U.S. Catholic Seminaries See Mixed Enrollment Trends in 2024-2025
Catholic seminaries in the U.S. saw mixed trends in enrollment for the 2024-2025 academic year. While high school student enrollment remained stable, graduate and college levels witnessed significant declines.
High school student enrollment held steady at 300 students, marking a 2% increase from the previous year. However, this figure represents a stark contrast to the 1967 peak, with only three high school seminaries remaining today, a 97% decline.
At the graduate level, enrollment dropped by 8% to 2,686 students. Similarly, college student enrollment decreased by 6% to 840 students. Despite these drops, 76% of graduate-level seminarians are candidates for diocesan priesthood.
Notably, foreign-born students now account for 17% of theologate students, with Vietnam being the primary country of origin. Most foreign-born students, 57%, are ordained for a U.S. diocese or religious order. The main source countries for foreign students are Mexico, India, Philippines, and Nigeria.
The number of theologates in the U.S. has also decreased, from 47 in 2002-2003 to the current 41.
The 2024-2025 academic year saw a stable high school student enrollment but significant declines at the graduate and college levels. The number of theologates and foreign-born students have also changed, reflecting ongoing shifts in U.S. Catholic seminaries.
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