Blue and Gold flowers in front of St. Louis Hall

Higher Education Holistic Impact Report (HIR)

Jason King, Ph.D., Beirne Director and Chair, Center for Catholic Studies at St. Mary’s University

Purpose of the Study

A man looks down the top of a mountain the sun can be seen behind him.

Grounded in the conviction that education is about shaping whole lives, the Beirne Center for Catholic Studies, in partnership with YouGov, undertook the second iteration of this national study to better understand the transformative outcomes of higher education.

This year’s research had two core objectives:

  1. Forming Lives of Purpose
    To examine how a holistic Catholic education shapes values, strengthens community engagement, and inspires a deeper sense of meaning and direction in life.
  2. Direction in Higher Education
    To demonstrate how the value of higher education extends well beyond financial, political or status concerns, shaping graduates’ fulfillment, well-being and contributions to society.

By comparing 1,000 graduates of Catholic colleges and universities with 1,000 graduates of secular institutions, this study affirms that Catholic higher education delivers distinctive, lifelong benefits that reach far beyond the paycheck.

Study Overview

Working with YouGov, leveraging their expertise in data collection and analysis to obtain reliable insights, the Center for Catholic Studies surveyed 2,000 adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher — 1,000 from Catholic colleges and universities and 1,000 from secular colleges and universities. The goal was to compare differences in life outcomes from the graduates of these two types of institutions.

Icon of a yellow book with a cross in the pages casting a blue shadow down the side.

Research Notes

The Research Notes series offers focused, in-depth analysis of specific topics drawn from the Holistic Impact Report. Each note examines a particular dimension of the data. The series is designed for researchers, practitioners and institutional leaders who want to engage the data at a deeper level. Please use the information at the bottom of the page to contact me with questions about the analysis or data you would like to see.

  • HIR Research Note — AI
    • Graduates of Catholic colleges and universities use AI at work at significantly higher rates than their secular peers, feel more prepared for AI integration and approach AI’s societal impact with greater optimism, outcomes they attribute not to AI-specific course work but to the broader education they received.
  • HIR Research Note — Faith and Diversity
    • Graduates of Catholic colleges and universities report both markedly higher faith engagement and greater exposure to diverse perspectives than their secular peers.
  • HIR Research Note — Volunteering
    • Graduates of Catholic colleges and universities volunteer at consistently higher rates than their secular peers across two years of data, are more likely to engage in direct, person-centered service and more frequently credit their institution with cultivating their sense of community responsibility.
  • HIR Research Note — Work
    • Graduates of Catholic colleges and universities achieve strong economic outcomes, report significantly stronger applied intellectual competencies across communication, motivation, adaptability and collaboration. Graduates are more likely to understand their work as a meaningful calling connected to service, purpose and values.

Studies

  • 2025 HIR Study Results

    The curriculum encouraged faith-based discussions:52% more Catholic grads agree that the curriculum encouraged faith-based discussions (66% vs. 14%). The curriculum encouraged discussions on different viewpoints: 12% more Catholic grads agree that the curriculum encouraged discussions on different viewpoints (81% vs. 69%) Sense of belonging: 14% more Catholic grads agree that they felt a strong sense of belonging at their college or university (63% vs. 49%) My college or university helped me grow into the person I am today:13% more Catholic grads agree that their college or university helped them grow into the person they are today (73% vs. 60%) I am satisfied with my mental health:15% more Catholic grads agree that they were satisfied with their mental health I view my career or profession as a meaningful calling: 7% more Catholic grads agree that they view their career or profession as a meaningful calling (72% vs. 65%). Household incomes:62% vs. 52% representation in $100k+ household income brackets. Homeownership:61% vs. 57% homeownership among Catholic graduates.
    • The curriculum encouraged faith-based discussions: 52% more Catholic grads agree that the curriculum encouraged faith-based discussions (66% vs. 14%).
    • The curriculum encouraged discussions on different viewpoints: 12% more Catholic grads agree that the curriculum encouraged discussions on different viewpoints (81% vs. 69%).
    • Sense of belonging: 14% more Catholic grads agree that they felt a strong sense of belonging at their college or university (63% vs. 49%).
    • My college or university helped me grow into the person I am today: 13% more Catholic grads agree that their college or university helped them grow into the person they are today (73% vs. 60%).
    • I am satisfied with my mental health: 15% more Catholic grads agree that they were satisfied with their mental health.
    • I view my career or profession as a meaningful calling: 7% more Catholic grads agree that they view their career or profession as a meaningful calling (72% vs. 65%).
    • Household incomes: 62% vs. 52% representation in $100k+ household income brackets.
    • Homeownership: 61% vs. 57% homeownership among Catholic graduates.
    SLide Deck
    Press Release
    Academic Essay
    2025 HIR

  • 2025 HIR – Law Study Results

    Key Findings Topline Differences Between Catholic and Secular Law School Graduates summary: 14% more are currently practicing law, 10% more cite the Rule of Law as a reason for attending law school, 26% higher participation in local elections, 4x as many have held elected community roles, 15% felt a sense of community at law school, 13% more say their career aligns with personal values, 12% more say law school helped them find life's purpose, 10% more say law school clarified their broader purpose in the profession, 84% say the curriculum encouraged ethical discussions (vs. 76%), 2x as many tutored, coached youth, or served on bar committees
    • 14% more are currently practicing law
    • 10% more cite the Rule of Law as a reason for attending law school
    • 26% higher participation in local elections
    • Four times as many have held elected community roles
    • 15% felt a sense of community at law school
    • 13% more say their career aligns with personal values
    • 12% more say law school helped them find life’s purpose
    • 10% more say law school clarified their broader purpose in the profession
    • 84% say the curriculum encouraged ethical discussions (vs. 76%)
    • Two times as many tutored, coached youth or served on bar committees
    HIR – Law Study Information
    SLide Deck
    Press Release
    2025 HIR – Law

  • 2024 HIR Purpose

    Drawing from the belief in the transformative power of higher education and the notion that conversations around its benefits have been too narrow, the Center for Catholic Studies, in partnership with YouGov, designed a study to delve deeper into the non-financial benefits of higher education by addressing two key objectives:

    • Beyond Financial Gain: To explore and highlight the intrinsic value of education that extends beyond mere economic outcomes.
    • Influencing Life’s Compass: To understand how a holistic approach to education influences graduates’ core values, directs their purpose in life and enhances their overall well-being and fulfillment.

    As Catholic colleges and universities focus on holistic education, the study compared 1,000 graduates from Catholic institutions and universities to 1,000 graduates from secular ones to explore the benefits of higher education beyond monetary measures.

    2024 HIR Study Results

    Key Findings for HIR: Life is close to ideal +10%, Clear sense of direction +9%, Lifelong search for purpose +14%, Seeking significance +17%, Searching for meaning +15%,Social fulfillment +15%,Community fulfillment +13%,Civic engagement +9%, Morality in decision-making +19% and Alignment of goals and values: +9%
    • Life is close to ideal: +10%
    • Clear sense of direction: +9%
    • Lifelong search for purpose: +14%
    • Seeking significance: +17%
    • Searching for meaning: +15%
    • Social fulfillment: +15%
    • Community fulfillment: +13%
    • Civic engagement: +9%
    • Morality in decision-making: +19%
    • Alignment of goals and values: +9%

    For more details of the survey, please see the slide deck, Catholic News Agency story and press release below.

    Slide Deck
    Catholic news agency story
    Press Release
    2024 HIR
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