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2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k

64 Ranked Colleges
9,470 Degrees Awarded
$7,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 9,470 people earned their degree in religious studies, making the major the 90th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, religious studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,289 and had an average of $24,431 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 64 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in religious studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality religious studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the religious studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Religious Studies (Income $30-$48k)

1
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Durham, North Carolina, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified ’s religion students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our religion students whose families make $30-$48k list, Duke has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Religious Studies Schools” ranking. It costs about $-927 for religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Duke University. A negative average net price may seem strange, but it generally means that financial aid will more than cover the cost to attend the school.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Religious Studies at Duke

2
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our religion students whose families make $30-$48k list, UPenn has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Religious Studies Schools” ranking. It costs about $1,938 for religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Pennsylvania.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Religious Studies at UPenn

3

Out of the 64 schools in the Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #3 spot on the list. Columbia is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 35 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

Columbia also made our “Best Religious Studies Schools” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Columbia University in the City of New York is $4,699 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Columbia Religious Studies Report

4
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Emory University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. Emory is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 21 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

Emory also took the #2 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Schools” ranking. It costs about $8,976 for religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Emory.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Religious Studies at Emory University

5
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified ’s religion students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our religion students whose families make $30-$48k list, Vanderbilt has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Religious Studies Schools” ranking. It costs about $4,652 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Vanderbilt University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Religious Studies at Vanderbilt University

6
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 2 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UChicago is $4,777 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Religious Studies at University of Chicago

7

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UNC Chapel Hill is a large school located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that handed out 26 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

UNC Chapel Hill also took the #9 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $5,729 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UNC Chapel Hill Religious Studies Report

8
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

With a ranking of #8, University of Florida did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Florida is a large public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 15 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UF, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Schools” ranking. It costs about $2,857 for religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Florida.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full UF Religious Studies Report

9

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 34 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Religious Studies Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $4,788 for religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Religious Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison

10

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s religion degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

UW Seattle also made our “Best Religious Studies Schools” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $6,399 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read more about Religious Studies at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

11
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Boston College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Boston College is a fairly large school located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts that handed out 5 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Boston College, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Boston College is $7,075 for religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Religious Studies at Boston College

12
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

With a ranking of #12, Florida State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Florida State is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Florida State University is $7,349 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read more about Religious Studies at Florida State

13
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a public institution located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 66 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

University of Virginia also made our “Best Religious Studies Schools” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for University of Virginia - Main Campus is $10,063 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Virginia - Main Campus Religious Studies Report

14

Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Tempe, Arizona, this large public school handed out 31 degrees to qualified ’s religion students in 2020-2021.

ASU - Tempe not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Religious Studies Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Arizona State University - Tempe is $10,628 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full ASU - Tempe Religious Studies Report

15
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts

Boston University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Boston University is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.

Boston U also made our “Best Religious Studies Schools” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Boston University is $11,782 for religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Religious Studies at Boston University

16

With a ranking of #16, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our religion students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Davis has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Religious Studies Schools” ranking. It costs about $11,598 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UC Davis.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Religious Studies at University of California - Davis

17

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 38 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

UCSB also took the #19 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Barbara is $11,606 for religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Religious Studies Report

18

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s religion degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $8,609 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Religious Studies at UMN Twin Cities

19

With a ranking of #19, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s religion degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $8,581 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Religious Studies at Ohio State University - Main Campus

20

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified ’s religion students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,036 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UIUC.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Religious Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

21

Florida International University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. This large school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 13 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Florida International University is $4,882 for religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Religious Studies at Florida International University

22

With a ranking of #22, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Northridge is $7,103 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Religious Studies at CSUN

23

With a ranking of #23, The University of Texas at Austin did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 27 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

UT Austin also made our “Best Religious Studies Schools” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend UT Austin is $14,977 for religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Religious Studies at The University of Texas at Austin

24

California State University - Fullerton ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cal State Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $5,821 for religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal State Fullerton.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full Cal State Fullerton Religious Studies Report

25
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Religion Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. Brooklyn College is a fairly large public school situated in Brooklyn, New York. It awarded 2 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $3,105 for Religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Brooklyn College.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Brooklyn College Religious Studies Report

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