Catholic College Graduates Report Higher Comfort With AI

The third Holistic Impact Report (HIR 3.0), commissioned by the Center for Catholic Studies at St. Mary’s University and conducted with YouGov, reveals that 44% of Catholic college graduates use AI at least daily, compared to 36% of those from secular schools. Furthermore, 33% of Catholic-educated alumni felt their institutions adequately prepared them for the technology, a 10-point lead over the 23% reported by secular institution graduates.

Jason King, Beirne Director of the Center for Catholic Studies, notes that these figures reflect a consistent pattern across three years of research. Beyond technical literacy, the study highlights a distinct emphasis on purpose; 75% of Catholic college alumni view their careers as a meaningful calling, compared to 66% of secular counterparts. These findings arrive as academic institutions weigh how to integrate rapid technological shifts without losing sight of human-centric education.

This sense of purpose extends into the workplace and community involvement. Alumni from Catholic institutions reported higher rates of full- or part-time employment and were more likely to report household incomes exceeding $100,000. When asked what shaped these outcomes, graduates pointed to influential professors, a strong campus culture, and a rigorous core curriculum. St. Mary’s University President Winston Erevelles attributes these results to the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, which encourages students to apply critical thinking toward both technical mastery and a broader search for truth.