Statement on Educational Effectiveness

Catholic Theological Union (CTU) at Chicago is dedicated to offering quality theological education and ongoing formation for Seminarians, laity, religious, and clergy who are preparing for or who are already engaged in ministry in the United States and around the world. Institutional structures tasked with oversight of quality assurance and academic integrity include the faculty curriculum and development, academic policies and procedures, and assessment committees. Further, each program possesses learning outcomes which identify and measure academic and pastoral competencies. Course evaluations, student surveys, annual portfolio conferences, and program candidacy reviews further inform and measure the quality of student learning.

CTU is committed to assisting students with their financial and vocational needs. To accomplish this responsibility, CTU is able to provide meaningful monetary support to those who need assistance through various forms of financial assistance including scholarship money, paid internships and student worker stipends and government loans. Approximately 65-70% of our lay students receive financial aid, much of which comes from internal sources of support such as our full-scholarship programs and general scholarship funds. CTU’s current lay scholarship initiative, for the Fr Augustus Tolton program and St. Oscar Romero program continue to raise substantial scholarship support for students in the programs. In the past four years, students completing the graduating student questionnaire (GSQ) administered by our accrediting body The Association of Theological Schools reported that on average 96% of our students incur no educational debt while studying at CTU.

In the 2024-2025 Academic Year GSQ report, the following are the levels of satisfaction on various school services and academic resources (highest is 5):

Moreover, educational effectiveness is measured by students’ ability to attain employment in respective career fields. In recent years, CTU has initiated a comprehensive Career Services office to support both students and alumni. Today, on average, 90% of our graduates find employment within 1 year of graduation. A record number of our graduating seminarians received ordination to the Roman Catholic priesthood and are assigned to a pastoral ministry. CTU alums now exceed 3,500, serving the Church across the United States and in 65 countries worldwide. They work in parishes, homeless shelters, prisons, hospitals, schools, colleges and universities, mission and values positions, hospices, social service organizations, and myriad other ministry settings.

CTU’s health and vitality is contingent upon our ability to offer quality, accessible, and effective programs for those seeking theological and ministerial training under the mentorship of a widely published faculty. To this end, we take seriously the need to continuously monitor and evaluate, update and enhance our programs when and where necessary to ensure our programs meet standards for academic and pastoral excellence.

For questions and inquiries about CTU’s educational mission, assessment and effectiveness efforts, please contact the Academic Dean’s Office at deansoffice@ctu.edu or by phone at 773.371.5422.