The newest two-year Catholic college in the South marks two milestones

“The only real sadness,” said French Catholic novelist and satirist Leon Bloy, “the only real failure, the only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint.”

Dr. Jared Staudt, a faculty member at Rosary College in Greenville, South Carolina, and vice-chairman of the college’s board, offered this quote from Bloy to explain the mission of the college, which has just graduated its first class.

Dr. Elizabeth L’Arrivee spoke of the school’s goals in her recent charge to its graduating students.

Dr. L’Arrivee, who serves as Director of Academic Policy and Compliance, said, “The mission of this college is not simply to provide knowledge, but to form students to recognize what is true, to love what is good and what is beautiful, and to live in freedom–freedom ordered to reality and to God.”

Catholic World Report talked recently with Rosary College President Michael Shick. Dr. Shick, who was named president when Rosary College was founded in 2024, spoke about the college’s success in achieving its mission.

“We’re giving these young men and women the opportunity to achieve their academic dream,” he said, “while also helping them to build on the foundation of objective truth and wisdom.”

Dr. Shick was gratified that Rosary College had earned the full endorsement of the Newman Institute.

He was proud, too, that rather than being told what to think, his students are learning how to think.

While the Associate’s degree is typically a two-year program, students have been able to enroll while still completing their high school courses, so they may be equipped to transfer to a four-year institution just one year after high school graduation.

And since the college offers its courses online rather than at an expensive campus, tuition for a full Associate’s Degree in 2026-27 will be approximately $15,000. Students graduating this year were able to earn their Associate Degree of Catholic Studies in Integrated Humanities for only $14,000. (In contrast, the SofiLearn website reports that the average total cost of a two-year associate degree for full-time students living away from home is approximately $42,640.)

Rosary College has already established partnerships with Newman Center-approved colleges, including Catholic University of America, Ave Maria University, the Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in New Hampshire, and the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Students can transfer their full 60 credits earned at Rosary College at these schools.

In addition, Rosary College has just achieved international status by entering a partnership agreement with Our Lady Seat of Wisdom in Barry’s Bay, Ontario, Canada. It is the school’s first partnership with a university outside of the United States.

And Dr. Shick reported that four other colleges are currently in discussion with Rosary College and are expected to finalize articulation agreements soon.

As the college continues to grow and to attract students both in person and online, Dr. Shick expressed his gratitude for the blessings bestowed on this ambitious project.

“We must also thank our Blessed Mother for her intercession in establishing this institution,” he said.

“From our very first day to our historic Inaugural Commencement, everything at Rosary College is done Sapientia Sub Tutela Mariae–Wisdom Under the Protection of Mary. We owe a debt of gratitude to Our Lady for he maternal care over our founders, our faculty, and the hard work of our pioneering graduates!”