Are we answering your first question or your second question?

I don't know how to answer yes or no because there are two questions here.

The first question can't be answered because by going away to college they would become independent & can not be allowed or disallowed to do so.

Should you contest? Absolutely, they should be provided with as much information as possible when making a decision like that.

Difficult decision. Is 18 years of age old enough to make such profound decisions?
The frontal parts of our brains are not completely integrated until we are at least 22 years.
How should we deal with this reality?

I went to a Catholic University and may go again to finish my degree. I wouldn't push my kids to go like my mom did with me but I wouldn't fight it if they got a full ride. The one I went to had a theater department with a number of LGBT students and when the school cancelled a play called Splendora due to community pushback, we rallied. So...not your normal Catholic college experience. And the one religion class I took rocked because it was spiritually based and we did things like hike and canoe. But not all Catholic Universities are like this I'm sure.

Let him make his own choices.

Answer to first question...yes(inasmuch as it in my power to "allow" )
Answer to second question...no

I went to a small, liberal arts, Catholic college. I can honestly say it's what turned me full atheist. Exposed to many classes in world religions broke it open for me.

I study my whole life in catholic school and the first university I attended was catholic. In my opinion, it doesn't matter. It there is a full scholarship and the school has great reputation, why not?
Note: I am not even baptized Nd never believed in God. It did nothing for me.

Of course not. If you do you are just as irresponsible as the Christians who say don’t mix with atheists.

Not your scholarship, not your future.

Kids 18, right? ...its his future and he earned the right to go...

As long as the schools accredited in his choosen field just be happy for him. If it isn't then he gets a worthless degree with just time invested - not all bad, but definetly not optimal. Friend of mine put 2 of her kids through religious colleges that weren't accredited and it helped thier careers zero. As in 1 is still doing the same job he was in high school (soccer ref) and the other is now looking to get a voc degree to actually earn a living.

Personally I'd rather pay for a secular colledge than get a free Catholic college edumacation.

I think the wording of your question is clumsy.

I did exactly that … My daughter decided to skip a grade … the last grade of primary school … So we had to shop around and the state schools refused her because of her age … The only school that accepted her was a catholic school... I did a thorough briefing before the interview:
"To the question: Do you believe in god? You do not reply: Who's that? … As we entered the college we were greeted by a huge marble statue of some female saint. I just gave a her a gentle push in the ribs with my elbow.

No questions asked - she got in. After one term she changed to a state school without any problem. Suddenly the age was not longer and issue since she was enrolled in a grade 8 class. The administration works in mysterious ways.

We still often talk about this episode.

Probably won’t be much indoctrination going on at the collegiate level. I guess they figure if they haven’t gotten you by then, then they’re not likely going to. Especially at that age. So they’re more interested in the money you bring in through tuition and fees.

I went to Nebraska Wesleyan, which is a methodist affiliated university. I can honestly tell you that there was a whole lot more drinking and fucking going on than there was praying. They held chapel every Friday, but if 10 students showed up it was a good week for the Bible crew.

I liked the resident chaplain though. He was cool. He had a plaque in his office which read, “Yeh, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil.... for I am the meanest mother fucker in the valley.”

No concerns with my kids , but I don't think they would get a full scholarship .