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Religion/Religious Studies

Religion/Religious Studies graduates earn $41,390 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $20,518 and $65,165. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

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About Religion/Religious Studies

This page covers Religion/Religious Studies as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Philosophy & Religion and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Religion/Religious Studies is a focused area of study within Philosophy & Religion. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $41,390 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 784 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 9,587 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $25,640
Median Earnings · 4yr: $41,390
Colleges Offering: 784
Graduates / Year: 9,587
Avg Net Price / yr: $23,790

How Much Do Religion/Religious Studies Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Religion/Religious Studies, a typical graduate earns $41,390, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $20,518 and $65,165, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $25,640 at one year out to $41,390 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$25,640

1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$41,390

4-Year National Median

Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.

$47,791

4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.

Earnings Range

Not every Religion/Religious Studies graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.

$20,518 25th pct.

$41,390 Median

$65,165 75th pct.

Is the Cost Worth It?

At median 4-year earnings of $41,390 and an estimated $95,160 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 8.4 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.

Based on outcomes from 737 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 9,587 students who complete Religion/Religious Studies programs each year, the majority (60%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

60%

Bachelor's 60%

Master's 16%

Associate's 16%

What Can You Do With a Religion/Religious Studies Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Religion/Religious Studies graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Cultural Studies Professors pay the most at $85,020/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what Cultural Studies Professors earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +2.7% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Cultural Studies Professors

$85,020

$66K $111K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 1,000 openings/yr 11K employed nationally

Reading Comprehension Speaking Instructing Active Listening Writing

Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies, or urban affairs. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.

↗ +2.0% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Philosophy and Religion Teachers

$80,260

$63K $105K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 1,800 openings/yr 20K employed nationally

Reading Comprehension Instructing Speaking Active Listening Critical Thinking

Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.

Top Colleges for Religion/Religious Studies

Not sure where to study Religion/Religious Studies? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Liberty University, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Liberty University Lynchburg, VA · Nonprofit	728	99%	$29,357	$44,813
2	Yeshiva University New York, NY · Nonprofit	508	55.6%	$49,965	$71,353
3	Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz Brooklyn, NY · Nonprofit	161	87.4%	$21,437	$35,023
4	Nelson University Waxahachie, TX · Nonprofit	111	89%	$21,662	$46,238
5	Talmudical Seminary of Bobov Brooklyn, NY · Nonprofit	78	97.9%	$2,840	$22,432
6	Ner Israel Rabbinical College Pikesville, MD · Nonprofit	75	65.7%	$13,572	$66,330
7	University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA · Public	50	16.8%	$21,565	$86,863
8	University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MN · Nonprofit	47	85.4%	$29,155	$73,739
9	Baylor University Waco, TX · Nonprofit	45	51.3%	$41,104	$65,793
10	Friends University Wichita, KS · Nonprofit	39	55.2%	$27,715	$52,113
11	Ohio Christian University Circleville, OH · Nonprofit	39	38%	$20,607	$39,813
12	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA · Public	36	33%	$16,109	$74,915
13	Harvard University Cambridge, MA · Nonprofit	36	3.7%	$19,066	$101,817
14	Wayland Baptist University Plainview, TX · Nonprofit	34	56%	$20,590	$51,838
15	Duke University Durham, NC · Nonprofit	33	5.7%	$29,612	$97,800
16	Rabbinical College of America Morristown, NJ · Nonprofit	33	95.2%	$15,628	$34,990
17	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY · Nonprofit	31	4%	$21,590	$102,491
18	Yale University New Haven, CT · Nonprofit	31	3.9%	$23,777	$100,533
19	Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, OH · Nonprofit	30	58.4%	$23,589	$50,030
20	Hebrew Theological College Skokie, IL · Nonprofit	29	57.1%	$26,861	$33,291

View all colleges

Ranked by Religion/Religious Studies graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Religion/Religious Studies program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Religion/Religious Studies degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Religion/Religious Studies Degree: Pros & Cons

Religion/Religious Studies carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 2 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.

PROS

Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $25,640 at graduation to $41,390 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Wide availability Offered at 784 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.

CONS

Below-average earnings Four-year median of $41,390 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Slow job growth Top related careers project less than 3% growth over the next decade; limited expansion means more competition for new openings.
Long earnings breakeven At median salary and average net price, recovering education costs versus a baseline wage takes roughly 8.4 years.

Religion/Religious Studies Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Religion/Religious Studies graduates earn?

$41,390 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $20,518 and $65,165, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the starting salary for a Religion/Religious Studies degree?

$25,640 in the first year out. That grows to $41,390 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.

What jobs can you get with a Religion/Religious Studies degree?

Cultural Studies Professors are one path, and it pays a median of $85,020 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does a Religion/Religious Studies program take?

Four years of full-time study for a Religion/Religious Studies bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.

How many colleges offer Religion/Religious Studies?

784 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

Is a Religion/Religious Studies degree worth it?

$41,390 median earnings four years out against $23,790 a year in average net price. That is a slow payback, so cost matters more than usual here: a cheaper school changes the answer. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the difference between Religion/Religious Studies and Philosophy & Religion?

Religion/Religious Studies is the narrower of the two: Philosophy & Religion covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Religion/Religious Studies-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Religion/Religious Studies graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Religion/Religious Studies graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

What is the job outlook for Religion/Religious Studies graduates?

Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +2.4% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Cultural Studies Professors are among the strongest-growth roles at +2.7%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.