No, prospective students are not required to be Catholic to attend the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW). While the institution is deeply rooted in its Catholic identity and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, it maintains an inclusive, welcoming admissions policy open to students of all religious faiths, spiritual backgrounds, and secular traditions, fostering a diverse campus environment that respects individual beliefs while upholding core values of community service and ethics.