This study examines the Religious Addiction Scale (RAS) among Nasarawa State University students, looking at its factor structure, reliability, and demographic determinants. Data were gathered from 476 students who were chosen by convenience sampling using a cross-sectional survey approach. The age categories of 16–18 years old (30.5%) and 19–21 years old (33.4%) were the most represented in the sample, which had 46% female participants and 65.8% single participants. Christians (62.6%) and Muslims (22.9%) made up the majority of the sample. For data analysis, the study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The RAS was found to have three factors: compulsive fanaticism (element 1), maladaptive sacrifice for faith (Factor 2), and emotional dependency (Factor 3). Cronbach's alpha for each element was acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.861 overall; 0.852 for Factor 1, 0.73 for Factor 2, and 0.74 for Factor 3). Significant gender differences were observed, with married students exhibiting greater propensities for Maladaptive Sacrifice for Faith and female students scoring
higher on Compulsive Fanaticism (mean = 19.68, SD = 7.33) than male students (mean = 17.80, SD = 6.79). There were no discernible variations in terms of age or religious affiliation. According to the study's findings, the RAS is a valid tool for assessing religious addiction and determining key elements that distinguish different student addiction degrees. In order to ensure holistic well-being, the findings suggest that religious addiction presents differently across demographic groups. This emphasizes the need for customized intervention strategies that address the particular vulnerabilities of female and married students. Such strategies should focus on the specific risks associated with gender and marital status, especially for female students and married individuals. Recommendations include the establishment of counseling services within educational institutions for managing religious addiction and promoting religious tolerance.