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Theology and Religious Vocations

HUMANITIES Specialization

Theology and Religious Vocations

Theology and Religious Vocations graduates earn $43,566 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $26,583 and $58,087. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

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About Theology and Religious Vocations

This page covers Theology and Religious Vocations 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 Theology and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Theology and Religious Vocations is a focused area of study within Theology. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $43,566 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 115 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 1,237 students complete it each year, most walking away with a master's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $25,579
Median Earnings · 4yr: $43,566
Colleges Offering: 115
Graduates / Year: 1,237
Avg Net Price / yr: $25,669

How Much Do Theology and Religious Vocations Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Theology and Religious Vocations, a typical graduate earns $43,566, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $26,583 and $58,087, 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 $25,579 at one year out to $43,566 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.

$25,579

1 Year After Graduation

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

$43,566

4-Year National Median

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

$43,088

4-Year Institutional Median

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

Earnings Range

Not every Theology and Religious Vocations graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, 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.

$26,583 25th pct.

$43,566 Median

$58,087 75th pct.

Is the Cost Worth It?

At median 4-year earnings of $43,566 and an estimated $102,676 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 7.6 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.

Based on outcomes from 59 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 1,237 students who complete Theology and Religious Vocations programs each year, the majority (44%) earn a master's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

25% 44%

Master's 44%

Bachelor's 25%

Certificate 12%

What Can You Do With a Theology and Religious Vocations Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Theology and Religious Vocations graduates show up in 5 different occupations, and Law Teachers pay the most at $128,500/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 Law Teachers earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +2.6%

Law Teachers

$128,500

$89K $176K 25th–75th pct.

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

↗ +2.0%

Philosophy and Religion Teachers

$80,260

$63K $105K 25th–75th pct.

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

↗ +1.2%

Music Director & Composer

$73,710

$53K $104K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 4,200 openings/yr 13K employed nationally

↗ +2.4%

Clergy

$60,810

$48K $77K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 19,200 openings/yr 57K employed nationally

↗ +3.3%

Directors

$52,100

$44K $74K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 13,000 openings/yr 22K employed nationally

Top Colleges for Theology and Religious Vocations

Not sure where to study Theology and Religious Vocations? 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 Moody Bible Institute, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Moody Bible Institute Chicago, IL · Nonprofit	82	82.7%	$22,221	$45,399
2	George Fox University Newberg, OR · Nonprofit	49	93.5%	$31,679	$59,761
3	The Catholic University of America Washington, DC · Nonprofit	42	82.8%	$29,561	$73,250
4	Life Pacific University San Dimas, CA · Nonprofit	41	95.8%	$20,898	$43,299
5	Biola University La Mirada, CA · Nonprofit	21	74.4%	$31,495	$56,778
6	Dallas Baptist University Dallas, TX · Nonprofit	21	88.8%	$28,516	$56,807
7	Columbia International University Columbia, SC · Nonprofit	21	94.5%	$26,036	$38,951
8	Duke University Durham, NC · Nonprofit	18	5.7%	$29,612	$97,800
9	University of Redlands Redlands, CA · Nonprofit	18	82.7%	$30,031	$72,690
10	Evangel University Springfield, MO · Nonprofit	18	71.6%	$18,669	$46,573
11	Abilene Christian University Abilene, TX · Nonprofit	17	66%	$26,182	$55,736
12	Belmont University Nashville, TN · Nonprofit	15	95.3%	$33,147	$55,930
13	Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, TN · Nonprofit	14	69.4%	$16,813	$49,378
14	The King's University Southlake, TX · Nonprofit	14	60.6%	$14,140	$41,471
15	Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, LA · Nonprofit	12	93.1%	$23,696	$52,927
16	Union University Jackson, TN · Nonprofit	12	60.4%	$27,171	$53,990
17	Saint Johns University Collegeville, MN · Nonprofit	12	90.6%	$25,672	$76,786
18	Bethel University Saint Paul, MN · Nonprofit	11	87.8%	$28,556	$63,764
19	Liberty University Lynchburg, VA · Nonprofit	10	99%	$29,357	$44,813
20	Regent University Virginia Beach, VA · Nonprofit	10	38.1%	$19,923	$44,498

View all colleges

Ranked by Theology and Religious Vocations 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 Theology and Religious Vocations program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Theology and Religious Vocations 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.

Theology and Religious Vocations Degree: Pros & Cons

Theology and Religious Vocations carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 2 strengths and 3 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.

PROS

Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $25,579 at graduation to $43,566 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 40,000 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.

CONS

Below-average earnings Four-year median of $43,566 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Long earnings breakeven At median salary and average net price, recovering education costs versus a baseline wage takes roughly 7.6 years.
High earnings variance Gap between 25th ($26,583) and 75th ($58,087) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.

Theology and Religious Vocations Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Theology and Religious Vocations graduates earn?

$43,566 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $26,583 and $58,087, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the starting salary for a Theology and Religious Vocations degree?

$25,579 in the first year out. That grows to $43,566 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 Theology and Religious Vocations degree?

Law Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $128,500 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 Theology and Religious Vocations program take?

Four years for the bachelor's, plus one to two more if you continue on to a master's, which many Theology and Religious Vocations students do. Some schools shorten that with an accelerated 5-year combined program.

How many colleges offer Theology and Religious Vocations?

115 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 Theology and Religious Vocations degree worth it?

$43,566 median earnings four years out against $25,669 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 Theology and Religious Vocations and Theology?

Theology and Religious Vocations is the narrower of the two: Theology covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Theology and Religious Vocations-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 Theology and Religious Vocations graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Theology and Religious Vocations 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 Theology and Religious Vocations graduates?

Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +2.3% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Directors are among the strongest-growth roles at +3.3%. 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.