Religion/Religious Studies: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 38.02. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 1,220 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 57 | 217 | $41,936 | $48,391 | Data unavailable |
| Associate's degree | 99 | 1,364 | $44,435 | $46,769 | $24,349 3 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 725 | 5,561 | $28,307 | $41,390 | $24,139 12 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Master's degree | 198 | 1,340 | $48,427 | $57,737 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 71 | 214 | $62,363 | $67,164 | Data unavailable |
| Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) | 3 | 2 | $53,044 | $48,771 | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 63 | 521 | Data unavailable | $38,453 | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Associate's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yeshiva University NY · Private, nonprofit · 176 graduates measured | $55,330 | Data unavailable | $18,425 |
| Elyon College NY · Private, nonprofit · 32 graduates measured | $49,981 | $57,250 | Data unavailable |
| Liberty University VA · Private, nonprofit · 41 graduates measured | $44,546 | $51,737 | $24,349 |
| Nelson University TX · Private, nonprofit · 64 graduates measured | $40,078 | $46,892 | $24,750 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish Theological Seminary of America NY · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $61,250 | $74,060 | Data unavailable |
| Hebrew Theological College IL · Private, nonprofit · 19 graduates measured | $58,273 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Wabash College IN · Private, nonprofit · 20 graduates measured | $51,944 | $69,988 | Data unavailable |
| University of California-Santa Barbara CA · Public · 21 graduates measured | $46,342 | $43,377 | Data unavailable |
| Beth Medrash Govoha NJ · Private, nonprofit · 38 graduates measured | $43,644 | $59,036 | Data unavailable |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public · 27 graduates measured | $41,957 | $53,789 | $24,139 |
| Arizona State University Digital Immersion AZ · Public · 27 graduates measured | $41,957 | $53,789 | $24,139 |
| Liberty University VA · Private, nonprofit · 508 graduates measured | $41,781 | $47,991 | $34,312 |
| California Baptist University CA · Private, nonprofit · 26 graduates measured | $40,743 | $47,121 | $24,955 |
| University of Mary ND · Private, nonprofit · 16 graduates measured | $38,837 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Evangel University MO · Private, nonprofit · 20 graduates measured | $38,464 | $46,205 | Data unavailable |
| University of St Thomas MN · Private, nonprofit · 29 graduates measured | $38,342 | $35,960 | $19,500 |
| Baylor University TX · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $34,012 | $50,002 | $19,400 |
| Vanguard University of Southern California CA · Private, nonprofit · 24 graduates measured | $33,020 | Data unavailable | $31,500 |
| Southern Wesleyan University SC · Private, nonprofit · 19 graduates measured | $29,733 | Data unavailable | $22,884 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University NC · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $59,138 | $71,038 | Data unavailable |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary NC · Private, nonprofit · 36 graduates measured | $58,678 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Wesley Theological Seminary DC · Private, nonprofit · 35 graduates measured | $56,556 | $72,079 | Data unavailable |
| Ave Maria University FL · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $45,478 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Crown College MN · Private, nonprofit · 37 graduates measured | $45,098 | $59,184 | Data unavailable |
| Friends University KS · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $38,996 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Religion/Religious Studies
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary | $85,020 | +2.7% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary | $80,260 | +2.0% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (10)
- 38.0201 Religion/Religious Studies
- 38.0202 Buddhist Studies
- 38.0203 Christian Studies
- 38.0204 Hindu Studies
- 38.0205 Islamic Studies
- 38.0206 Jewish/Judaic Studies
- 38.0207 Talmudic Studies
- 38.0208 Catholic Studies
- 38.0209 Mormon Studies
- 38.0299 Religion/Religious Studies, Other