Benefits of Attending a Religious College or University

You have many factors to consider when deciding which college to attend. You may be thinking about whether you want to attend a small or large school, rural or urban school, or even schools with religious or cultural affiliations that align with other aspects of your life. 

Many students who grew up involved in their church or attended a religious secondary school decide to attend a religiously affiliated college. Other students may not have had a religious upbringing, but they decide they’re drawn to the benefits offered primarily by religious institutions. 

To help you decide where to go to college, we’ll discuss the opportunities religious colleges and universities may offer you as you pursue your degree. But first, let’s cover some general details about religiously affiliated colleges and universities. 

Colleges with a religious affiliation

According to U.S. News, there were 3,893 degree-granting institutions of higher education in the U.S. in fall 2021. 849 of these colleges and universities were religiously affiliated. These institutions are affiliated with different religions, and the religious aspects and requirements of the schools vary widely.

Some better-known religious institutions include:

• Baylor University in Texas, which is a Baptist university.
• Emory University in Georgia, which was founded by Methodists.
• Yeshiva University in New York, which is a Jewish university.
• Wilberforce University in Ohio, which is affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
• Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., which is affiliated with the Jesuit order of the Catholic Church.
• Brigham Young University in Utah, operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• Boston College in Massachusetts, also a Jesuit Catholic university.
• Southern Methodist University in Texas, which also maintains ties with the United Methodist Church.
• Villanova University in Pennsylvania, affiliated with the Augustinian order of the Catholic Church.
• Pepperdine University in California, which is affiliated with the Churches of Christ.

If you want to research schools affiliated with specific religions, check out this website to explore further! 

Less obvious benefits of a religious college

While it’s easy to think the only benefit of going to a religious college or university would be an atmosphere or community of faith, students experience many other benefits. Moreover, these benefits extend inside and outside the classroom and long after graduation. 

Emphasis on social justice & community learning

Most religiously-affiliated institutions incorporate community learning and emphasize social justice in their curriculums. 

Natalie Loux, Assistant Director of Territory Management at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, shares her own experience with attending a Catholic university: 

“As an alumni from a Catholic university who also attended Catholic schools from kindergarten to high school, I can honestly say I felt my theology education was complete by the time I started college,” Natalie recalls. 

“However, at the college level I could explore Catholicism from a new lens. Incorporating community service into my education through a Catholic university allowed me to shift from learning about religious values to practicing these values in real-time. 

I was able to share in an open dialogue with students of all faith backgrounds, openly learn about the role of faith in cultures around the globe, and participate in service within my community, on and off campus.” 

More support & care for the whole person

Some religiously affiliated schools also offer students mentors to support their success inside and outside the classroom, regardless of their faith.

Xavier, in particular, emphasizes the concept of “Cura Personalis,” or “care for the whole person/individual,” in its campus culture and academic courses. Each student has a Success Team, including a success coach, career coach, academic advisor, financial aid advisor, and professional mentor. 

“The idea of the success team is to make sure students are supported inside and outside of the classroom,  empowering our Musketeers [the Xavier mascot] intellectually, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. The Success Team model is rooted in the Jesuit, liberal arts tradition,” Natalie adds.

What’s attending a religious college or university like?

Each institution has different requirements depending on their philosophy of education. Some colleges may have no religious requirements at all, while others may require students to take certain courses or attend religious events on campus. 

Freedom to decide your level of interest

Many institutions recognize that a majority of their students may not practice the religion they are affiliated with, so they offer flexibility to remain an inclusive campus. 

“Considering that nearly 60% of our student population does not identify as Catholic, there is no doubt that Catholic universities are often full of students who do not personally identify with their school’s religious affiliation,” Natalie explains. 

“Curriculum requirements remain the same for all students regardless of their faith. However, flexibility in college course selection allows students to cater their classes towards personal interest.”

For example, many non-Catholic Xavier students take a Theology or World Religions course to gain a broader knowledge base and meet their theological perspective requirement. Many admissions representatives, including Natalie, attest that even though students attend a Catholic school, their faith can be as much or as little a part of their college experience as they desire. 

Madison, a finance major at Xavier, shares this sentiment: 

“You find that at Xavier, nothing is forced on you; there are no mandatory masses or mandatory religions you need to be part of. Each student is given the opportunity to express themselves in any way they like.”

Like most college campuses, religious institutions can offer specific campus organizations or extracurricular opportunities to deepen one’s faith or connect with others. 

At Xavier, the Center of Faith and Justice offers retreats for students throughout the year, and student-athletes can join Athletes in Action, a club organized for student-athletes to further connect with their spirituality. 

Similar opportunities are likely to be found on most college campuses, regardless of whether they are religiously affiliated.

At Xavier, Companion Groups are small weekly groups that allow students to reflect on their lives, grow in faith, and build community. Groups are held once a week, and you will be paired with a group depending on your faith tradition, experience, and preferences.

If you are interested in exploring your own faith while learning about others’ religious beliefs, checking out your school’s interfaith community may be an excellent opportunity for you. 

A place for all faiths

For example, Xavier’s Interfaith Club holds “Dine Better Together” events where students of all faiths can converse and participate in programming. They also hold off-campus events such as trips to the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Center and Faith & Race events, where students of color can explore the relationship between faith traditions and racial justice. 

“Our Interfaith program director is our on-campus Rabbi, Jennifer Lewis. Xavier also has an on-campus Muslim Chaplain, Tala Ali,” Natalie shares, further sharing how inclusive and diverse religious institutions can be.  

Is a religious institution the right for you?

When you are in the college search process, visiting a wide range of schools with diverse aspects of campus life is essential. Natalie suggests visiting both religiously affiliated schools and non-religiously affiliated schools to explore all of their options. 

Be open-minded 

“To the student beginning the college search who may write off religiously affiliated schools, I encourage you not to pigeonhole a faith-based university. You may find yourself broadening your perspectives in ways you never imagined,” Natalie advises. 

Ask a lot of questions

If you are a student who does not consider yourself religious or practice a different religion than the school you are visiting, asking questions and getting to know the campus is a great way to determine if the school could still be a good fit for you. 

“For students who do not identify with the same faith as their institution, I would encourage them to ask their admissions representatives what interfaith opportunities exist on campus and what their student body’s faith demographics look like,” Natalie suggests. 

“Understanding the breakdown of how a university’s population identifies spiritually can provide more clues into campus culture.”

Expect to be welcomed

Many students share that despite not identifying with the religion of their campus, they feel welcomed by the students, faculty, and staff alike. 

“I grew up non-Catholic but practice and am strong in the religion I grew up with before coming to Xavier. In the past three years attending Xavier, I have found joy in learning about the Jesuit values and mission that I can apply to my major, life here at Xavier, and beyond post-graduation,” Amanda, an upperclassman at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, explains. 

“Whether you are coming to Xavier with a religious background or not, there is a community here at Xavier that will welcome you with open arms and kind hearts. You will find some connection to the values Xavier upholds that will hopefully propel you into the future you hope to have. 

Xavier is a place that welcomes all backgrounds and wants you to succeed in the path you have planned for yourself or the plan you believe God has planned for you.”

You may find a path to reconnect to your faith

Other students find that attending a religious institution has helped them reconnect to their faith in ways they may not have imagined. For example, Christian, a senior at Xavier, shares that choosing to attend a Catholic university helped him become a fully practicing Catholic again:

"When I came to Xavier, I was still a lapsed Catholic. I came more for the academics than the religion,” Christian reflects. “What I enjoyed was the nonjudgmental atmosphere that welcomed me in when I first started going to Mass again at the encouragement of a friend. The community here has stayed just as welcoming as when I walked through the doors for my student Mass in 2021 as they are when I go to the student Mass every Sunday."

If you identify with the religion of the institution you attend, it’s important to remember that not everyone may practice the same faith. Keeping an open mind and listening to diverse perspectives can help broaden your understanding of your faith as it applies to people from different backgrounds. 

“I encourage [students] to discuss with classmates and peers of other faith traditions. Keeping an open and considerate dialogue between campus members of all faiths is at the heart of Jesuit values [at Xavier University]. 

Moreover, these students can continue to grow in their faith by participating in on-campus events, including attending mass, joining university clubs, and engaging in community service. All students should seek to become active members of their campus communities regardless of religious preference,” Natalie encourages. 

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