Catholicism booming on college campuses as young Americans fill churches, ministries

Catholic ministries are seeing a sharp increase in participation at colleges and universities across the United States, with young adults entering the Church through the Order of Christian Affiliated Adults (OCIA0 at more than twice the rate reported the previous school year.

Data obtained by Hallow from nearly 60 colleges and universities found that average OCIA participation increased 115 percent from the 2024-25 academic year to 2025-26. Across the Newman Centers included in the data, total participation rose 87.6 percent.

The growth is showing up at individual campuses too. Arizona State University reported 137 OCIA candidates and catechumens, followed by the University of Illinois with 131, the University of Oklahoma with 125, and Kansas State University with 99. Harvard University reported 90 participants.

At USC, Deacon Paul Pesqueira has overseen the OCIA program at the Caruso Catholic Center for 14 years. Participation increased from 18 students in 2023-24 to 25 the following year before reaching 44 in 2025-26.

“I wanted 26. God, in His infinite wisdom, mercy and generosity, gave me 44 students,” Pesqueira said.

The increase came without paid promotion of the program: “All of this has happened at USC with zero marketing. Nothing,” he said. “Always word of mouth.”

Other campuses also recorded new participation. Ursuline College in Ohio reported one OCIA participant after having none the previous year, while Bard College in New York reported three. The University of Louisville increased from one participant to 10. The trend extends beyond people entering the Church. Catholic ministries are reporting higher attendance at Mass, retreats, confession and Eucharistic adoration.

At St. Thomas More Catholic Church at the University of South Carolina, daily Mass attendance increased from an average of 45 to 80. The parish's fall retreat drew 23 students in 2023 and 122 in 2025.

Ash Wednesday attendance also increased sharply, from 500 students in 2021 to 2,537 in 2025.

Hallow previously reported that dioceses nationwide saw an average 38 percent increase in OCIA candidates and catechumens. The college and university data indicates that participation among young adults is growing substantially faster in some campus Catholic communities.