiration or our list of the most affordable Christian schools.

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All tuition numbers were manually collected and verified
Rank School Locations Annual Tuition
# 1 #1 Holy Apostles Cromwell (CT) $7,020
# 2 #2 Saint Leo University Online St. Leo (FL) $11,400
# 3 #3 Marian University Indianapolis (IN) $12,960
# 4 #4 Brescia University Owensboro (KY) $13,600
# 5 #5 Madonna University Livonia (MI) $14,250
# 6 #6 St. Catherine University Saint Paul (MN) $14,850
# 7 #7 University of Mary Bismarck (ND) $15,593
# 8 #8 DeSales University Center Valley (PA) $15,690
# 9 #9 Siena Heights University Adrian (MI) (and 1 other) $16,200
# 10 #10 The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth (MN) $16,587
#1
#1

Holy Apostles

Cromwell (CT)
Annual Tuition: $7,020
Annual Tuition: $7,020
Annual Tuition: $7,020

Holy Apostles College and Seminary is a private, nonprofit, Catholic institution. The college provides Catholic education with a core curriculum, including six theology and six philosophy courses. Holy Apostles has six online bachelor’s degree programs that follow Ex Corde Ecclesiae. Some examples include (1) a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, (2) Bachelor of Arts in History in Liberal Arts, and (3) Bachelor of Arts in Theology.

Holy Apostles facilitates online asynchronous learning on Populi. On campus, Holy Apostles offers daily mass at the college chapel, perpetual adoration, and Sacrament of Confession. Online student support at Holy Apostles includes career services, IT support, an online writing lab, and more.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 50%
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 156
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 344
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: NECHE
#2
#2
Annual Tuition: $11,400
Annual Tuition: $11,400
Annual Tuition: $11,400

Saint Leo University Online is a private, nonprofit, Roman Catholic institution. The university offers distance learning programs guided by Benedictine's core values. Saint Leo has 28 online bachelor’s degree programs, such as the following majors: (1) Religion, (2) Diversity and Inequality, and (3) Contemporary Studies.

At Saint Leo, online students complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously through the digital platform D2L Brightspace. All students are required to complete three elective courses on religion and philosophy. Saint Leo’s online student resources include advising, career services, an online bookstore, and accessibility services. In addition, the university provides daily and Sunday mass, service trips, and music ministries.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 100%
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 8,242
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 4,720
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: SACS COC
#3
#3

Marian University

Indianapolis (IN)
Annual Tuition: $12,960
Annual Tuition: $12,960
Annual Tuition: $12,960

Marian University is a private, nonprofit, Roman Catholic institution offering several online bachelor’s degree programs. Prospective students can choose from specialties that range from business administration and nursing to paralegal studies. Marian focuses on Franciscan values, like the dignity of the individual, peace and justice, reconciliation, and responsible stewardship.

Marian's online students complete coursework in a synchronous format via Canvas, meaning that online students must adhere to a set schedule. The institution hosts daily mass on weekdays and Sundays, reconciliation, service opportunities, and retreats. Online students can access a writing lab, peer tutoring, academic advising, and counseling.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 100%
  • Average SATs: 970 -1180
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 738
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 33
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: HLC
#4
#4

Brescia University

Owensboro (KY)
Annual Tuition: $13,600
Annual Tuition: $13,600
Annual Tuition: $13,600

At Brescia University (BU Online) — a private, nonprofit, Roman Catholic institution — students can pursue online bachelor’s degree programs based on a Catholic approach. Three aspects of Caritas theology guide the university: (1) identity, (2) knowledge, and (3) action. BU Online offers seven online bachelor’s degrees, such as (1) a Bachelor of Arts in Theology - Pastoral Studies, (2) Bachelor of Science in Business, and (3) Bachelor of Arts or Sciences in Integrated Studies.

BU Online facilitates asynchronous and synchronous remote learning on the learning management system called Blackboard. For online students near BU Online’s campus, the school offers mass on weekdays and Sundays, as well as other worship opportunities. In addition, BU Online students can access disability services, career services, and counseling.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 100%
  • Average SATs: 1000 -1260
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 345
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 52
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: SACS COC
#5
#5

Madonna University

Livonia (MI)
Annual Tuition: $14,250
Annual Tuition: $14,250
Annual Tuition: $14,250

Madonna University is a private, nonprofit, Roman Catholic institution. The university offers several bachelor’s degrees in specialties like arts and humanities, social work and sociology, and education. Some of Madonna’s distance learning programs are (1) a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology, (2) Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies, and (3) Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

At Madonna, online students complete coursework in asynchronous and synchronous formats through Blackboard. Madonna aims to provide coursework containing Christian values and a liberal arts approach. The university’s Campus Ministry delivers in-person mass on weekdays and Sundays, and Madonna also offers Faith Life groups. Online student support services at Madonna include an online writing lab, peer tutoring, collaborative learning, and an online library.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 97%
  • Average SATs: 920 -1140
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 500
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 115
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: HLC

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