Photo by: Henoc Kivuye
In a recent post on BuzzFeed, Oklahoma Christian University was ranked as one of the top colleges where students are most likely find a spouse.
Nine other colleges with religious affiliations were also on the list, with Oklahoma Christian ranking 24 out of 25 on the list where women were most likely to find a spouse and 17 out of 25 on the list where men were more likely to meet their spouse.
According to the research, 28 percent of couples over the age of 21 meet their spouse at the college they both attended. Some may have been high school sweethearts and others could have met during college, but they all have the same idea in mind – marriage awaits them at the end.
Chair of the Department of Psychology and Family Studies Ryan Newell mentioned what can happen when like-minded people are around each other.
“There’s a natural process in place when you associate with people of like mind and like faith,” Newell said. “When you look at the research, one of the compelling attraction factors across couples and why couples choose who they choose is similar religious beliefs. Sharing a belief in God … is very important.”
There were a total of 15 colleges with religious affiliations that made both of the lists. Besides Oklahoma Christian, Abilene Christian University, Freed-Hardeman University, Kentucky Christian University and Harding University all made their appearances.
Marion and Chris Rich were married on May 26, 2012. According to Marion, marriage was not originally part of their plans for college.
“I did not come to college to meet my spouse,” Marion Rich said. “I came to college to get an education in nursing. Chris is a great addition to getting the education I came here for.”
Attending a Christian college may or may not lead a person to finding his or her spouse, but Newell said this event has never astounded him.
“I’ve never really been surprised by the fact that when people come to a Christian school where they share common beliefs, core beliefs, you are more attracted to somebody,” Newell said. “I met my wife at a Christian school and we were married after two years at Ohio Valley College. I bet that many faculty on this campus have had the same kind of experience.”
For many, it comes as no surprise that a Christian university would be concerned with marriage. Classes and majors about the subject, such as Christian Family and family studies, help contribute to developing the Christian family and a Christ-centered marriage.
While there are some that say getting married in college is not smart, those who are married can count on its many benefits. According to Chris Rich, those benefits manifest themselves in a variety of areas.
“I loved the thought of getting married in college,” Chris Rich said. “I knew marriage was going to happen. I could either wait until after college and suffer through late nights of goodbyes or marry in college and see her every night I went to bed.”
Chris Rich believes that married life has helped his education.
“Focus, focus, focus,” Chris Rich said. “Being married gives you more than one person that is affected by grades. It’s no longer about me. Now its about us.”
0
0
Be First to Comment