Grad school · Philosophy and religious studies

Religious studies graduate programs: earnings and debt by school

117 colleges award master's degrees in religious studies. Graduates of the typical program earned $51,888 a year after finishing, and those who borrowed left with a median of $22,289 in federal loans taken at the school.

Master's programs117

Graduates in 2023-241,177

Typical median debt$22,289

Typical earnings 1 yr after$51,888

Typical earnings 4 yrs after$59,184

Earnings to debt2.3x

Official field: Religion/Religious Studies. Admission figures such as LSAT, MCAT or GRE scores are not part of this federal data, so check each school.

Degree level	Programs	Typical earnings 1 yr after	Typical median debt
Master's	117	$51,888	$22,289
Doctoral	49	n/a	n/a
Professional doctorate	1	n/a	n/a

Is it worth it? Debt vs first-year pay

Each dot is one master's program. Dots above the dashed line have graduates earning more in their first year than the program's median debt.

Master's programs in religious studies

Highest first-year earnings

Duke University$59,138

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary$58,678

Crown College$45,098

Friends University$38,996

Filter by school, city or state

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
Duke UniversityDurham, NC	23	$59,138	$71,038	n/a
Crown CollegeSaint Bonifacius, MN	27	$45,098	$59,184	$24,078
Beth Medrash GovohaLakewood, NJ	514	n/a	$49,302	n/a
Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryWake Forest, NC	44	$58,678	n/a	n/a
Friends UniversityWichita, KS	36	$38,996	n/a	$20,500
Abilene Christian UniversityAbilene, TX	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Amridge UniversityMontgomery, AL	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Andrews UniversityBerrien Springs, MI	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Athens State UniversityAthens, AL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Bethel UniversitySaint Paul, MN	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
Bethune-Cookman UniversityDaytona Beach, FL	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Beulah Heights UniversityAtlanta, GA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston UniversityBoston, MA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brown UniversityProvidence, RI	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Cairn University-LanghorneLanghorne, PA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OH	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim LubavitzBrooklyn, NY	22	n/a	n/a	n/a
Colgate UniversityHamilton, NY	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Columbia International UniversityColumbia, SC	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY	16	n/a	n/a	n/a
Concordia University-ChicagoRiver Forest, IL	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Cornerstone UniversityGrand Rapids, MI	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Criswell CollegeDallas, TX	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Drew UniversityMadison, NJ	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
East Texas Baptist UniversityMarshall, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryAnkeny, IA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Florida International UniversityMiami, FL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Fordham UniversityBronx, NY	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Franciscan University of SteubenvilleSteubenville, OH	34	n/a	n/a	n/a
Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, NC	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
George Washington UniversityWashington, DC	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, GA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Graceland University-LamoniLamoni, IA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Gratz CollegeJenkintown, PA	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
Hardin-Simmons UniversityAbilene, TX	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA	18	n/a	n/a	n/a
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionMarion, IN	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jewish Theological Seminary of AmericaNew York, NY	22	n/a	n/a	n/a
John Carroll UniversityUniversity Heights, OH	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Loma Linda UniversityLoma Linda, CA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mirrer Yeshiva Cent InstituteBrooklyn, NY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Missouri State University-SpringfieldSpringfield, MO	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mount Saint Mary's UniversityLos Angeles, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mount Vernon Nazarene UniversityMount Vernon, OH	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Naropa UniversityBoulder, CO	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ner Israel Rabbinical CollegePikesville, MD	17	n/a	n/a	n/a
New York UniversityNew York, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oklahoma Baptist UniversityShawnee, OK	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oklahoma Christian UniversityEdmond, OK	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais, IL	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pacific Rim Christian UniversityHonolulu, HI	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Palm Beach Atlantic UniversityWest Palm Beach, FL	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pfeiffer UniversityMisenheimer, NC	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rabbinical Academy Mesivta Rabbi Chaim BerlinBrooklyn, NY	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rabbinical College of AmericaMorristown, NJ	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rice UniversityHouston, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA	22	n/a	n/a	n/a
Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, NJ	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Simpson UniversityRedding, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
South CollegeKnoxville, TN	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southern Adventist UniversityCollegedale, TN	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Spring Hill CollegeMobile, AL	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Touro UniversityNew York, NY	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
Towson UniversityTowson, MD	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-DavisDavis, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of DenverDenver, CO	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Detroit MercyDetroit, MI	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of FloridaGainesville, FL	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of GeorgiaAthens, GA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of IowaIowa City, IA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KansasLawrence, KS	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of MaryBismarck, ND	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of MobileMobile, AL	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ScrantonScranton, PA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South FloridaTampa, FL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of St ThomasSaint Paul, MN	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of the SouthwestHobbs, NM	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, NC	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wayland Baptist UniversityPlainview, TX	20	n/a	n/a	n/a
West Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester, PA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
William Carey UniversityHattiesburg, MS	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT	17	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yeshiva Derech ChaimBrooklyn, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yeshiva UniversityNew York, NY	15	n/a	n/a	n/a

Doctoral programs in religious studies

Filter by school, city or state

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA	18	n/a	$76,175	n/a
Andrews UniversityBerrien Springs, MI	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Baylor UniversityWaco, TX	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Beis Medrash Heichal DovidFar Rockaway, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Bob Jones UniversityGreenville, SC	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston UniversityBoston, MA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brown UniversityProvidence, RI	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Drew UniversityMadison, NJ	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Duke UniversityDurham, NC	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jewish Theological Seminary of AmericaNew York, NY	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Loma Linda UniversityLoma Linda, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mirrer Yeshiva Cent InstituteBrooklyn, NY	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ner Israel Rabbinical CollegePikesville, MD	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
New York UniversityNew York, NY	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rice UniversityHouston, TX	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stanford UniversityStanford, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Touro UniversityNew York, NY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-DavisDavis, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of DenverDenver, CO	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of FloridaGainesville, FL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of GeorgiaAthens, GA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of IowaIowa City, IA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Virginia University of LynchburgLynchburg, VA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yeshiva Derech ChaimBrooklyn, NY	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yeshiva UniversityNew York, NY	1	n/a	n/a	n/a

Professional doctorate programs in religious studies

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College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
South CollegeKnoxville, TN	2	n/a	n/a	n/a

Frequently asked questions

How much do religious studies graduates earn?

Graduates of the typical master's program earned a median of $51,888 one year after finishing, in 2024 dollars.

How much debt do religious studies graduate students take on?

The typical program's graduates who borrowed left with a median of $22,289 in federal loans taken at that school. Undergraduate loans are not included.

Undergraduate: Religious studies major

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.