New Research Reveals Vocations are Hindered by Student Debt with Millions being Carried by Accepting Religious Institutions
In 2023, The Labouré Society (https://rescuevocations.org/about/) commissioned the first comprehensive study of its
kind by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown
University (CARA), surveying religious institutes and Catholic dioceses to
determine the impact of educational debt on vocations to religious life and the
priesthood in the United States. This report examines how religious institutes and
dioceses address candidates’ student loan debt, including Parent-Plus loans.
kind by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown
University (CARA), surveying religious institutes and Catholic dioceses to
determine the impact of educational debt on vocations to religious life and the
priesthood in the United States. This report examines how religious institutes and
dioceses address candidates’ student loan debt, including Parent-Plus loans.
The Labouré Society helps religious aspirants raise the funds to resolve the financial obstacles that stand between them and their vocation while providing lifelong skills that prepare them for a life of service.
Key results reveal:
• 80% of dioceses face formal applicants with student loan debt.
• 70% of religious institutes report being impacted by the student loan debt of
their serious inquirers.
• Over $3 million dollars in total student loan debt has been carried to religious
institutes and dioceses over the past five years alone.
• Nearly 20% of religious institutes have seen an increase in the number of
candidates with student loan debt.
As the need grows, many dioceses and religious institutes are partnering with The
Labouré Society.
Key results reveal:
• 80% of dioceses face formal applicants with student loan debt.
• 70% of religious institutes report being impacted by the student loan debt of
their serious inquirers.
• Over $3 million dollars in total student loan debt has been carried to religious
institutes and dioceses over the past five years alone.
• Nearly 20% of religious institutes have seen an increase in the number of
candidates with student loan debt.
As the need grows, many dioceses and religious institutes are partnering with The
Labouré Society.
Educational Debt and Vocations to Priesthood and Religious Life:
A Report for The Labouré Society Executive Summary
This report presents findings from a study of the impact of educational debt on vocations to religious life and the priesthood in the United States that was conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) for the Labouré Society (Labouré). The study was designed to learn more about the impact of educational debt on the men and women who inquire about and apply to religious life or to a seminary today. The study was also designed to learn about the policies and practices of the religious institutes and the (arch)dioceses in regard to educational debt and to learn from their experiences with inquirers and candidates who carry educational debt.
For this study, CARA surveyed the vocation directors of U.S. (arch)dioceses and major superiors of U.S. based religious institutes and societies of apostolic life. Using mailing lists combined by CARA and provided by Labouré, CARA sent a questionnaire to each major superior and vocation director with a cover letter from the Labouré Society’s executive director. The mailing also included a return envelope addressed to CARA. The cover letter instructed vocation directors and major superiors to respond only for candidates who entered and are based in the United States. The letter suggested that they might need to forward the survey to the person in the institute who is most knowledgeable about these questions.
CARA mailed surveys to a total of 196 vocation directors of (arch)dioceses1 and 742 religious institutes of men and women in October 2023 and then conducted extensive followups via email and phone calls through December 2023 to achieve a higher response rate.
Altogether, CARA received responses from 85 diocesan vocation directors for a response rate of 43% and 461 major superiors of religious institutes for a response rate of 62%. Among those responding, 185 major superiors and two diocesan vocation directors report that the survey did not apply to them as they have not had candidates in the last five years. The 185 major superiors also reported that their institutes no longer accept new candidates. Many of the institutes or other entities that did not respond appear to be either small, mostly contemplative, communities that may not have had anyone in initial formation for some time, or those who are still in the process of becoming institutes of consecrated life. Altogether, 275 surveys from religious institutes and 83 surveys from diocesan vocation directors were valid for final analysis.
A Report for The Labouré Society Executive Summary
This report presents findings from a study of the impact of educational debt on vocations to religious life and the priesthood in the United States that was conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) for the Labouré Society (Labouré). The study was designed to learn more about the impact of educational debt on the men and women who inquire about and apply to religious life or to a seminary today. The study was also designed to learn about the policies and practices of the religious institutes and the (arch)dioceses in regard to educational debt and to learn from their experiences with inquirers and candidates who carry educational debt.
For this study, CARA surveyed the vocation directors of U.S. (arch)dioceses and major superiors of U.S. based religious institutes and societies of apostolic life. Using mailing lists combined by CARA and provided by Labouré, CARA sent a questionnaire to each major superior and vocation director with a cover letter from the Labouré Society’s executive director. The mailing also included a return envelope addressed to CARA. The cover letter instructed vocation directors and major superiors to respond only for candidates who entered and are based in the United States. The letter suggested that they might need to forward the survey to the person in the institute who is most knowledgeable about these questions.
CARA mailed surveys to a total of 196 vocation directors of (arch)dioceses1 and 742 religious institutes of men and women in October 2023 and then conducted extensive followups via email and phone calls through December 2023 to achieve a higher response rate.
Altogether, CARA received responses from 85 diocesan vocation directors for a response rate of 43% and 461 major superiors of religious institutes for a response rate of 62%. Among those responding, 185 major superiors and two diocesan vocation directors report that the survey did not apply to them as they have not had candidates in the last five years. The 185 major superiors also reported that their institutes no longer accept new candidates. Many of the institutes or other entities that did not respond appear to be either small, mostly contemplative, communities that may not have had anyone in initial formation for some time, or those who are still in the process of becoming institutes of consecrated life. Altogether, 275 surveys from religious institutes and 83 surveys from diocesan vocation directors were valid for final analysis.
Major Findings
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES AND EDUCATIONAL DEBT
Initial Formation and Educational Debt
• Although women greatly outnumber men among the finally professed, there are currently similar numbers of men as women in initial formation. Institutes of women are more likely than institutes of men, however, to have one or two in initial formation. Institutes of men are more likely than institutes of women, on the other hand, to have more than ten in initial formation.
• On average, responding institutes with at least one serious inquirer in the last five years report that for about a quarter of these inquiries (25%) the person had educational debt at the time of their inquiry. This represents 1,412 serious inquiries in which the person had educational debt at the time of inquiry. The average amount of debt at the time of inquiry was $45,128.
• Religious institutes that have experience in dealing with the issue of educational debt are cautious about serious inquirers who approach them with educational debt. Altogether, 18 responding institutes report turning away 28 serious inquirers because of their educational debt, which accounts for 2% of the total number of 1,412 serious inquirers with educational debt.
• On average, responding institutes with at least one formal applicant in the last five years report that 21% of these applicants had educational debt at the time of their formal application, with their debt averaging about $23,582. Altogether, responding institutes report more than $2 million in educational debt carried by applicants to their institutes in the last five years.
• Among religious institutes with at least one formal applicant in the last five years, nine in ten did not turn anyone away because of their educational debt (90%).
Institutes and Experience with Educational Debt
• Religious institutes are noticing an increase in the number of inquirers who approach them with educational debt. Among institutes that have experience in dealing with the issue of educational debt, one in five (19%) has experienced an increase in the number of inquirers with educational debt.
• Religious institutes that have had at least one serious inquirer in the last five years who had educational debt at the time of their inquiry report that this debt is having a dampening effect on the institute. About one in five institutes (22%) reports that at least some serious inquirers have not pursued the application process because of their educational debt. One in six (16%) says that formal applicants have not completed the application process because of their educational debt. One in ten (10%) say that their institute has experienced financial strain due to the educational debt of candidates or members.
• Most religious institutes (64%) have a written policy or accepted practice on educational debt. Among those, four in five (80%) report that their policies or practices have not changed in the last five years. Nearly one in ten says their policies and practices need updating though.
• Nearly half of respondding institutes (45%) take on some educational debt from their candidates. Responding institutes of women (63%) are more likely than responding institutes of men (36%) to take on educational debt. Among institutes that take on educational debt, almost two in three (65%) limit the amount of educational debt they would assume for a candidate. The midpoint of that limit among responding institutes is $25,000. Institutes of men have a median limit of $30,000, meanwhile, institutes of women have median limit of $10,000.
• Nearly four in five institutes that do take on the educational debt of candidates assume the educational debt and pay it off over time (78%). Another three in ten ask their candidates to defer their loans (29%). A third pay only interest on the educational loans until the member professes perpetual vows (33%). More than four in ten (43%) ask candidates who subsequently leave to reimburse the payments made by the unit for the educational debt. Nearly six in ten responding institutes (58%) who ask the candidate to reimburse them say that the candidates generally do reimburse those payments.
• Although there are a small number of organizations that provide funds to assist candidates with educational debt, most responding religious institutes (or their candidates) have not received funds from any of these sources. The most commonly cited funding sources were the Knights of Columbus (17%), the Labouré Society (16%), and individual donors or patrons of the institute (15%).
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES AND EDUCATIONAL DEBT
Initial Formation and Educational Debt
• Although women greatly outnumber men among the finally professed, there are currently similar numbers of men as women in initial formation. Institutes of women are more likely than institutes of men, however, to have one or two in initial formation. Institutes of men are more likely than institutes of women, on the other hand, to have more than ten in initial formation.
• On average, responding institutes with at least one serious inquirer in the last five years report that for about a quarter of these inquiries (25%) the person had educational debt at the time of their inquiry. This represents 1,412 serious inquiries in which the person had educational debt at the time of inquiry. The average amount of debt at the time of inquiry was $45,128.
• Religious institutes that have experience in dealing with the issue of educational debt are cautious about serious inquirers who approach them with educational debt. Altogether, 18 responding institutes report turning away 28 serious inquirers because of their educational debt, which accounts for 2% of the total number of 1,412 serious inquirers with educational debt.
• On average, responding institutes with at least one formal applicant in the last five years report that 21% of these applicants had educational debt at the time of their formal application, with their debt averaging about $23,582. Altogether, responding institutes report more than $2 million in educational debt carried by applicants to their institutes in the last five years.
• Among religious institutes with at least one formal applicant in the last five years, nine in ten did not turn anyone away because of their educational debt (90%).
Institutes and Experience with Educational Debt
• Religious institutes are noticing an increase in the number of inquirers who approach them with educational debt. Among institutes that have experience in dealing with the issue of educational debt, one in five (19%) has experienced an increase in the number of inquirers with educational debt.
• Religious institutes that have had at least one serious inquirer in the last five years who had educational debt at the time of their inquiry report that this debt is having a dampening effect on the institute. About one in five institutes (22%) reports that at least some serious inquirers have not pursued the application process because of their educational debt. One in six (16%) says that formal applicants have not completed the application process because of their educational debt. One in ten (10%) say that their institute has experienced financial strain due to the educational debt of candidates or members.
• Most religious institutes (64%) have a written policy or accepted practice on educational debt. Among those, four in five (80%) report that their policies or practices have not changed in the last five years. Nearly one in ten says their policies and practices need updating though.
• Nearly half of respondding institutes (45%) take on some educational debt from their candidates. Responding institutes of women (63%) are more likely than responding institutes of men (36%) to take on educational debt. Among institutes that take on educational debt, almost two in three (65%) limit the amount of educational debt they would assume for a candidate. The midpoint of that limit among responding institutes is $25,000. Institutes of men have a median limit of $30,000, meanwhile, institutes of women have median limit of $10,000.
• Nearly four in five institutes that do take on the educational debt of candidates assume the educational debt and pay it off over time (78%). Another three in ten ask their candidates to defer their loans (29%). A third pay only interest on the educational loans until the member professes perpetual vows (33%). More than four in ten (43%) ask candidates who subsequently leave to reimburse the payments made by the unit for the educational debt. Nearly six in ten responding institutes (58%) who ask the candidate to reimburse them say that the candidates generally do reimburse those payments.
• Although there are a small number of organizations that provide funds to assist candidates with educational debt, most responding religious institutes (or their candidates) have not received funds from any of these sources. The most commonly cited funding sources were the Knights of Columbus (17%), the Labouré Society (16%), and individual donors or patrons of the institute (15%).
DIOCESES AND EDUCATIONAL DEBT
Seminarians and Educational Debt
• On average, responding dioceses with at least one serious inquirer in the last five years report that 21% of their serious inquirers had educational debt at the time of their inquiry. This represents 611 serious inquiries in which the person had educational debt. The average amount of debt at the time of inquiry was $37,444
The average debt from a candidate for the priesthood at time of acceptance is $68,333 for small dioceses, $23,286 for medium dioceses, and $21,864 for large dioceses, the study found. Seminarians and Educational Debt
• On average, responding dioceses with at least one serious inquirer in the last five years report that 21% of their serious inquirers had educational debt at the time of their inquiry. This represents 611 serious inquiries in which the person had educational debt. The average amount of debt at the time of inquiry was $37,444
For religious institutes, 1 in 4 serious inquirers in the past four years have brought student debt with them; more than $45,000 on average. Men brought with them an average of $39,685 in debt, and women brought an average of $48,555.
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