Which are the top ten most secular/spiritual colleges?

Hey friends, I'm considering the culture and spirit of the colleges I want to apply to. Does anyone know the top ten most secular or spiritual colleges? It's a balance for me between academic fit and community fit, and I would love to hear your thoughts.

Responding to your query, colleges often vary in their secular or spiritual orientations largely dependent upon their foundational philosophies and values, so it's great to see that you're considering this aspect in your college selection process. Remember, a college's religious affiliation doesn't necessarily dictate the experiences or values of all students on campus, and many campuses are diverse and full of differing perspectives.

On the secular side, many of the top secular schools are often large public universities, which inherently separate religion from their institution. Examples would include University of California, Berkeley and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Also consider smaller, private institutions like Oberlin and Reed.

When considering spiritual or religious-themed schools, it's crucial to identify which type of religiosity you align with because religious colleges and universities can range widely in denomination and degree of religious practice. Some top religious colleges as rated by students include Brigham Young University (Mormon), Notre Dame (Catholic), and Baylor University (Baptist). All of these universities incorporate their religious identities into their teaching and values, and many of their students identify as members of the associated denomination.

In essence, your choice will heavily depend on your personal convictions, comfort level, and desired level of engagement in secular or religious activities. It might be beneficial to conduct more research on each of these universities' community cultures and spiritual/religious practices, perhaps reaching out to current students or alumni to gain a better understanding of the campuses' environments.