The Country's Most Unique Catholic College

Wyoming Catholic College

Wyoming Catholic College is the country’s most unique Catholic college. I’ve visited, and it’s true.

Located in Lander, Wyoming, it’s the only “campus” I’m aware of that doesn’t have a campus. Presently, the school utilizes Lander’s local Catholic Church for its chapel, the parish school for some of its classrooms, and temporary buildings as residence halls. The other classes take place in rented space in downtown Lander, approximately a mile away. Wyoming Catholic College’s greatest classroom, however, is the outdoors.

What makes the school truly distinctive are its immersive Latin program, the year-long horseback riding program, and the outdoor leadership program.  Freshmen begin each academic year a month before classes begin with a three-week outdoor excursion. Accompanied by a priest, college employee, and someone from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), the freshmen learn outdoor, survival, and leadership skills. The students then begin the year with an unparalleled bonding experience and leadership skills that they can then bring into the classroom and into their future careers.

The college’s modified Great Books program is somewhat similar to the Thomas Aquinas College curriculum in Santa Paula, California.

Regarding the campus, the college has the land - Broken Anvil Ranch - for its future campus, but a great deal of fundraising and infrastructure needs to be completed before construction can begin there. The future site is located a number of miles outside of Lander.

Today, the college released its beautiful new promotional video, “Wisdom in God’s Country.” The 7-minute film was produced by the award-winning team at Grassroots Films. The video features majestic views and stirring music to make the case for Wyoming Catholic.

In addition, with the unfortunate news from the Cardinal Newman Society that many Catholic institutions of higher learning are failing to meet the minimum requirements of Ex Corde Ecclesiae, it’s great to find a school like Wyoming Catholic, that is doing what it’s supposed to be doing. Wyoming Catholic College is one of the institutions highlighted in the Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College.

If you have a bit of a pioneering spirit and are looking for a Catholic college, be sure to check it out. You won’t find another school like it.