A recent analysis by the Pew Research Center reveals that Hindus are the most highly educated religious community in the United States, followed closely by Jews. The findings come from the 2023–24 Religious Landscape Study (RLS), one of the most extensive surveys examining religion, public life, and education in America. According to the study, 70% of Hindus and 65% of Jews have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 35% of the general U.S. adult population.
Other religious groups with above-average educational attainment include Muslims, Buddhists, and Orthodox Christians, with more than four in ten adults holding at least a bachelor’s degree. Mainline Protestant Christians also exceed the national average in higher education, reflecting broader educational trends among certain faith communities.
In contrast, the study found that Evangelical Protestants, Catholics, and members of historically Black Protestant churches lag behind the national average in college graduation rates. Overall, roughly four in ten U.S. adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, highlighting notable educational disparities among different religious groups.
Pew Research attributes much of the higher educational attainment among Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists to immigration and demographic patterns. Many individuals in these communities arrived in the U.S. through pathways focused on higher education or skilled employment, which contributes to their strong representation among college graduates.
The report underscores that educational attainment in America is closely intertwined with religious identity, demographic factors, and migration trends, shaping both the workforce and broader societal dynamics across the country.
