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The findings also renew debate about “brain drain” from India, as many highly skilled professionals choose to build careers abroad
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While this strengthens the Indian diaspora’s global influence, it also raises questions about how India can better retain and attract top talent at home
Hindus are the most highly educated religious community in the United States, according to a new study by the Pew Research Centre. The findings highlight the strong academic profile of the Hindu diaspora and its growing contribution to the American economy and society.
The study, based on the 2023–24 Religious Landscape Study, shows that about 70 per cent of Hindus in the US hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. This is double the national average, where only around 35 per cent of American adults have completed a four-year college degree. Jews follow closely, with 65 per cent holding at least a bachelor’s degree.
Other religious groups, including Muslims, Buddhists and Orthodox Christians, also recorded above-average levels of higher education, with more than four in ten adults holding university degrees.
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Mainline Protestant Christians were also above the national average
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In contrast, Evangelical Protestants, Catholics and members of historically Black Protestant churches had lower levels of college education compared to the national figure
Experts say immigration patterns help explain these differences. Many Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists arrived in the US through student visas, skilled-worker programmes and professional migration routes. These pathways often require advanced qualifications, leading to higher education levels among these communities.
Most Hindus in the US are of Indian origin, reflecting India’s strong presence in global skilled migration. Indians are major beneficiaries of the H-1B work visa programme and play key roles in technology, healthcare, academia and research. Their presence is especially visible in Silicon Valley and other innovation hubs.
