Campus Report

Penn Marriage Pact · 2024 ·

The time has come, Penn.

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

Our analysis is built upon anonymized and aggregated data from the Penn 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.

Biochemistry 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
Biochemistry	0.05	0.14	0.25	0.11	0.17	0.13	0.15	x̄=4.22	n=106
General Mathematics	0.13	0.18	0.19	0.08	0.10	0.20	0.11	x̄=3.89	n=109
Physical Theory and Experimental Technique	0.15	0.17	0.19	0.13	0.11	0.09	0.17	x̄=3.81	n=47
Computer Techniques	0.15	0.19	0.29	0.12	0.09	0.10	0.06	x̄=3.34	n=252
Biology	0.15	0.24	0.26	0.08	0.13	0.09	0.04	x̄=3.24	n=291
Business & Technology	0.21	0.24	0.23	0.07	0.12	0.06	0.07	x̄=3.12	n=289
Economics	0.23	0.24	0.24	0.10	0.09	0.07	0.04	x̄=2.95	n=1113
Political Economy	0.26	0.31	0.16	0.07	0.13	0.03	0.04	x̄=2.76	n=70
International Studies	0.30	0.21	0.24	0.11	0.05	0.03	0.06	x̄=2.75	n=63
Cognitive Neuroscience	0.26	0.30	0.17	0.09	0.11	0.04	0.02	x̄=2.70	n=46

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.

Physical Theory and Experimental Technique 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
General Political Science	1.21	n=114
Biology	1.23	n=291
Computer Techniques	1.35	n=252
Economics	1.38	n=1113
Business & Technology	1.41	n=289
Astrophysics	1.69	n=48
Physical Theory and Experimental Technique	1.85	n=47

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
Biochemistry	2.65	n=106
General Mathematics	2.67	n=109
Business & Technology	2.88	n=289
Biology	3.10	n=291
Economics	3.15	n=1113
Biotechnology & Biomedicine	3.37	n=92
General Communication	3.53	n=55

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	0.05	0.06	0.17	0.27	0.09	0.33	x̄=5.22	n=194
Muslim	0.02	0.07	0.10	0.19	0.24	0.10	0.27	x̄=4.93	n=162
Jewish	0.05	0.11	0.13	0.18	0.27	0.14	0.12	x̄=4.42	n=502
Christian	0.06	0.10	0.12	0.22	0.22	0.14	0.14	x̄=4.41	n=569
Catholic	0.05	0.10	0.16	0.22	0.23	0.12	0.12	x̄=4.33	n=658
Hindu	0.04	0.11	0.19	0.28	0.23	0.09	0.07	x̄=4.10	n=416
Buddhist	0.18	0.33	0.14	0.14	0.15	0.06	0.00	x̄=2.92	n=66
Spiritual	0.30	0.30	0.20	0.14	0.05	0.01	0.01	x̄=2.40	n=309
Agnostic	0.43	0.32	0.14	0.09	0.01	0.00	0.00	x̄=1.95	n=923
Atheist	0.60	0.27	0.09	0.04	0.00	0.00	0.00	x̄=1.57	n=623

61% 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	0.04	0.03	0.05	0.36	0.09	0.37	0.58	0.61
Liberal	0.05	0.02	0.01	0.09	0.02	0.11	0.26	0.32
Democrat	0.07	0.02	0.03	0.11	0.04	0.12	0.26	0.35
Apolitical	0.04	0.01	0.03	0.00	0.00	0.02	0.02	0.03
Independent	0.06	0.02	0.01	0.03	0.01	0.03	0.04	0.05
Libertarian	0.09	0.04	0.04	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.02	0.04
Conservative	0.18	0.11	0.11	0.04	0.03	0.06	0.01	0.01
Republican	0.24	0.14	0.16	0.06	0.04	0.08	0.01	0.02

Big year for politics

Juniors are the most conservative

...but sophomores are 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	-0.30	n=614
Freshman WOMAN	-0.60	n=824
Sophomore MAN	-0.30	n=563
Sophomore WOMAN	-0.64	n=677
Junior MAN	-0.29	n=420
Junior WOMAN	-0.59	n=550
Senior MAN	-0.41	n=412
Senior WOMAN	-0.63	n=500

Democrats claim they always vote

Here’s how we hit the polls. Allegedly.

	Never Even in local elections
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Democrat	0.01	0.03	0.06	0.16	0.28	0.19	0.26	x̄=5.28	n=2116
Socialist	0.03	0.06	0.09	0.13	0.15	0.20	0.34	x̄=5.27	n=113
Liberal	0.04	0.05	0.09	0.22	0.24	0.15	0.20	x̄=4.83	n=545
Republican	0.04	0.06	0.12	0.23	0.27	0.15	0.15	x̄=4.64	n=262
Independent	0.04	0.09	0.17	0.26	0.24	0.11	0.08	x̄=4.22	n=829
Apolitical	0.23	0.18	0.18	0.26	0.10	0.02	0.04	x̄=3.05	n=243

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	5.11	n=113
Libertarian	5.59	n=54
Independent	5.71	n=829
Democrat	5.71	n=2116
Conservative	5.86	n=250
Other	5.88	n=175

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 Penn 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 Penn

About 1 in 7 women at Penn identifies as non-heterosexual.

Of those, 72% identify as bisexual, 13% identify as homosexual, and 8% identify as pansexual.

About 1 in 7 men at Penn identifies as non-heterosexual.

Of those, 77% identify as homosexual and 21% identify as bisexual.

Points of disagreement

Presenting the questions the women and men of Penn 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”

30%

28%

19%

men

I'd rather not 🥺

Give me the reins 😈

10%

27%

30%

24%

women

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

13%

24%

19%

17%

men

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

10%

18%

31%

18%

11%

women

Q: “Are you smarter than most people at Penn?”

12%

20%

33%

17%

men

Not at all

I'm 99th %ile

17%

18%

25%

23%

women

Q: “I find politically incorrect humor funny”

12%

23%

25%

29%

men

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

12%

21%

26%

17%

13%

women

Let’s Talk

About Sex

This year, we’re going out with a bang. Here’s a look at what Penn 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	-0.05	n=1443
Sophomore	-0.02	n=1244
Junior	0.05	n=978
Senior	0.10	n=922

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 😈
Democrat	3.52	n=2116
Liberal	3.58	n=545
Socialist	3.66	n=113
Independent	3.92	n=829
Apolitical	3.99	n=243
Republican	4.07	n=262
Conservative	4.23	n=250

What’s the easiest major?

No, not that kind of easy. Here’s how the different majors at Penn 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
Political Economy	0.07	0.23	0.41	0.19	0.06	0.01	0.03	x̄=3.09	n=70
General Communication	0.13	0.18	0.29	0.27	0.11	0.02	0.00	x̄=3.11	n=55
Psychology	0.05	0.23	0.33	0.21	0.10	0.05	0.03	x̄=3.33	n=73
Economics	0.05	0.20	0.34	0.21	0.12	0.04	0.03	x̄=3.39	n=1113
Business & Technology	0.05	0.18	0.33	0.20	0.15	0.05	0.04	x̄=3.52	n=289
Biology	0.02	0.15	0.30	0.26	0.15	0.04	0.07	x̄=3.76	n=291
Computer Techniques	0.05	0.12	0.28	0.25	0.18	0.04	0.07	x̄=3.80	n=252
Data & Network Science	0.04	0.12	0.27	0.25	0.23	0.04	0.06	x̄=3.87	n=52
Public Health	0.03	0.10	0.35	0.24	0.13	0.08	0.08	x̄=3.87	n=79
Biochemistry	0.02	0.17	0.21	0.33	0.08	0.11	0.08	x̄=3.93	n=106

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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