There is a nice summary of a study conducted on student behaviors that also addresses student faith commitment in higher education. The study shows that the education of a student might not be the most important factor in faith decline during college years, but the very transition itself into adulthood. The study shows that those who did not go to college are more likely to drop their religious ties altogether or stop attending worship services than students who go to college, earn an associate's degree, or a bachelor's degree. Thus, the education of a student is most likely not the most influential factor in religious behavior overall, but the age and the stage in life might be the most important factor.
However, other studies (e.g., Madsen & Vernon, 1983) argue that attending college does result in a liberalizing effect on student orthodoxy. While this might not affect the results of the study referenced above, this effect can result in a difference in religious affiliation and denominational connections when students leave college for whatever reason. So it will be interesting to see when this study comes out in Social Forces if we can derive any causal connections between the research to get a more nuanced view of students and their religious behaviors as connected to their doctrinal and denominational commitments before and after college.
It would follow that an engagement of parachurch organizations such as Campus Crusade and religious programming on campuses, along with the differences in these effects on religiously affiliated campuses would also be of interest. The may also help to tease out variables that were not covered in this study.
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