Religiously Affiliated Colleges | Episode 010
Guest: Peggy Jennings
TIPS
TOP TIPS FROM THIS EPISODE
- They vary significantly and so it’s important to look at the individual school)
- There are a lot of them!~200 Roman Catholic Colleges in the US
- Range from pretty conservative to fairly progressive
~150 Evangelical Christian Colleges (CCCU)
- Purely Christian faith, very conservative
~Hundreds of Protestant Colleges
- At some, the LGBTQ+ community not tolerated. At others, it is celebrated.
- Admissions
- Academics
- Student lifeWhen evaluating a college, look at
- Students who want to make the world a better place might find their place at one of these schools
EPISODE
Summary
What does it actually mean when a college is “religiously affiliated”? And why do students who don’t consider themselves particularly religious sometimes end up exploring these schools?
In this episode of The College Talk Show, host Chris Bell sits down with educational consultant Peggy Jennings to unpack the wide variety of faith-based colleges in the United States. They clarify that religiously affiliated isn’t one uniform category — it ranges from Roman Catholic and evangelical Christian to a broad spectrum of Protestant-connected schools — and that understanding how that affiliation plays out in admissions, academics, and student life is essential for students and families.
Peggy helps listeners think beyond assumptions and offers practical questions families can ask to evaluate campus culture, inclusion, and daily life. They also explore how LGBTQ+ students, non-religious students, and students from diverse backgrounds might experience these campuses differently — and why some students, even if not religious, find meaning, community, and purpose at these institutions.
By the end of the conversation, you’ll have a clearer framework for assessing if and how a faith-based college could fit into a student’s college search — and how to cut through the broad label to understand what matters most for each individual.
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Key Quotes from this Episode:
“There are many different kinds of religiously affiliated colleges in the U.S., and they are not all alike.” — Peggy Jennings
“Students deserve to be someplace where who they are is celebrated.” — Peggy Jennings
“You need to look closely at admissions policies, academics, and student life to understand what daily life will actually feel like.” — Peggy Jennings
“Even students who don’t consider themselves religious often care deeply about making the world a better place — and that value shows up at many of these colleges.” — Peggy Jennings
GUEST
About The Guest
Peggy Jennings
Independent Educational Consultant
Peggy brings decades of experience working with families from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs. She’s visited hundreds of college campuses and has helped students find supportive environments at both religious and non-religious institutions. Her insight into campus culture, inclusivity, and mission-driven education makes her an ideal guest to explore the nuances of faith-based schools.
Transcript
Episode: Religiously Affiliated Colleges
Guest: Peggy Jennings, Jennings College Consulting
Host: Chris Bell
Opening Monologue
Chris Bell:
I’m so not religious. Most of the students I work with aren’t religious either—or at least they don’t lead with religion as their main thing. In my work, I’ve never had a family come to me asking for help finding the best religious school for their high schooler. If someone wants to attend a Bible college, they usually don’t come to me.
But here’s the interesting part: I’ve had many students who, after exploring colleges with me, end up putting religiously affiliated colleges on their list.
Why does that happen?
Today, we’re taking a closer look at these schools—exploring the broad range of religiously affiliated colleges, what to consider, and what questions to ask when opening up this large category of institutions.
Announcer Intro
It’s The College Talk Show.
Today’s theme: Religiously Affiliated Institutions.
With special guest Peggy Jennings.
And now, here’s your host—Chris Bell.
Guest Introduction
Chris Bell:
I’m so happy to have our guest here today. Peggy Jennings is an educational consultant with Jennings College Consulting, and she really knows this subject. She recently gave a talk to a professional group I’m part of, absolutely nailed it, and I knew I wanted you to hear what she had to say.
Peggy, thank you so much for joining us.
Peggy Jennings:
Thanks, Chris.
What Does “Religiously Affiliated” Mean?
Chris Bell:
Let’s start at the beginning. What is a religiously affiliated or faith-based college?
Peggy Jennings:
It’s a lot of things—and that’s really the most important takeaway. What families need to understand is that it depends entirely on the individual college. There are many different kinds of religiously affiliated colleges in the U.S., and they are not all alike.
Families who think they might not be interested—and families who think they might be—need to understand just how much variety exists.
Are Faith-Based Colleges All the Same?
Chris Bell:
When we talk about faith-based colleges, are we talking about Christian, Muslim, Buddhist—how does this work?
Peggy Jennings:
In the U.S., we are almost entirely talking about Christian-affiliated colleges. But what really matters is how that Christian affiliation shows up on campus—that’s where the differences are.
LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Campus Climate
Chris Bell:
Some families worry that a school’s religious affiliation might affect LGBTQ+ students. Is that a valid concern?
Peggy Jennings:
Yes, it’s a very valid concern. There are faith-based colleges that are not going to be right for LGBTQ+ students because their belief systems don’t support or celebrate those identities.
Students deserve to be somewhere where who they are is celebrated.
That said, LGBTQ+ students should not automatically rule out religiously affiliated colleges. There are campuses where LGBTQ+ students are not just tolerated, but supported and celebrated. This is one of the key areas where families need to look carefully at how identities are supported on campus.
Understanding the “Axes” of Difference
Chris Bell:
You’ve mentioned thinking about this category along different “axes.” What do you mean by that?
Peggy Jennings:
When students hear “faith-based college,” they often think of it as one single thing. It’s not. Breaking it into categories helps families understand what they’re actually considering.
Categories of Religiously Affiliated Colleges
Peggy Jennings:
First, there are about 200 Roman Catholic colleges in the U.S. Even within that group, schools are affiliated with different religious orders, each with its own philosophy. These colleges range from quite conservative to very progressive.
Second, there are about 150 evangelical Christian colleges, many of which belong to the Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). These schools are very explicit about integrating Christian faith into every aspect of student life. They tend to be quite conservative.
Between those two groups is a wide range of Protestant-affiliated colleges. Some have only a loose historical tie to a denomination, while others are more closely affiliated. These schools span the full spectrum from conservative to very progressive.
The key is that students need to understand how a school’s faith connection actually influences daily life.
How Religion Shows Up Day to Day
Chris Bell:
That’s really where the rubber meets the road—what daily life looks like.
Peggy Jennings:
Exactly. Families should look closely at three main areas: admissions, academics, and student life.
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Admissions:
Some colleges—especially evangelical ones—require a statement of faith or a letter of recommendation from a pastor. -
Academics:
Is a religion course required? If so, what kind? Can students take courses like world religions or ethics, or must they take Bible-based or doctrinal courses? Are faculty required to teach from a Bible-based perspective? Can evolution be taught? -
Student Life:
Is chapel required? What kind of service is it?
What are the conduct policies—drinking, dancing, relationships, co-ed housing, visitation rules?
Are LGBTQ+ identities affirmed?
Is birth control available? Abortion counseling or support?
What kind of mental health services exist—professional counseling or only spiritual guidance?
Are dietary accommodations available for non-Christian students?
And if a student is agnostic or atheist, is that truly okay?
All of these questions help determine whether a student will feel comfortable and supported.
“Small c” Catholic
Chris Bell:
I once asked an admissions officer at DePaul how Catholicism shaped student life, and she said, “We’re a small ‘c’ Catholic school.”
Peggy Jennings:
That’s a great example. The word “catholic,” with a small c, actually means “wide-ranging” or “inclusive.” DePaul is affiliated with the Vincentian order, which tends to be quite progressive. What she was really saying is that the school respects a wide range of viewpoints—and that’s true of many Roman Catholic colleges.
Final Reflections
Chris Bell:
You’ve visited a lot of campuses. Is there anything that’s surprised you?
Peggy Jennings:
What I’ve found is that even students who don’t consider themselves religious often care deeply about making the world a better place. That value shows up at many religiously affiliated colleges in meaningful ways, even for students without a formal faith tradition.
Where to Find Peggy Jennings
Chris Bell:
If people want to find you, where should they look?
Peggy Jennings:
Jennings College Consulting is the easiest way to find me. I’m based in east-central Pennsylvania, in the heart of Amish country, and I’m always happy to hear from families.
Sponsor Message
This episode is brought to you by Bell College Consulting.
Visit bellcollegeconsulting.com to learn more.
Top Tips: Religiously Affiliated Colleges
Chris Bell:
Now it’s time for my favorite part of the show—Top Tips.
Top Tip #5: There are a lot of religiously affiliated colleges.
Top Tip #4: They vary significantly.
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About 200 Roman Catholic colleges, ranging from conservative to progressive
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About 150 evangelical Christian colleges (CCCU), generally very conservative
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Hundreds of Protestant-affiliated colleges across the full spectrum
Top Tip #3: At some schools, LGBTQ+ students are not tolerated; at others, they are celebrated.
Top Tip #2: When evaluating a college, look closely at admissions policies, academics, and student life.
Top Tip #1: Students who want to make the world a better place may find these schools especially appealing.
Closing
And there you have it—that’s our show on religiously affiliated colleges.
Thank you again to Peggy Jennings.
And remember: College is Awesome.