Catholics lag behind other religious groups in education

February 27, 2026 - 02:41

A new analysis of educational achievement reveals significant disparities among religious communities in the United States. According to the Pew Research Center’s recent Religious Landscape Study, Hindus and Jewish Americans are far more likely to hold a four-year college degree than members of other major faith groups.

The study highlights a substantial gap in higher education completion. This places Catholic adults, on average, behind these groups in terms of collegiate educational attainment. The findings prompt broader questions about the socioeconomic, cultural, and immigration-related factors that may influence these trends within different religious populations.

Researchers note that educational levels are often intertwined with immigration patterns. Some highly educated groups have grown in the U.S. partly through immigration of college graduates. The data provides a detailed snapshot of the complex relationship between religion, education, and demographics in America today, underscoring that academic achievement is not evenly distributed across the nation's diverse religious landscape.