by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Christian Studies involves the study of Christian Studies. A Program That Focuses On The Philosophy And Teachings Of Jesus Christ And His Apostles, And The Subsequent Intellectual And Cultural Movements And Institutions Based On Christianity. Includes Instruction In Christian Sacred Scripture, Christian Literature And Philosophy, And Studies Of One Or More Of The Main Branches Of The Faith And Their Cultural Context Including Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Evangelicalism, And Others. Continue reading for the essential details every christian studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering christian studies programs.
Across the country, christian studies is a widely-pursued major, with 618 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Christian Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 67 schools to determine the best overall colleges for christian studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of christian studies programs later in this article.
Studies in Christian Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations christian studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a christian studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a christian studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several christian studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 96 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 251 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 265 |
People currently working in careers related to christian studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 73.8% |
| Master’s degree | 13.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in christian studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying christian studies can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to christian studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to christian studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,031,835 | 3.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of christian studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,787 |
| 4 years | $35,631 |
| 5 years | $41,557 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for christian studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers christian studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
With 67 different christian studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased christian studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering christian studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Talmudic Studies | 4,730 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 2,675 |
| Jewish/Judaic Studies | 1,045 |
| Religion/Religious Studies, Other | 70 |
| Catholic Studies | 51 |
| Islamic Studies | 36 |
| Buddhist Studies | 23 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
