Finance Majors Go to Church. English Majors Don't.

August 17, 2026 - 04:50

A recent analysis by researcher Ryan Burge sheds light on a question that has lingered in academic circles for years: do students of certain majors attend religious services more often than others? Using data from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Burge found a notable split. Finance majors, along with other business-oriented fields, show higher rates of church attendance. English majors, along with many in the humanities and social sciences, show significantly lower rates.

The pattern is not absolute, but it is consistent. Students drawn to fields like accounting, economics, and finance tend to report regular worship attendance at higher numbers. Those in literature, philosophy, and similar disciplines attend less frequently. The gap is wide enough that it suggests a real correlation between a student's chosen area of study and their religious habits.

Burge notes that this does not mean one major causes belief or disbelief. It is more likely that students self-select into fields that align with their existing values and worldviews. A student who is already religious may lean toward a practical, structure-oriented career path. A student who is less religious may feel more at home in the interpretive and abstract world of the humanities.

The findings add texture to the ongoing conversation about faith and higher education. They also challenge the simple stereotype that college pushes students away from religion. For many in business and finance, college appears to reinforce their existing religious commitments. For others, it may simply reflect them.