University of Mary Earns Cardinal Newman Society’s Highest Honor Once Again

One of only 16 Catholic universities nationwide -and leading the country with the most graduate programs recognized for excellence - to meet the gold standard of Catholic identity and academic excellence

BISMARCK, N.D.- The University of Mary has once again been named a Cardinal Newman Society Recommended College in The Newman Guide 2025-2026, earning the organization's widely respected "seal of approval" for faithfully Catholic higher education. The honor places the University of Mary among only 16 Catholic colleges and universities in the United States recognized for meeting the Cardinal Newman Society's highest and most rigorous standards.

Published by the Cardinal Newman Society, The Newman Guide is a nationally and internationally trusted resource for students and parents seeking colleges and universities that are academically strong and authentically Catholic. The 2025-2026 editionhighlights select undergraduate institutions worldwide and identifies just seven Catholic colleges and universities recommended for graduate education.

The University of Mary stands out among those seven, earning recognition for the most comprehensive slate of graduate programs and certificates in the guide. With low tuition and strong career outcomes, the University of Mary is one of the most affordable universities recognized by the Cardinal Newman Society.

A National Leader in Catholic Graduate Education

In addition to its undergraduate distinction, the University of Mary is recognized by the Cardinal Newman Society for several graduate degree programs: Master of Arts in Applied Catholic Theology; Master of Science in Bioethics; Master of Arts in Apostolic Leadership; Master of Business Administration; Master of Organizational Leadership; Doctor of Business Administration; M.B.A./M.A. in Philosophy Dual Degree; Master of Arts in Music; and Master of Education in Catholic Montessori.

The university is also commended for numerous graduate certificates that serve educators, clergy, professionals, and Catholic leaders worldwide, including Bioethics; Catholic Anthropology for Counselors; Catholic Educators; Catholic Philanthropy; Catholic Studies for Educators; High School Chaplaincy for Priests; Prayer and Spiritual Direction; Sacred Music; Sacred Scripture; and Virtuous Leadership.

Many of these degrees are offered online, as part of University of Mary's portfolio of programs for Catholic professionals.

"The University of Mary's renewed vitality as a Catholic university is exciting and it is an attractive and relatively inexpensive choice, with many full-tuition scholarships available, for students looking for a career- oriented university that is in good Catholic hands," the Cardinal Newman Society notes in its description of the University of Mary.

Faithfully Catholic, Joyfully Christian

Monsignor James Shea, president of the University of Mary, said the recognition is both an honor and a responsibility.

"We are deeply grateful and genuinely humbled to be recognized once again by the Cardinal Newman Society," Shea said. "When I travel around the country - and around the world - I am often asked how a private Catholic university in Bismarck, North Dakota, continues to grow and thrive, expand its campus, and welcome record enrollment year after year. The answer is simple: the University of Mary remains true to its mission. We are faithfully Catholic, joyfully Christian, and gratefully Benedictine."

Founded by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, the University of Mary integrates rigorous academics with over 60 bachelor's programs and 18 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletics. The university has a rich sacramentallife, including daily Mass, Vespers, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, FOCUS Bible studies, a beautiful Marian Grotto, and an increased emphasis on vocational discernment. The Newman Guide highlights Mary's strong core curriculum, faithful theology instruction, and commitment to forming servant leaders grounded in truth.

Distinctive features of the University of Mary experience include its nationally and internationally acclaimed sacred music program and chapel choir, Cappella, which has performed at cathedrals across Europe; the University of Mary Rome Campus, offering students immersive academic and spiritual formation at the heart of the Church; and Mary College at ASU- a unique partnership that brings faithful Catholic education to the campus of Arizona State University.

Mary's beautiful hilltop campus overlooks the Missouri River Valley, offering students a setting rich in both natural beauty and intentional community.

The university's growth is also reflected in its expanding facilities, including the newly announced 232-bed, 58,000-square-foot St. Joseph's Residence Hall. The residence hall supports continued enrollment growth and will include dedicated space for the Saint Teresa of Calcutta Community for Mothers, providing housing and support for student parents pursuing a Catholic education. Construction is also underway on the new Marauders Athletics Complex, a significant investment in student-athlete formation that will enhance training, competition, and community engagement while supporting the university's continued growth and vitality.

A Trusted Guide for Families

For more than two decades, the Cardinal Newman Society has evaluated Catholic colleges and universities according to strict criteria for Catholic identity, governance, curriculum, student life, and fidelity to the Church. Inclusion in The Newman Guide signals to families that an institution can be trusted to offer an authentically Catholic education without compromise.

For the University of Mary, the recognition affirms its mission to educate the whole person - mind, body, and spirit - while preparing graduates to lead lives of purpose, service, and joy.

More information about the University of Mary is available at umary.edu.