Scouting America commissioned The Harris Poll to study the lasting effect of Scouting. Conducted for three months beginning October 10, 2025, the online survey of 3,178 adults asked for feedback on well-being, civic engagement, leadership and character development. Part 3 in this three-part series looks at character and values. Results of the survey were released at the Scouting America National Annual Meeting last month.
When nobody is looking, Eagle Scouts do the right thing.
It speaks to character, and Eagles display this trait in everyday life at a higher rate than non-Scouts, according to a recent study.
Commissioned by Scouting America and conducted by The Harris Poll, the study included a survey of 3,178 adults and compared Eagle Scouts, non-Eagle Scouts and people who never participated in Scouting. What it found is that Eagle Scouts hold the values of the Scout Law at significantly higher rates than their peers.
When it comes to trustworthiness, 92% identify it as a core personal value, compared to 79% of non-Eagle Scouts and 71% of non-Scouts. Loyalty, helpfulness, kindness, hard work and bravery all follow the same pattern — Eagle Scouts lead in every category. Analysis showed that these differences are linked to the Eagle Scout experience itself, not to factors like education, income or background.
“Becoming an Eagle Scout is not just an achievement of merit, but also the embodiment of the character attributes in the Scout Oath and Law,” says Scouting America National Chair Ricky Mason. “We have known this to be the case instinctively, and now The Harris Poll shows it to be a fact.”
This moral framework shows up in real behavior.
When asked what they would do if they found a wallet containing $100 cash and the owner’s ID, 99% of Eagle Scouts said they would return the wallet and the cash. Among non-Scouts, that figure dropped to 90%. When a store clerk gives too much change, 80% of Eagle Scouts say they would go back and return it. Only 69% of non-Scouts said they would.
Eagle Scouts are also more likely to reject ethical shortcuts. When asked if a person should do something wrong if it leads to success, 90% of Eagle Scouts said no versus 86% of non-Scouts. And 98% believe that telling the truth has a strong positive impact on the world.
Perhaps most meaningfully, Eagle Scouts are more likely to treat those different from themselves with genuine respect. While most groups agree it’s important to respect people of different backgrounds, Eagle Scouts are significantly more likely to say that they accept others with different beliefs.
Their willingness to act on these values is equally strong.
Eagle Scouts say they would be willing to intervene in instances of bullying or harassment at the tune of 98%, and 91% say they would speak publicly on a topic they feel passionate about, compared to just 63% of non-Scouts.
“Scouting trained me to think more deeply about questions and consequences intentionally,” one Scout said in the study.
Read the first two articles in this series. Part 1 demonstrates that Eagle Scouts have a more positive outlook on life than non-Scouts. Part 2 looks at leadership and civic responsibility.
Photo: Troop 21 in Americus, Georgia, boasts more than 200 Eagle Scouts. In this image by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images, Scouts salute as the hearse carrying former U.S. President Jimmy Carter travels to President Carter’s burial site in January 2025 in Plains, Georgia.