by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 7 U.S. colleges awarded 45 degrees and certificates in Catholic Studies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 82% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Catholic Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $28,813 one year after completing, rising to $41,075 after four years.
A degree in Catholic Studies covers A Program That Focuses On Catholic Thought, Culture, And How Catholic Tradition Informs Theology, Culture, Institutions, And Identity. Includes Instruction In Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Catholic Bioethics, Catholic Social Thought, Church History, Latin, Philosophy, And Theology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, catholic studies draws strong interest, with 45 degrees awarded annually. 7 colleges award catholic studies degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 30.
By level, the 45 awards include 8 bachelor’s degrees and 37 master’s degrees.
Women earned 42% of catholic studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (19 of 45). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (36) and Hispanic or Latino (2), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Catholic Studies Schools ranking, including 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks catholic studies schools within 1 state. In all, 7 colleges offer catholic studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Catholic Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common catholic studies credential is the master’s degree: 37 of the 45 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to catholic studies call most for Reading Comprehension, Instructing and Speaking, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Sociology and Anthropology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Expression, Oral Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a catholic studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 8 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 37 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to catholic studies, at 60.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 60.5% |
| Master’s degree | 31.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Catholic Studies, with an average median salary of $47,517; the strongest outlook belongs to Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, at 6.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Hawaiian Studies Lecturer, Ethnic Studies Teacher, Gender Studies Lecturer and University Faculty Member.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to catholic studies, at 718,152.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Catholic Studies graduates earn a median $28,813 one year after completing their program, $41,075 after four years and $41,903 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,813 |
| 4 years | $41,075 |
| 5 years | $41,903 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to catholic studies, with a median salary of $47,517.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
Catholic Studies has 7 similar majors in the Philosophy & Religious Studies field, which together award 10,599 degrees a year; the largest are Talmudic Studies (5,664), Religion/Religious Studies (2,796) and Jewish/Judaic Studies (1,207). Browse all Philosophy & Religious Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Talmudic Studies | 5,664 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 2,796 |
| Jewish/Judaic Studies | 1,207 |
| Christian Studies | 825 |
| Religion/Religious Studies, Other | 69 |
| Islamic Studies | 32 |
| Buddhist Studies | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
