With a student body numbering more than 25,000, DePaul University is the largest catholic university in the U.S. and one of the 10 largest private not-for-profit universities in America. Founded in 1898, the university's motto is, "I will show you the way of wisdom." The school consists of two downtown and four suburban campuses where more than 275 undergraduate and graduate programs are offered. A member of the Big East athletic conference, its team, the Blue Devils, is best known for its men's basketball program, which was a national powerhouse in the late '70s and early '80s.
Founded in 1870, Loyola University is the largest Jesuit Catholic University in the U.S. The school offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and 85 master's programs as well as doctoral degrees and graduate-level certificate programs. More than 15,000 student attend the school, which is spread out across three Chicago-area campuses and the John Felice Rome Center in Italy. With 650 faculty members, the school boasts an impressive student-to-teacher ratio of 15:1. The school has a reputation for great public service work and has been recognized by organizations like the Carnegie Foundation and the Corporation for National and Community Service for its efforts.
For students in search of a smaller college feel, Saint Xavier University may be a great fit, since it has a student body of just over 5,000. The school's main campus is located on the south of downtown Chicago, and it also has a satellite campus in suburban Orland Park. The school offers 43 undergraduate degrees and 11 graduate-level programs. In 2007, it received a Silver Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education for "Best Practices in Fund Raising" for a program called "Recognizing the Value Within," which focused on updating its database of alumni and friends. Saint Xavier has two dormitories, Rubloff Hall and O'Brien Hall, that are LEED Gold certified, which means they meet special environmental requirements.
Also located in the greater Chicago area is Dominican University in River Forest, approximately 10 miles west of downtown. The student body numbers just over 3,700 and the school was recognized in the 2011 "Great Schools, Great Prices" section of the U.S. News & World Report college rankings. Chicago also boasts a number of theological seminaries, including the world's largest, the Catholic Theological Union, which has a goal to "prepare effective leaders for the Church."