Religiously Affiliated Institutions, U.S.

Religiously affiliated institutions represent a historic and contemporary sector of the postsecondary landscape, not only in the United States but also around the world. Institutions affiliated with Catholic and Protestant denominations represent the largest numbers, but worldwide there are almost 400 Islamic universities, more than 50 Buddhist institutions, more than one dozen Jewish institutions, and at least one Hindu university. In the United States, which is the focus of this entry, religiously affiliated institutions constitute as many as one sixth of all colleges and universities in the country.

Perhaps the most defining characteristic of these institutions is their diversity. They vary widely in size; institutional classification (i.e., doctoral, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate); the nature of their connection (if any) to a religious order or denomination; and ...