(OSV News) -- Among Catholic colleges that have so far survived the "demographic cliff" -- a steep decline in the number of university-age students, owing to fewer births following 2008's Great Recession -- there runs a familiar theme: Lean into your Catholic mission.
"Most higher education institutions are feeling some element of challenge related to enrollment these days," Donna Carroll, president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, told OSV News, "as a consequence of demographics, visas, politics, market density, et cetera."
As of fall 2024, the ACCU reported that 80% of the 200-plus Catholic colleges and universities enroll fewer than 5,000 students, with a total of 662,852 enrolled students combined.
However, statistics alone aren't telling the whole story, Carroll said.
"The fall numbers in Catholic higher ed are mixed," she commented. "Quite a few of our regional Catholic institutions are reporting some of their largest freshman classes ever. … About 75% of Catholic colleges and universities are in those regions most affected by demographic shifts -- Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Great Lakes."
'Clarifying, strengthening their focus on mission, core outcomes'
Carroll said Catholic institutions -- struggling or not -- are employing various coping strategies, such as "clarifying and strengthening their focus on mission and core outcomes; further diversifying their academic offerings, often adding programs in the health science; and/or establishing partnerships for efficiency, scale, and to access new markets."
And despite an admittedly challenging climate, she also remains optimistic.
"It is a great time to be a Catholic institution," declared Carroll, "because people are yearning for the values-based education we provide."
Greg Nayor, senior vice president of university strategy for La Salle University in Philadelphia, told OSV News enrollment pressures are nothing new for small Catholic colleges.
"Small, private, specifically faith-based institutions, have been navigating these challenges for many years," he shared. "What is new and additive is that we're now seeing larger institutions, public and private -- some very large, well-known institutions -- starting to experience this pressure and tension as well."
Founded in 1863 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools -- a Catholic teaching order established by St. John Baptist de La Salle, patron saint of teachers -- La Salle's 4,000-plus students enjoy average class sizes of 16, and a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1. Undergraduate tuition is $34,270.
Students want 'that Catholic education experience'
"What we're seeing is that a lot of students want to attend faith-based institutions; they want that Catholic education experience," Nayor added. "And that seems to be a bit on the rise, for all the reasons we know: quality of education; mission-centered learning; personalized attention."
In 2025, LaSalle had its largest incoming class in six years -- a welcome development after losing 36% of its student body between 2019 and 2024.
Partnerships and new academic offerings have been key tools in its enrollment portfolio.
LaSalle recently finalized an agreement with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to provide guaranteed admissions and more for outstanding students graduating from its 15 high schools, and it created new programs in cosmetic chemistry, biotech innovation, cybersecurity and health studies, as well as accelerated programs in finance and business systems.
"Those types of partnerships are key," noted Nayor. "And when we're creating new programs, it's not just throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks -- it's creating new programs we think are going to have a material impact in students' lives."
Rachel Brash, vice president for enrollment services at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, also said a strong Catholic identity is an asset in turbulent educational times.
Catholic education has 'the foundation of the Church'
"Catholic education is doing something important -- because higher education institutions, they're struggling to figure out where they're going to fit in all of this," she suggested. "And Catholic education has something that other places don't: the foundation of the Church. When you know who you are, it's a lot easier to know where you're going."
During the 2025-26 academic year, the University of Mary reached the largest enrollment in its 66-year history, welcoming a record 3,973 students from 50 states, three U.S. territories and 20 countries. Undergraduate tuition is $17,770.
Perhaps more prominent now in the deliberations of both students and parents is the value proposition of a college education.
"The bigger question that is being asked by parents, by prospective students, by employers, by people who have workforce needs is, is the investment worth it?" reported Brash. "And Catholic education -- and certainly the University of Mary -- have resoundingly said the answer is yes."
The University of Mary has built a year-round structure enabling students to earn a degree in eight semesters, and expanded its physical campus with new, multi-purpose structures as part of a $272 million "Vision 2030" campaign.
Setting up students 'to thrive'
"The time that somebody is in school is a great time of formation for them," shared Brash. "And that's why a Catholic education is for the whole of life -- we're setting them up to thrive."
Her advice to other institutions?
"You have to be very bold in who you are."
Stephen Hildebrand, provost and professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, has, in addition to the demographic cliff, also witnessed parents and students pondering the worth of college.
Still, this fall the university projected a record number of 4,279 students, who will experience a 15-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Undergraduate tuition is $36,500.
"If you're looking at college as a kind of job prep for high-end jobs, it amounts to a real crisis for universities if their model is, 'Come here, and we'll teach you the latest and greatest things that you need to know for your career prep,' Hildebrand told OSV News. "If that's all they do, I think they're going to really feel the brunt of the crisis."
Wanting students to be ready for God, for life and for work
But like other Catholic colleges, that's not all Franciscan University does.
"I've settled into this threefold readiness that expresses what we're about," Hildebrand said. "We want to make our students ready for God, ready for life and ready for work."
As his colleague Tim Reardon, vice president for enrollment management, told OSV News, "We can't just hope they know or choose Franciscan. We have to provide evidence of what Franciscan has done in the lives of our current students and our alumni."
The university has added programs in mechanical engineering and criminal justice, and has opened the new Christ the Teacher Hall with a focus on technology and hands-on labs.
All three universities said students are certainly much more aware of the potential impact of AI on their future careers. LaSalle now offers a master's program in artificial intelligence; the University of Mary actively encourages its students to engage AI in different ways; and Franciscan University is keen on tutoring its scholars on when to use it, and when not to use it.
Ultimately, said Nayor, mission and identity are essential to survival.
"I would offer that there's no silver bullet solution," he advised. "And when you see colleges and universities chasing gimmicks, or chasing the next shiny object, none of that works. We need to be grounded in who we are and who we want to be."
