Religiously Unaffiliated College Students in the US: Characteristics, Experiences, and Outcomes

• In Event: Religion on College Campuses: Experiences of Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Religiously Unaffiliated Students in the United States and United Kingdom

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of college students in the United States who do not identify with any religion or faith. This group is interesting given the simultaneous prevalence of religion in the U.S. and the (relative) secularity of most colleges and universities in the country. Approximately 30% of college students are religiously unaffiliated, which constitutes a remarkable increase from even a decade or two ago (Eagan et al., 2015, 2016). This group is quite heterogeneous, since about half of religiously unaffiliated young adults report believing in God, and about one-sixth report praying daily (Smith & Snell, 2009; also see Pew Research Center, 2015). This student population faces a unique set of challenges regarding campus climate; few campus organizations are designed for unaffiliated students, many atheist students describe attempts to hide or reveal their identity in similar ways as LGBTQ students (Mueller, 2012), and even interfaith dialogues may intentionally or unintentionally exclude the views and identities of religiously unaffiliated students (Nash, 2011). Finally, perhaps as a result of difficulties finding a lack of community, religiously unaffiliated students tend to fare worse than students who identify with Christianity and other religions on various outcomes, including mental well-being, physical health, college satisfaction, spirituality, and charitable involvement (Felix & Bowman, 2015).

Author

• Nick Bowman, University of Iowa