Theology ยท bachelor's degree
Bible/Biblical Studies major: colleges and pay
140 colleges in our data award bachelor's degrees in bible/biblical studies, 1,766 of them in 2023-24. Graduates of the typical program earned $37,065 a year after graduating and $45,928 four years after.
Colleges offering it140
Graduates in 2023-241,766
Typical median debt$23,280
Typical earnings 1 yr after$37,065
Typical earnings 4 yrs after$45,928
Earnings to debt1.6x
Colleges where bible/biblical studies graduates earn the most
Programs with at least 10 graduates in 2023-24, ranked by median earnings four years after graduation.
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Baptist UniversityDallas, TX | 18 | $35,506 | $58,031 | n/a |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalMarion, IN | 23 | $47,135 | $53,497 | $30,795 |
| University of Northwestern-St PaulSaint Paul, MN | 139 | $47,114 | $51,761 | $25,000 |
| Moody Bible InstituteChicago, IL | 37 | $37,000 | $50,342 | $18,000 |
| Freed-Hardeman UniversityHenderson, TN | 22 | $49,974 | $50,335 | $18,987 |
| Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VA | 51 | $45,495 | $48,776 | $30,334 |
| Harding UniversitySearcy, AR | 36 | $44,505 | $48,762 | n/a |
| Clear Creek Baptist Bible CollegePineville, KY | 11 | $29,630 | $48,375 | n/a |
| Trinity Bible College and Graduate SchoolEllendale, ND | 23 | n/a | $48,009 | n/a |
| Crown CollegeSaint Bonifacius, MN | 23 | $40,236 | $46,800 | $21,500 |
| Manhattan Christian CollegeManhattan, KS | 17 | $34,445 | $45,100 | $20,500 |
| Lancaster Bible CollegeLancaster, PA | 72 | $45,734 | $44,718 | $18,887 |
| Midwestern Baptist Theological SeminaryKansas City, MO | 47 | $49,351 | $44,420 | $27,625 |
| Colorado Christian UniversityLakewood, CO | 61 | $38,708 | $44,270 | $36,587 |
| Nelson UniversityWaxahachie, TX | 12 | n/a | $43,808 | n/a |
| Ozark Christian CollegeJoplin, MO | 27 | $32,809 | $40,548 | $13,875 |
| Johnson UniversityKnoxville, TN | 141 | $35,095 | $39,600 | $23,059 |
| Point UniversityWest Point, GA | 13 | n/a | $38,672 | n/a |
| Columbia International UniversityColumbia, SC | 19 | $32,463 | $38,117 | $20,199 |
| SUM Bible College and Theological SeminaryEl Dorado Hills, CA | 15 | $31,784 | $36,973 | $23,500 |
| Davis CollegePottersville, NY | 18 | n/a | $36,947 | $12,734 |
| Appalachian Bible CollegeMount Hope, WV | 36 | $29,545 | $28,980 | $17,679 |
Largest bible/biblical studies programs
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson UniversityKnoxville, TN | 141 | $35,095 | $39,600 | $23,059 |
| University of Northwestern-St PaulSaint Paul, MN | 139 | $47,114 | $51,761 | $25,000 |
| Lancaster Bible CollegeLancaster, PA | 72 | $45,734 | $44,718 | $18,887 |
| Pillar CollegeNewark, NJ | 71 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado Christian UniversityLakewood, CO | 61 | $38,708 | $44,270 | $36,587 |
| Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VA | 51 | $45,495 | $48,776 | $30,334 |
| Midwestern Baptist Theological SeminaryKansas City, MO | 47 | $49,351 | $44,420 | $27,625 |
| College of Biblical Studies-HoustonHouston, TX | 45 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Moody Bible InstituteChicago, IL | 37 | $37,000 | $50,342 | $18,000 |
| Harding UniversitySearcy, AR | 36 | $44,505 | $48,762 | n/a |
| Appalachian Bible CollegeMount Hope, WV | 36 | $29,545 | $28,980 | $17,679 |
| Cedarville UniversityCedarville, OH | 36 | n/a | n/a | $18,000 |
| Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA | 36 | n/a | n/a | $25,344 |
| Welch CollegeGallatin, TN | 36 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Trinity College of JacksonvilleJacksonville, FL | 32 | $31,537 | n/a | $25,500 |
Graduate degrees in bible/biblical studies
Master's: 58 programs, $51,897 first-year earnings; Doctoral: 9 programs. Compare graduate programs.
Every college with a bible/biblical studies major
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biola UniversityLa Mirada, CA | 0 | n/a | $58,569 | n/a |
| Dallas Baptist UniversityDallas, TX | 18 | $35,506 | $58,031 | n/a |
| Carolina UniversityWinston-Salem, NC | 4 | $38,343 | $56,995 | n/a |
| Maranatha Baptist UniversityWatertown, WI | 7 | n/a | $53,966 | n/a |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalMarion, IN | 23 | $47,135 | $53,497 | $30,795 |
| University of Northwestern-St PaulSaint Paul, MN | 139 | $47,114 | $51,761 | $25,000 |
| Fresno Pacific UniversityFresno, CA | 0 | n/a | $51,475 | n/a |
| Moody Bible InstituteChicago, IL | 37 | $37,000 | $50,342 | $18,000 |
| Freed-Hardeman UniversityHenderson, TN | 22 | $49,974 | $50,335 | $18,987 |
| Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VA | 51 | $45,495 | $48,776 | $30,334 |
| Harding UniversitySearcy, AR | 36 | $44,505 | $48,762 | n/a |
| Belhaven UniversityJackson, MS | 6 | $40,989 | $48,516 | n/a |
| Clear Creek Baptist Bible CollegePineville, KY | 11 | $29,630 | $48,375 | n/a |
| Trinity Bible College and Graduate SchoolEllendale, ND | 23 | n/a | $48,009 | n/a |
| Crown CollegeSaint Bonifacius, MN | 23 | $40,236 | $46,800 | $21,500 |
| Life Pacific UniversitySan Dimas, CA | 1 | n/a | $46,756 | n/a |
| Manhattan Christian CollegeManhattan, KS | 17 | $34,445 | $45,100 | $20,500 |
| Kentucky Christian UniversityGrayson, KY | 8 | n/a | $44,862 | n/a |
| Lancaster Bible CollegeLancaster, PA | 72 | $45,734 | $44,718 | $18,887 |
| Midwestern Baptist Theological SeminaryKansas City, MO | 47 | $49,351 | $44,420 | $27,625 |
| Colorado Christian UniversityLakewood, CO | 61 | $38,708 | $44,270 | $36,587 |
| Nelson UniversityWaxahachie, TX | 12 | n/a | $43,808 | n/a |
| Central Baptist CollegeConway, AR | 3 | n/a | $43,057 | n/a |
| Ozark Christian CollegeJoplin, MO | 27 | $32,809 | $40,548 | $13,875 |
| North Greenville UniversityTigerville, SC | 6 | n/a | $40,334 | n/a |
| Johnson UniversityKnoxville, TN | 141 | $35,095 | $39,600 | $23,059 |
| Point UniversityWest Point, GA | 13 | n/a | $38,672 | n/a |
| Columbia International UniversityColumbia, SC | 19 | $32,463 | $38,117 | $20,199 |
| SUM Bible College and Theological SeminaryEl Dorado Hills, CA | 15 | $31,784 | $36,973 | $23,500 |
| Davis CollegePottersville, NY | 18 | n/a | $36,947 | $12,734 |
| Appalachian Bible CollegeMount Hope, WV | 36 | $29,545 | $28,980 | $17,679 |
| Mid-Atlantic Christian UniversityElizabeth City, NC | 6 | n/a | $26,873 | n/a |
| Luther Rice College & SeminaryLithonia, GA | 25 | $49,896 | n/a | $33,180 |
| Veritas Baptist CollegeLawrenceburg, IN | 11 | $44,723 | n/a | n/a |
| Criswell CollegeDallas, TX | 6 | $42,578 | n/a | n/a |
| Cairn University-LanghorneLanghorne, PA | 17 | $37,065 | n/a | $27,505 |
| California Baptist UniversityRiverside, CA | 17 | $35,486 | n/a | n/a |
| Grace College and Theological SeminaryWinona Lake, IN | 14 | $33,951 | n/a | $27,000 |
| Blue Mountain Christian UniversityBlue Mountain, MS | 6 | $33,158 | n/a | n/a |
| Trinity College of JacksonvilleJacksonville, FL | 32 | $31,537 | n/a | $25,500 |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryAnkeny, IA | 12 | $20,523 | n/a | n/a |
| Abilene Christian UniversityAbilene, TX | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Amridge UniversityMontgomery, AL | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Arizona Christian UniversityGlendale, AZ | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Asbury UniversityWilmore, KY | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, CA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Baptist University of FloridaGraceville, FL | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Barclay CollegeHaviland, KS | 4 | n/a | n/a | $24,625 |
| Belmont UniversityNashville, TN | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bethel UniversitySaint Paul, MN | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bethesda UniversityAnaheim, CA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bluffton UniversityBluffton, OH | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bob Jones UniversityGreenville, SC | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bridges Christian CollegeNew Orleans, LA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bryan College-DaytonDayton, TN | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bushnell UniversityEugene, OR | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Calvary UniversityKansas City, MO | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Campbellsville UniversityCampbellsville, KY | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Carolina College of Biblical StudiesFayetteville, NC | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Cedarville UniversityCedarville, OH | 36 | n/a | n/a | $18,000 |
| Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and SciencesFayette, MO | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| College of Biblical Studies-HoustonHouston, TX | 45 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| College of the OzarksPoint Lookout, MO | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Corban UniversitySalem, OR | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Cornerstone UniversityGrand Rapids, MI | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Covenant CollegeLookout Mountain, GA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Crowley's Ridge CollegeParagould, AR | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dallas Christian CollegeDallas, TX | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Eastern UniversitySaint Davids, PA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Evangel UniversitySpringfield, MO | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Evangel University-College of Online LearningSpringfield, MO | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Faulkner UniversityMontgomery, AL | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Florida CollegeTemple Terrace, FL | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Geneva CollegeBeaver Falls, PA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| George Fox UniversityNewberg, OR | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Gods Bible School and CollegeCincinnati, OH | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Grace Christian UniversityWyoming, MI | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Grace School of TheologyThe Woodlands, TX | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Great Lakes Christian CollegeLansing, MI | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Houghton UniversityHoughton, NY | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Houston Christian UniversityHouston, TX | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Howard Payne UniversityBrownwood, TX | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Huntington UniversityHuntington, IN | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Judson UniversityElgin, IL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| LeTourneau UniversityLongview, TX | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lee UniversityCleveland, TN | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA | 36 | n/a | n/a | $25,344 |
| Lipscomb UniversityNashville, TN | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lubbock Christian UniversityLubbock, TX | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Malone UniversityCanton, OH | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Messiah UniversityMechanicsburg, PA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| MidAmerica Nazarene UniversityOlathe, KS | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Milligan UniversityMilligan, TN | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Mission UniversitySpringfield, MO | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Monmouth CollegeMonmouth, IL | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Montreat CollegeMontreat, NC | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Nazarene Bible CollegeColorado Springs, CO | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New Orleans Baptist Theological SeminaryNew Orleans, LA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| North Central UniversityMinneapolis, MN | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| North Park UniversityChicago, IL | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Northwest UniversityKirkland, WA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio Christian UniversityCircleville, OH | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Oklahoma Baptist UniversityShawnee, OK | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Oklahoma Christian UniversityEdmond, OK | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais, IL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Oral Roberts UniversityTulsa, OK | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ouachita Baptist UniversityArkadelphia, AR | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pacific Union CollegeAngwin, CA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Palm Beach Atlantic UniversityWest Palm Beach, FL | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pillar CollegeNewark, NJ | 71 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Roberts Wesleyan UniversityRochester, NY | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Samford UniversityBirmingham, AL | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Simmons College of KentuckyLouisville, KY | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Simpson UniversityRedding, CA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| South Florida Bible College and Theological SeminaryDeerfield Beach, FL | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryWake Forest, NC | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Southeastern UniversityLakeland, FL | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Southern Adventist UniversityCollegedale, TN | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Southwest Baptist UniversityBolivar, MO | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Southwestern Christian CollegeTerrell, TX | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Southwestern Christian UniversityBethany, OK | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Spring Arbor UniversitySpring Arbor, MI | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Taylor UniversityUpland, IN | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The Master's University and SeminarySanta Clarita, CA | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The University of FindlayFindlay, OH | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Toccoa Falls CollegeToccoa Falls, GA | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Trinity Christian CollegePalos Heights, IL | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Truett McConnell UniversityCleveland, GA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Universidad Pentecostal MizpaRio Piedras, PR | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Universidad Teologica del CaribeTrujillo Alto, PR | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of EvansvilleEvansville, IN | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Sioux FallsSioux Falls, SD | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Vanguard University of Southern CaliforniaCosta Mesa, CA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Warner UniversityLake Wales, FL | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Waynesburg UniversityWaynesburg, PA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Welch CollegeGallatin, TN | 36 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Wheaton CollegeWheaton, IL | 26 | n/a | n/a | $19,800 |
| William Jessup UniversityRocklin, CA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Williams Baptist UniversityWalnut Ridge, AR | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| World Mission UniversityLos Angeles, CA | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Frequently asked questions
How much do bible/biblical studies majors make?
Graduates of the typical bible/biblical studies program earned a median of $37,065 one year after graduation and $45,928 four years after, in 2024 dollars.
Which college has the highest-paid bible/biblical studies graduates?
Dallas Baptist University, where graduates earned a median of $58,031 four years after graduation (programs with at least 10 graduates).
How many colleges offer a bible/biblical studies major?
140 colleges on the College Scorecard awarded bachelor's degrees in bible/biblical studies in 2022-23 or 2023-24.
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.