Campus Report

Stanford Marriage Pact · 2024 ·

The time has come, Stanford.

We thought we’d share a bit about Stanford’s romantic playing field——just so you know what you’re up against.

Our analysis is built upon anonymized and aggregated data from the Stanford Marriage Pact. It will never be sold or shared for commercial purposes. You can read more about our principles and practices here.

The more the major

Your major, your concentration, your greatest disappointment to your parents. And our favorite way to slice and dice the campus. Sit back and enjoy judging all the majors that aren’t your own.

Physics majors would rather fail a test than cheat

And for that, we salute them. Here’s how different majors answered the question: “I would rather fail an exam than cheat on it”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Physics	0.01	0.14	0.18	0.07	0.18	0.20	0.22	x̄=4.75	n=85
Biomedical Computation	0.00	0.10	0.31	0.07	0.18	0.18	0.15	x̄=4.46	n=67
Chemical Engineering	0.04	0.14	0.20	0.16	0.18	0.08	0.22	x̄=4.39	n=51
Human Biology	0.09	0.15	0.23	0.13	0.16	0.15	0.08	x̄=3.92	n=283
Computer Science	0.08	0.17	0.24	0.11	0.14	0.15	0.10	x̄=3.89	n=849
Economics	0.11	0.18	0.23	0.09	0.17	0.11	0.12	x̄=3.82	n=380
Symbolic Systems	0.09	0.21	0.27	0.09	0.12	0.13	0.10	x̄=3.70	n=274
Management Science and Engineering	0.11	0.22	0.22	0.12	0.12	0.11	0.09	x̄=3.61	n=174
Design	0.13	0.16	0.28	0.13	0.12	0.12	0.07	x̄=3.58	n=166
Science, Technology, and Society	0.20	0.27	0.19	0.07	0.18	0.02	0.06	x̄=3.05	n=88

Economics majors are running for the hills

What’s going on in there? Someone check in on them. Everyone else, read up on what your sane friends are up to.

English majors might be open to being open

We asked if you were open to nonmonogamous relationships—here’s what you said, by major.

	1 – no way the more the merrier – 7
Chemical Engineering	1.18	n=51
Data Science	1.22	n=63
Economics	1.28	n=380
Human Biology	1.29	n=283
Computer Science	1.38	n=849
Earth Systems	1.64	n=107
English	1.78	n=55

Topics to avoid

at the dinner table

In other words: politics, money, and religion. But really——who are we without them?

Take a look below to gather fodder for your next divisive discussion.

There’s gold in them there hills

Here’s how you answered the question “I can find it within myself to love someone if they’re rich enough.”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
Earth Systems	2.31	n=107
Physics	2.35	n=85
Computer Science	2.56	n=849
Human Biology	2.57	n=283
Economics	2.76	n=380
Management Science and Engineering	2.90	n=174
Chemical Engineering	3.25	n=51

Protestant students want religious kids

Something to know if you fall in love with them. Here’s how each religion answered: ”It’s important my kids be raised religious.”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Protestant	0.02	0.07	0.10	0.17	0.18	0.14	0.32	x̄=5.13	n=256
Muslim	0.03	0.02	0.07	0.18	0.29	0.20	0.20	x̄=5.08	n=130
Christian	0.04	0.09	0.12	0.20	0.21	0.14	0.19	x̄=4.65	n=524
Catholic	0.06	0.13	0.13	0.22	0.25	0.13	0.09	x̄=4.22	n=613
Hindu	0.08	0.14	0.18	0.22	0.23	0.07	0.07	x̄=3.85	n=307
Jewish	0.09	0.19	0.17	0.15	0.25	0.09	0.06	x̄=3.78	n=246
Buddhist	0.19	0.17	0.21	0.26	0.09	0.05	0.02	x̄=3.13	n=121
Spiritual	0.34	0.32	0.16	0.15	0.03	0.00	0.00	x̄=2.21	n=472
Agnostic	0.44	0.29	0.15	0.10	0.02	0.00	0.00	x̄=1.96	n=1305
Atheist	0.66	0.22	0.06	0.06	0.00	0.00	0.00	x̄=1.53	n=655

75% of socialists wouldn’t date a Republican

Breaking down the biggest political beefs: Each box indicates the percentage of the political identity listed to the left who reported they don’t want their partner to have the political identity listed above.

	Socialist	Liberal	Democrat	Apolitical	Independent	Libertarian	Conservative	Republican
Socialist	0.03	0.06	0.05	0.44	0.11	0.51	0.68	0.75
Liberal	0.05	0.02	0.02	0.14	0.03	0.16	0.32	0.37
Democrat	0.07	0.02	0.03	0.15	0.05	0.16	0.31	0.45
Apolitical	0.02	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.01	0.04
Independent	0.07	0.02	0.02	0.03	0.01	0.04	0.05	0.08
Libertarian	0.14	0.06	0.07	0.06	0.00	0.01	0.00	0.04
Conservative	0.24	0.12	0.14	0.03	0.01	0.05	0.02	0.02
Republican	0.26	0.17	0.20	0.07	0.04	0.10	0.02	0.01

Big year for politics

Freshmen are the most conservative

...and also the most polarized by gender.

Here’s the political ideology of students on campus by class year and gender (measured as % liberal minus % conservative).

	More liberal More conservative
Freshman MAN	-0.27	n=620
Freshman WOMAN	-0.63	n=672
Sophomore MAN	-0.39	n=501
Sophomore WOMAN	-0.66	n=536
Junior MAN	-0.42	n=424
Junior WOMAN	-0.72	n=539
Senior MAN	-0.52	n=683
Senior WOMAN	-0.73	n=769

Socialists claim they always vote

Here’s how we hit the polls. Allegedly.

	Never Even in local elections
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Socialist	0.01	0.01	0.08	0.08	0.17	0.23	0.41	x̄=5.73	n=222
Democrat	0.01	0.02	0.06	0.13	0.26	0.22	0.30	x̄=5.46	n=2256
Liberal	0.02	0.05	0.08	0.13	0.27	0.22	0.23	x̄=5.19	n=732
Independent	0.04	0.07	0.12	0.20	0.26	0.17	0.14	x̄=4.64	n=709
Conservative	0.06	0.11	0.20	0.20	0.23	0.11	0.08	x̄=4.11	n=251
Apolitical	0.23	0.23	0.19	0.17	0.07	0.04	0.07	x̄=3.05	n=168

Home is where the heart is

Some of us moved here from a long way away. Does absence make the heart grow fonder? Here’s how we answered “I take pride in where I’m from.”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
Socialist	5.31	n=222
Apolitical	5.44	n=168
Liberal	5.60	n=732
Democrat	5.68	n=2256
Republican	5.73	n=241
Conservative	5.85	n=251

Women vs Men

Ladies and gentlemen——we know you’re curious. We’re here to give you the data on the age-old question: How different are men and women, really?

These analyses focus on respondents that identified as men and women. We support nonbinary students at Stanford absolutely, and due to the limited size of our sample we can’t share their insights without compromising their anonymity and safety. If you have questions about this, or ideas about how we can do this better, send us a note at inclusion@marriagepact.com.

Gender and orientation at Stanford

About 1 in 4 women at Stanford identifies as non-heterosexual.

Of those, 67% identify as bisexual, 17% identify as homosexual, and 9% identify as pansexual.

About 1 in 6 men at Stanford identifies as non-heterosexual.

Of those, 62% identify as homosexual and 30% identify as bisexual.

Points of disagreement

Presenting the questions the women and men of Stanford were most misaligned on. If you’re in the mood to pick a fight, have fun.

Q: “I generally like to take control during sex”

29%

28%

20%

men

I'd rather not 🥺

Give me the reins 😈

11%

27%

24%

women

Q: “I want to be worshiped by my partner”

14%

25%

19%

17%

18%

men

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

11%

16%

32%

16%

11%

women

Q: “I would end a friendship over differing political views”

35%

30%

16%

men

Nope

Yes, they're blocked

16%

21%

20%

13%

17%

women

Q: “I find politically incorrect humor funny”

13%

25%

26%

men

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

13%

19%

26%

17%

12%

women

Let’s Talk

About Sex

This year, we’re going out with a bang. Here’s a look at what Stanford students are getting up to in the bedroom.

Freshmen are ready to settle down

Meanwhile, seniors like to keep things casual.

Here’s how each year stacks up on sociosexuality (in other words, openness to hooking up without commitment).

	commitment casual sex
Freshman	-0.11	n=1305
Sophomore	-0.03	n=1056
Junior	0.02	n=979
Senior	0.08	n=1479

Bringing politics into the bedroom

...is always a good idea! Here’s how students with different political identities answered the question “I generally like to take control during sex.”

	I’d rather not 🥺 Give me the reins 😈
Socialist	3.55	n=222
Democrat	3.58	n=2256
Liberal	3.66	n=732
Independent	3.96	n=709
Republican	4.22	n=241
Libertarian	4.30	n=69
Conservative	4.45	n=251

What’s the easiest major?

No, not that kind of easy. Here’s how the different majors at Stanford answered the question “How long do you think it’s appropriate to wait before sex?”

	Zero wait Until marriage
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Earth Systems	0.04	0.24	0.38	0.16	0.15	0.03	0.00	x̄=3.22	n=107
Science, Technology, and Society	0.06	0.25	0.28	0.26	0.09	0.03	0.02	x̄=3.27	n=88
Design	0.07	0.20	0.29	0.25	0.14	0.01	0.04	x̄=3.37	n=166
Economics	0.04	0.18	0.34	0.23	0.13	0.05	0.03	x̄=3.49	n=380
Symbolic Systems	0.04	0.22	0.29	0.20	0.17	0.05	0.03	x̄=3.51	n=274
Computer Science	0.05	0.18	0.30	0.22	0.13	0.06	0.05	x̄=3.57	n=849
Human Biology	0.04	0.20	0.28	0.22	0.15	0.06	0.07	x̄=3.70	n=283
Bioengineering	0.01	0.14	0.27	0.26	0.18	0.08	0.06	x̄=3.95	n=164
Biomedical Computation	0.01	0.12	0.21	0.30	0.28	0.04	0.03	x̄=3.97	n=67
Chemical Engineering	0.00	0.06	0.29	0.29	0.27	0.06	0.02	x̄=4.04	n=51

We asked: How single are you?

Here’s how each class year responded. If only there were an algorithm to make this easier...

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