Catholic conversions rising at U.S. universities

A study by the Catholic prayer app Hallow indicates a significant surge in Catholic conversions among students at universities across the United States. Data collected from nearly 60 colleges and universities shows that registration for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is projected to increase by 87.6 percent from the 2024–2025 academic year to the 2025–2026 academic year.

According to the report, growth within university communities and Newman centers is outpacing growth within dioceses. Notable increases in OCIA participants were recorded at institutions including Texas A&M University, Arizona State University, University of Illinois, University of Oklahoma, Kansas State University, University of Wisconsin, University of Nebraska, and Harvard University.

The Hallow report suggests that college-aged youth may be returning to the Church faster than the general U.S. population, noting that those who join often demonstrate a high level of religious enthusiasm and active involvement in pastoral activities.