### SUMMARY

 Studying Religious Studies is not only a valuable choice, but generally a mandatory first step for undergraduates trying to enter a career as a religious missionary, an outreach worker, or a charity officer. In fact, religious studies is fairly common coming in at the 97th most popular degree. Last academic year, there were 3,941 religious studies degrees conferred. In-state tuition for religious studies at private schools is, on average, 3.9 times more spendy than their public fellows.

 There are 640 institutions that offer this degree. 640 schools is on par with other degrees offered in the United States. If you are looking to immerse yourself with other religious studies majors, consider schools in Virginia which have more undergrads admitted to religious studies than any other state. More generally, the best region to study religious studies is in the Southeast region with [New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary](/colleges/new-orleans-baptist-theological-seminary), [Liberty University](/colleges/liberty-university), and [University of Virginia-Main Campus](/colleges/university-of-virginia-main-campus) best representing the region. Interestingly, our pick of the top conference to major in religious studies is the Big South Conference with [Campbell University](/colleges/campbell-university), [Charleston Southern University](/colleges/charleston-southern-university), and [Liberty University](/colleges/liberty-university) representing the conference. From our list of the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges), our selection for the best university for religious studies is [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university).

 The 'best' school does not mean it is the 'best' school for every student. There can be a bunch more facets to think about when selecting ​university. Things like campus amenities, transportation services, and food could definitely sway one's feelings of which college to attend. Here at authority.org, we've evaluated the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you are intrigued by which religious studies university boasts the best campus, the answer is [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university). If you are very interested in which school boasts the best campus, then we have a whole page [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through student reviews, government databases, professor reviews, and more to compare every U.S. major in an unbiased and informative way. You can find our well researched list for the universities with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbsphere and our pick of the school with the best student life for religious studies is [Georgetown University](/colleges/georgetown-university). Are you curious why? Keep reading to discover more about Authority's top recommendations. Many of our conclusions will probably surprise you.

 If expense is a primary factor in your decisions, you might be cautious about [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york). [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york)&nbspis our most expensive school for religious studies, at least for out of state enrollment. That being said, we have a list of the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspcolleges that might put the price tag at [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york)&nbspinto perspective. You could also be interested to know that religious studies is the 18th most expensive program in the nation, with an average expense of $54,000. To zoom out a little, the most costly state for religious studies on our list is Rhode Island with costs at the primary university, Brown University, of $57,112. Even more broadly, the most costly region for religious studies is the New England region which is best demonstrated with [Wesleyan University](/colleges/wesleyan-university) with a cost of $56,704, [Amherst College](/colleges/amherst-college) with a cost of $57,640, and [Brown University](/colleges/brown-university) with a cost of $57,112.

 Our cheapest region for religious studies is the Southeast region which is represented by [Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary](/colleges/southeastern-baptist-theological-seminary) with a cost of $8,784, [College of Charleston](/colleges/college-of-charleston) with a cost of $70, and [American Public University System](/colleges/american-public-university-system) with a cost of $6,804. On the bright side, the most affordable university for religious studies is [Andrews University](/colleges/andrews-university). Authority's comprehensive list of the most affordable schools can be found [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state students can anticipate paying around $10,800 for a degree in religious studies. The cost swells substantially to a median of $28,900 for an out-of-state public-school student. On that note, our choice for the school with the best value for religious studies: [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university). Here you will see our comprehensive list about the colleges we see as being the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspoverall. That being said, this section is predicated on the assumption that you are an out-of-state student. The value proposition changes when in-state tuition costs are considered, as such, we are using out-of-state tuition as the baseline.

 Earnings for religious studies students differ widely, but within two years leaving college students will typically make around $53,200. While there can be much variation in earnings potential; highest paid earners can rake in up to $110,500. Right out of school, the lowest earning opportunities within the religious studies field earn $24,900, which could be worse. The highest earning graduates from religious studies studied at [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university)&nbspand if you want to find the colleges with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), we have that too.

 The overall diversity of religious studies ranks subpar, falling within the 38th percentile of all majors. The university with the most composite diversity for religious studies is [Andrews University](/colleges/andrews-university)&nbspand here you can find our general list for the colleges with the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The financial diversity of Religious Studies is only in the 28th percentile compared to all other majors. Racial diversity is actually above financial diversity, in the 30th percentile. White collegians make up the largest proportion, 70%, of scholars studying religious studies. Additionally, 56% of undergrads pursuing a religious studies degree are men.

 The median ranking of religious studies professors is 4.1 stars, a rating that is 2% higher than the average across every major; which is a good score. If you want to find the most popular religious studies instructor nationally, look no further than Michael Wintz from [Mesa Community College](/colleges/mesa-community-college). It might be surprising, but the highest rated professors for religious studies according to students come from [Arizona State University-Tempe](/colleges/arizona-state-university-tempe). If we including data beyond simply rankings it becomes clear that the college possessing comprehensively the best professors for religious studies is [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university). One will find an explanation of our evolving ranking methodology of the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), along with some of the best instructors in the country.

 Finally, the most difficult college to get into for religious studies is [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university). While we are unsure why you would be interested, we do have a detailed page for the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). That being said, we hope you believe that considering university from context primarily built on superlatives might cause problems. We at Authority hope you explore our other pages on different colleges and peruse a couple of our background articles on useful things to look out for as you continue your school search.



 ### POPULARITY

 Religious studies is the 97th most popular degree in America, with 3,941 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #98 [Operations Management and Supervision](/rankings/best-colleges-for-operations-management-and-supervision), and narrowly lost to #96 [Architecture](/rankings/best-colleges-for-architecture).

 The degree is offered at a total of 640 colleges across the nation, and is the 30th most widely offered degree. Given that religious studies is offered at 84% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America, you can be sure this is a critical degree and the skillsets acquired are likely to last for a long time.

 It is also worth noting that close to 20% of colleges offering religious studies are public making it a relatively inaccessible field.

 The southeast produces the most religious studies graduates, largely led by [New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary](/colleges/new-orleans-baptist-theological-seminary), while it’s the Big South Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, Virginia ranks highest, with particular help from [William & Mary](/colleges/william-mary) and [Liberty University](/colleges/liberty-university).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more religious studies graduates than [Amridge University](/colleges/amridge-university), which graduated 795 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study religious studies). More students studied religious studies as a percentage of total students at [Cairn University-Langhorne](/colleges/cairn-university-langhorne) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Religious studies is the 18th most expensive major in the United States, with a median cost of $53,995 for the top 50 programs (just ahead of #19, [Biochemistry](rankings/best-colleges-for-biochemistry), with a median cost of $53,801).

 New England has the most expensive colleges with top 50 religious studies programs predominantly led by [Wesleyan University](/colleges/wesleyan-university) with an annual cost of $56,704. Rhode Island is the most expensive state for religious studies led by [Brown University](/colleges/brown-university).

 Public schools with solid programs by and large charge 74.36% less than private schools for in-state students. However, when looking at out-of-state tuition, the median top 50 Public school charges 31.56% less than the median private school. So, if you're hoping to attend a state school, make sure you're eligible for in-state tuition sooner rather than later.

 The most expensive top 25 college for religious studies is [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york), which is the 3rd most expensive college in the US. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [CUNY Hunter College](/colleges/cuny-hunter-college). It costs just $14,880 per year but is its religious studies program is ranked #99. If you’re looking for a higher ranked, but still affordable option, [Andrews University](/colleges/andrews-university)  is probably for you, ranked #20 with an in-state cost of just $28,992. Another more affordable pick would be #21, [University of California-Los Angeles](/colleges/university-of-california-los-angeles) in Los Angeles County, CA with a cost of $11,442 for in-state students and $41,196 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Enrolling in college is a major investment for most people. It's important to be assured you are equipped to payback that investment. Therefore, we hope the following income and job placement stats help you make an informed decision when choosing your focus.

 In their first year after school, Religious Studies graduates make $22,827 per annum on average (bottom 1%). After some experience in their vocations, they can draw up to $110,523 down to $24,895, but average close to $53,160. Just so you know, that's 38% greater than the United States average.

 The most popular work position for a Religious Studies graduate is Customer Service Specialist, which commonly earn roughly $23,000; next are Software Engineer and Analyst, which generally make more or less $65,000 and $54,000 respectively.

 The best paid region for Religious Studies graduates is The Southeast. WV has the highest earning Religious Studies alumni of any state. The highest earning conference for Religious Studies graduates is Southern Conference.



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Religious Studies: Median Professor Rating: 4.1 / 5, which is above average.

 Instructors always have a severe influence your college experience, no matter what you major in. An amazing instructor could help a student find their passion and set you up for future success. Alternatively, an unpleasant professor can bring unnecessary stress or even worse... fail you!

 Religious Studies professors have a median student rating of 4.1 out of 5, which puts them in the upper 41st percentile in the nation based on student satisfaction. For context a 4.1 rating is 2.5% greater than the national median professor rating for all subjects. Professors of Religious Studies slightly out-ranked those from ["General Studies"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-general-studies), whereas ["Liberal Arts and Sciences"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-liberal-arts-and-sciences)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Religious Studies.

 Now for some statistics about Religious Studies professors. Colleges located in large citys tend to have the best Religious Studies professors. The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference has the highest rated Religious Studies professors. The Rocky Mountains region has the highest rated Religious Studies professors. Public schools tend to have higher rated Religious Studies professors than private colleges. Finally, South Carolina has the highest rated Religious Studies professors in America.

 Michael Wintz, professor at [Mesa Community College](/colleges/mesa-community-college)&nbspin Mesa, AZ is the most popular Religious Studies professor in the nation. Manal Ahmed, instructor at [University of Washington-Seattle Campus](/colleges/university-of-washington-seattle-campus)&nbspin Seattle, WA is the highest rated Religious Studies professor in the United States, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Find out which institutions have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College is a profoundly poignant period of one's life; it's a chance for personal growth and development. Scholars try to capture their values and develop many of the essential skills to become a thriving adult. But learning is more than what one learns in a classroom - the late nights discussing Sartre with a classmate, the personal lesson gained from an eccentric professor, the exposure to a different vantage point. As such, a diverse student population tremendously enhances what one gains from the time at college.

 Religious Studies is a less ethnically diverse focus than average\*. 70% of the United States' Religious Studies majors are white students, followed by black students (9%), latino students (8%), and students of other races\*\*(8%). The most ethnically diverse college\* in the top 100 is [Andrews University](/colleges/andrews-university) located in Berrien Springs, MI.

 Second, Religious Studies slightly skews male, with 44% of majors identifying as men. The most gender balanced school in the top 100 is [San Diego State University](/colleges/san-diego-state-university) in San Diego, CA.

 Another critical type of diversity is wealth diversity. Sadly, Religious Studies is less economically diverse than 72% of majors in the nation. 33% of its students come from homes making more than $110,000 per year, 16% are from households earning between $48,000 and $75,000 a year, and 22% grew up in low income households. [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill](/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill) is the most financially diverse college in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall MI is the most diverse state for Religious Studies. The Far West is the most diverse region, and the is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 4%
* Black: 9%
* Latino: 8%
* White: 70%
* Other: 8%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 56%
* Female: 44%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 22%
* 30k - 48k: 14%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 16%
* Over 110k: 33%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 60%
* Out of State: 34%
* International: 6%


Duke University

Princeton University

Rice University

Yale University

Harvard University

Universal Technical Institute of Texas Inc.

Columbia University in the City of New York

University of Notre Dame

University of Chicago

Brown University

Georgetown University

Appalachian Bible College

Pomona College

Johnson University

Columbia International University

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Emory University

Wellesley College

Dartmouth College

Washington University in St Louis

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Bowdoin College

Saint Edward's University

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Search for the best Religious Studies colleges according to your filter parameters.

2023 Religious Studies Salary

There are about 13,930 students enrolled in Religious Studies in the USA.

SALARY