NTC Statement of Educational Effectiveness 2025

Newman Theological College is a Roman Catholic School of Theology committed to theological education and missionary discipleship. The college prepares laity, religious, and ordained ministers for Christian service and leadership in Western Canada and beyond. We share a vision to develop life-long disciples and ministers of Christ through the formation of minds and hearts.

The Board of Commissioners of the Association of Theological Schools requires accredited schools to publish a statement regarding the school’s educational effectiveness. Newman Theological College is committed to ongoing assessment and continuous evaluation of our programs in order to accomplish our mission and vision. We use a variety of qualitative and quantitative assessment tools to determine the extent to which our degree programs are accomplishing our student learning outcomes, and how our graduates are engaged in their chosen vocations after graduation. These tools include course evaluations, graduating student surveys and exit interviews, and alumni surveys. The 2025 Association of Theological Schools [ATS] Graduating Student Questionnaire findings show:

Student/Degree Learning Outcomes

·        Graduates were asked to measure educational effectiveness and their personal growth during study. Our graduates ranked us as “Effective” in almost every area. The top two areas in which our graduates felt they were stronger were once again: "Respect for my own religious tradition," and “Ability to live my faith in daily life.”

·        Graduates were asked to indicate their satisfaction with educational effectiveness in facilitation of skill areas. On our main campus and over all programs, 8 out of 21 were ranked as “Somewhat effective.” The new top areas of satisfaction were: “Ability to work effectively with both men and women” and “Ability to relate social issues to faith.”

·        Graduates cited the following as the two most important influences on their educational experience at our institution: “Personal life experiences,” followed closely by "Interaction with students."  These are not surprising results and have ranked highest for the past eleven years.

·        When asked how satisfied they had been with a variety of college services and academic resources, we scored “Very satisfied” with “Class size.” The next top-rated choice of our graduates was “Upkeep of campus,” and “Campus security.”

·        A list of sixteen statements was presented to graduates to explore their satisfaction with their college experience. The two most important sources were "Individuals of other faith traditions have been respected” and “My personal faith has been respected.”

2025 Placement Rates

73% of M.R.E. graduates in 2025 achieved vocational placement and 27% achieved non-vocational placement

33% of M.T.S. graduates in 2025 achieved vocational placement

200% Graduation Rates by Degree Program (ATS) 2025, Persistence Rates and Completion Rates

The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) requires schools to report their 200% graduation rate, which means looking at the number of students who entered a degree program at twice the length of time it takes to complete each program on a full-time basis and calculating the graduation rate of that cohort. According to ATS, 200% was chosen in order to account for the “high number of part-time students in ATS member schools,” among other reasons. Often students at NTC on our graduate theology programs will be engaged in additional commitments over and above their program, such as formation at seminary and taking extra courses needed for ordination requirements, being concurrently employed full-time as teachers in our Catholic School Districts, or being employed in another profession. As such, they may take longer than a typical timeframe to complete their degree programs. We allow 6 years to complete a M.Div., 5 years to complete a M.T.S., and 10 years to complete a M.R.E. Enabling our students to complete their program of studies whilst engaging in seminarian formation or putting their education into practice in schools and the world is necessary for NTC to successfully accomplish its mission.

Graduation Rates are based on the number of students who graduate in ≤ two times the normal length of time for a degree (MDiv. 6 years; MRE 4 years; MTS 4 years).

Master of Divinity (within 6 years) =66.7%

Master of Religious Education (within 4 years) =79.2%

Master of Theological Studies (within 4 years) =33.3%

Overall Graduation Rate =75.0%

Persistence Rate measures all those who graduated (with degree began or another degree) and all those who are still enrolled (in degree began or another degree). While the term “persistence rate” has varying definitions in higher education, it is used here to indicate those who are still enrolled (in any program), along with those who already graduated (with any degree).

Master of Divinity (entered 6 years ago this fall) =77.8%

Master of Religious Education (MA (prof)) (entered 4 years ago this fall) =87.5%

Master of Theological Studies (MA (acad)) (entered 4 years ago this fall) =33.3%

Completions

Completions Race and Gender

Completions by Status

Completions by Time