Sometimes you find the academic programs you need in places that you didn't think to look in. That's the case for people who attend religious-based universities when those people don't actually practice that religion. The best academic program for the credential they want may turn out to be at a Baptist university, for example, which raises the question of whether these private universities admit people who are of different religions. Yes, they do, actually, and it's not unusual to find some non-Baptists at a Baptist university, for example. If you find yourself in this situation, keep in mind that you may have to follow rules that you weren't expecting.
You're Going to Have to Live by the University's Rules
Each university has rules, and religious-based universities are no exception – in fact, they often have very specific rules that affect how their students live and act even when they're off-campus. If you enroll at a Baptist university, for example, you may be strongly encouraged to avoid alcohol during your time there. You may even be forbidden from having it with you at a school event, including parties where the attendees are all students at the university. This varies by school, but you get the idea; be sure you can abide by all the rules.
Double-Check About Church
If you plan to live on campus, you may have church-attendance requirements or other religious obligations. If you do not practice the religion, you might have alternative things you can do, or you might not. It's entirely possible that a private religious university could require all on-campus residents to attend some sort of service. Always double-check that because it's one thing to have to check in with an advisor but quite another to have to sit through a religious service, and you want to know what to expect.
What Do They Do About Religious Discrimination?
If you experience religious discrimination, such as bullying or being rejected from campus jobs because of your religion, how will the university handle that? Let's say you're a nonreligious, non-Baptist student, and you're attending a Baptist university because they have a communications program that you really like. You apply to work part-time in a department on campus (in a role that is not dependent on religion) and are rejected because one supervisor doesn't like that you're not Baptist. How will the university administration respond? In this case, they should be on your side, but you want to make sure they have policies in place, and that you agree with how they handle such situations.
You can get a great education at religious-based universities. The only real issue is, are you willing to follow the campus rules even if they are based in a religion that you don't practice? If you're OK with that, then you should have a great experience.
