The Most (and Least) Religious Schools in America, According to Their Student Bodies

The Princeton Review is out with the results of its annual college rankings study and among the many attributes explored in this year's wave was the self-perceived religiosity of the 379 student bodies it surveyed.

Two ranked lists emerged from measuring on-campus faithfulness: the most and least religious student bodies, according to Deseret News.

Both are based on the following question: "How religious are students at your school?" Respondents answered this question based on a five-point Likert scale, which Princeton routinely uses in its college rankings.

This year's top spot for most faithful goes to Brigham Young University, a college in Provo, Utah, that is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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Then, in second place comes Thomas Aquinas College, a small school in Santa Paula, California, that is associated with the Catholic church. And in third is Wheaton College, a Christian school in Wheaton, Illinois.

Not surprisingly, the top three colleges are faith-based or have notable affiliations with denominations. So, it's understandable that a higher concentration of students attending these schools would report elevated levels of religious devotion on campus.

As for the least religious student body, it appears to be Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, followed by Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and Pomona College in Claremont, California, according to the Princeton Review's website.

For more about the most and least religious colleges, visit Deseret News' slideshow addressing the subject.

The rankings will be published in the 2015 edition of "The Best 379 Colleges."

(H/T: Deseret News)

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