Do Orthodox Jews Go to College?

The answer ranges from "obviously yes, I went to Columbia" to "college is not part of our world" — and everything in between. It depends entirely on which Orthodox community you are asking about.

Modern Orthodox: College Is Expected

Modern Orthodox families treat higher education the way most upper-middle-class American families do: it is expected, planned for, and celebrated.

• Yeshiva University in New York is the flagship institution — an Orthodox Jewish university with rigorous secular academics plus Jewish studies
• Stern College (women's division of YU) is equally prestigious within the community
• Many Modern Orthodox students attend Ivy League schools, top state universities, and elite professional programs
• Gap year in Israel before college is common — a year of intensive Torah study at a yeshiva or seminary, followed by undergraduate studies
• Graduate school (law, medicine, business, PhD) is common

Modern Orthodox educational achievement is exceptionally high. The community produces doctors, lawyers, engineers, professors, and entrepreneurs at rates that match or exceed the general population.

Yeshivish: Growing but Different

The Yeshivish world has a more complex relationship with college:

• Traditional path: years of post-high-school yeshiva study (often to age 22-25), followed by either continued study in kollel or entry into the workforce
• College when pursued: often through programs designed for the community — Touro College, online programs, community colleges with evening/weekend schedules
• Professional certification: accounting (CPA), nursing, IT certifications, real estate licensing — these are common pathways that do not require a four-year degree
• Growing acceptance: each generation is more open to higher education than the last, driven by economic reality (yeshiva tuition requires income)

The tension is real: the community deeply values Torah study and worries that secular universities will undermine religious commitment. The compromise is community-friendly institutions that offer degrees within a framework that respects observance.

Hasidic: Not Traditional College — But Changing

Most Hasidic men do not attend traditional colleges or universities:

• The educational pathway emphasizes religious study from early childhood through adulthood
• Secular education in Hasidic schools varies widely — some provide strong English and math; others provide minimal secular instruction
• Criticism and reform: this is one of the most publicly debated issues in the Hasidic world. New York State has pressed for stronger secular education standards in Hasidic yeshivot.

But the picture is changing:

• Vocational programs (CDL licensing, HVAC, electrical, plumbing) are increasingly popular
• Community-oriented college programs (Touro, COPE) offer degrees with schedules and environments that accommodate Hasidic students
• Women in some Hasidic communities attend college at higher rates than men (seminary followed by professional training in teaching, therapy, or business)
• Tech bootcamps targeting the Hasidic community have emerged in Brooklyn and elsewhere

The Numbers

A Pew Research Center survey found:

• Modern Orthodox: 65%+ hold a college degree (higher than the US average of ~35%)
• Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi): approximately 25% hold a college degree (lower but rising)

These numbers mask significant internal variation. A Chabad Hasid is more likely to have a degree than a Satmar Hasid. A Yeshivish woman is more likely to have a degree than a Yeshivish man.

Why It Matters

For employers, college admissions officers, and policymakers:

• An Orthodox Jewish applicant without a traditional degree may have 10+ years of intensive analytical training (Talmud study develops reasoning skills comparable to law school)
• Non-traditional educational backgrounds do not indicate lack of intelligence or capability
• Community-specific programs (Touro, COPE, PCS) produce graduates who are professionally competent and culturally grounded
• The trend line is toward more education, not less — driven by economic necessity and generational shift