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Theology

Theology graduates earn $44,535 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $30,931 and $62,472. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

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About Theology

This page covers Theology 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 is a specialized field of study. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $44,535 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 473 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 14,928 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: $32,211
Median Earnings · 4yr: $44,535
Colleges Offering: 473
Graduates / Year: 14,928
Avg Net Price / yr: $24,990

How Much Do Theology Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Theology, a typical graduate earns $44,535, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $30,931 and $62,472, 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 $32,211 at one year out to $44,535 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.

$32,211

1 Year After Graduation

Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.

$44,535

4-Year National Median

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

$47,403

4-Year Institutional Median

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

Earnings Range

Not every Theology 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.

$30,931 25th pct.

$44,535 Median

$62,472 75th pct.

Is the Cost Worth It?

At median 4-year earnings of $44,535 and an estimated $99,960 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 6.9 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.

Based on outcomes from 269 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 14,928 students who complete Theology programs each year, the majority (67%) earn a master's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

67%

Master's 67%

Bachelor's 17%

Doctorate 7%

What Can You Do With a Theology Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Theology graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Philosophy and Religion Teachers pay the most at $80,260/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 Philosophy and Religion Teachers earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +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.

↗ +2.4% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Clergy

$60,810

$48K $77K 25th–75th pct.

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

Speaking Active Listening Social Perceptiveness Instructing Service Orientation

Day-to-day responsibilities

Conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination. Provide spiritual and moral guidance and assistance to members.

Pray and promote spirituality.
Prepare and deliver sermons or other talks.
Read from sacred texts, such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.

Top Colleges for Theology

Not sure where to study Theology? 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	1,699	99%	$29,357	$44,813
2	Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Kansas City, MO · Nonprofit	494	96.4%	$23,006	$50,535
3	Southeastern University Lakeland, FL · Nonprofit	392	53%	$31,942	$46,744
4	Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, OH · Nonprofit	209	58.4%	$23,589	$50,030
5	Moody Bible Institute Chicago, IL · Nonprofit	196	82.7%	$22,221	$45,399
6	Duke University Durham, NC · Nonprofit	181	5.7%	$29,612	$97,800
7	Regent University Virginia Beach, VA · Nonprofit	172	38.1%	$19,923	$44,498
8	Harvard University Cambridge, MA · Nonprofit	147	3.7%	$19,066	$101,817
9	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN · Nonprofit	145	11.3%	$26,780	$99,980
10	The Master's University and Seminary Santa Clarita, CA · Nonprofit	140	84%	$32,647	$57,106
11	Emory University Atlanta, GA · Nonprofit	137	10.7%	$22,585	$80,137
12	Oral Roberts University Tulsa, OK · Nonprofit	134	98.9%	$25,365	$46,885
13	Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI · Nonprofit	119	81.9%	$12,547	$53,187
14	Trinity International University-Illinois Deerfield, IL · Nonprofit	113	100%	$2,835	$46,989
15	Biola University La Mirada, CA · Nonprofit	109	74.4%	$31,495	$56,778
16	Boston University Boston, MA · Nonprofit	104	11.1%	$24,402	$83,238
17	Yale University New Haven, CT · Nonprofit	102	3.9%	$23,777	$100,533
18	Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA · Nonprofit	98	16.4%	$41,704	$103,937
19	Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN · Nonprofit	82	5.9%	$15,846	$91,565
20	Baylor University Waco, TX · Nonprofit	81	51.3%	$41,104	$65,793

View all colleges

Ranked by Theology 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 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 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 Degree: Pros & Cons

Theology carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 3 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 $32,211 at graduation to $44,535 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 21,000 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availability Offered at 473 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.

CONS

Below-average earnings Four-year median of $44,535 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 6.9 years.

Theology Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Theology graduates earn?

$44,535 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $30,931 and $62,472, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the starting salary for a Theology degree?

$32,211 in the first year out. That grows to $44,535 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 degree?

Philosophy and Religion Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $80,260 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 program take?

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

How many colleges offer Theology?

473 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 degree worth it?

$44,535 median earnings four years out against $24,990 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 skills do employers look for in Theology graduates?

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

Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +2.2% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Clergy is among the strongest-growth roles at +2.4%. 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.