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Survey of American College Students 2025, Feelings About Marriage- Product Image
Survey of American College Students 2025, Feelings About Marriage- Product Image
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Survey of American College Students 2025, Feelings About Marriage

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    Report

  • 110 Pages
  • July 2025
  • Region: United States
  • Primary Research Group
  • ID: 6113753
Description Jump to:

This report looks at how current college students view the institution of marriage. In more than 100 tables and charts, it presents a data portrait of how college students answered six pressing questions about marriage: 

  • At what age is it most likely for you to marry?
  • How important is marriage to you?
  • Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life?
  • How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations?
  • Which factor will most influence your decision to marry?
  • How do you view the institution of marriage?

The sample size was 510 students randomly selected from a base of 50 colleges and universities in the USA. The survey was conducted in April and May 2025.

Data in the report is presented in the aggregate and broken out by numerous institutional and personal variables such as age, year of class standing, academic major, gender, race, religion, region of upbringing, wealth of family of origin, and other personal variables, as well as institutional variables such as college size, tuition level, college Carnegie class or type and public/private status. 

Just a few of this 110- page report’s many findings are that:

  • 16.67% of those sampled felt that the ideal age to marry was between ages 31 and 35.
  • Students who grew up in urban areas were far more likely than those who grew up in suburban areas to delay the age of marriage.
  • 90.53% of religiously devout students felt that marriage was important or very important in life.
  • Bisexual students were a third as likely as straight students to consider marriage extremely important.
  • History majors are the most likely to feel that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life.
  • By race, African American students are the most likely to feel that marriage is a help rather than a hindrance to career aspirations.
  • Student Debt levels do not radically influence marriage views

Table of Contents


The QuestionnaireCharacteristics Of The SampleSummary Of Main FindingsSummary of College Student Views on Marriage
1. At what age is it most likely for you to marry?
  • Main Findings (Table 1.1)
  • Noteworthy Subgroup Trends
2. How important is marriage to you?
  • Main Findings (Table 2.1)
  • Noteworthy Subgroup Trends
3. Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life?
  • Main Findings (Table 3.1)
  • Noteworthy Subgroup Trends
4. How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations?
  • Main Findings (Table 4.1)
  • Noteworthy Subgroup Trends
  • Overall Observations
  • A sizable minority of students (about 11%) report no intention to marry. Summary of Tables 5.1-5.19: “Which factor will most influence your decision to get married?”
  • Main Table (Entire Sample - Table 5.1):
  • Subgroup Analysis and Trends:
  • Summary of Tables 6.1-6.19: “How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society?”
  • Main Table (Entire Sample - Table 6.1):
  • Key Trends in Subgroup Tables:
  • Overall Conclusions
List of Tables
Table 1.1 At what age is it most likely for you to marry?
Table 1.2 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by age of respondent
Table 1.3 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by urban, suburban or rural upbringing
Table 1.4 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by region of upbringing
Table 1.5 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by year of class standing
Table 1.6 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by annual family of origin income level
Table 1.7 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by relationship with organized religion
Table 1.8 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by political views
Table 1.9 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by college grades
Table 1.10 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by academic major
Table 1.11 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by gender of respondent
Table 1.12 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by status of current residency
Table 1.13 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by current employment situation
Table 1.14 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by sexual orientation
Table 1.15 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by SAT or ACT score
Table 1.16 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by race or ethnicity
Table 1.17 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by accumulated student loan debt
Table 1.18 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by post-college education
Table 1.19 At what age is it most likely for you to marry? Broken out by religion
Table 2.1 How important is marriage to you?
Table 2.2 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by age of respondent
Table 2.3 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by urban, suburban or rural upbringing
Table 2.4 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by region of upbringing
Table 2.5 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by year of class standing
Table 2.6 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by annual family of origin income level
Table 2.7 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by relationship with organized religion
Table 2.8 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by political views
Table 2.9 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by college grades
Table 2.10 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by academic major
Table 2.11 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by gender of respondent
Table 2.12 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by status of current residency
Table 2.13 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by current employment situation
Table 2.14 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by sexual orientation
Table 2.15 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by SAT or ACT score
Table 2.16 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by race or ethnicity
Table 2.17 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by accumulated student loan debt
Table 2.18 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by post-college education
Table 2.19 How important is marriage to you? Broken out by religion
Table 3.1 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life?
Table 3.2 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by age of respondent
Table 3.3 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by urban, suburban or rural upbringing
Table 3.4 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by region of upbringing
Table 3.5 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by year of class standing
Table 3.6 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by annual family of origin income level
Table 3.7 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by relationship with organized religion
Table 3.8 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by political views
Table 3.9 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by college grades
Table 3.10 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by academic major
Table 3.11 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by gender of respondent
Table 3.12 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by status of current residency
Table 3.13 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by current employment situation
Table 3.14 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by sexual orientation
Table 3.15 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by SAT or ACT score
Table 3.16 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by race or ethnicity
Table 3.17 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by accumulated student loan debt
Table 3.18 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by post-college education
Table 3.19 Do you believe that marriage is necessary for a fulfilling life? Broken out by religion
Table 4.1 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations?
Table 4.2 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by age of respondent
Table 4.3 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by urban, suburban or rural upbringing
Table 4.4 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by region of upbringing
Table 4.5 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by year of class standing
Table 4.6 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by annual family of origin income level
Table 4.7 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by relationship with organized religion
Table 4.8 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by political views
Table 4.9 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by college grades
Table 4.10 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by academic major
Table 4.11 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by gender of respondent
Table 4.12 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by status of current residency
Table 4.13 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by current employment situation
Table 4.14 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by sexual orientation
Table 4.15 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by SAT or ACT score
Table 4.16 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by race or ethnicity
Table 4.17 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by accumulated student loan debt
Table 4.18 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by post-college education
Table 4.19 How do you perceive the impact of marriage on career aspirations? Broken out by religion
Table 5.1 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married?
Table 5.2 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by age of respondent
Table 5.3 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by urban, suburban or rural upbringing
Table 5.4 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by region of upbringing
Table 5.5 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by year of class standing
Table 5.6 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by annual family of origin income level
Table 5.7 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by relationship with organized religion
Table 5.8 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by political views
Table 5.9 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by college grades
Table 5.10 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by academic major
Table 5.11 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by gender of respondent
Table 5.12 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by status of current residency
Table 5.13 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by current employment situation
Table 5.14 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by sexual orientation
Table 5.15 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by SAT or ACT score
Table 5.16 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by race or ethnicity
Table 5.17 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by accumulated student loan debt
Table 5.18 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by post-college education
Table 5.19 Which factor will most influence your decision to get married? Broken out by religion
Table 6.1 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society?
Table 6.2 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by age of respondent
Table 6.3 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by urban, suburban or rural upbringing
Table 6.4 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by region of upbringing
Table 6.5 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by year of class standing
Table 6.6 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by annual family of origin income level
Table 6.7 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by relationship with organized religion
Table 6.8 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by political views
Table 6.9 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by college grades
Table 6.10 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by academic major
Table 6.11 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by gender of respondent
Table 6.12 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by status of current residency
Table 6.13 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by current employment situation
Table 6.14 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by sexual orientation
Table 6.15 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by SAT or ACT score
Table 6.16 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by race or ethnicity
Table 6.17 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by accumulated student loan debt
Table 6.18 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by post-college education
Table 6.19 How do you view the institution of marriage in today’s society? Broken out by religion

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