2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Doctorate in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Religion Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking.

Religious Studies is the 115th most popular major in the country with 9,704 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, religious studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,163 and had an average of $28,712 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 406 religious studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $23,300 and $41,089 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 36 religious studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Religion Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking looked at 4 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in religious studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great religious studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the religious studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Religious Studies Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Religion Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 a Doctorate in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Religion Schools for a Doctorate in California.

Top 4 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Religious Studies in California

#1

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

#2 in overall quality

$28,131 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Religion Schools for a Doctorate in California. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s religion degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA also made our “Best Religious Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Religious Studies at University of California - Los Angeles

#2

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California

#3 in overall quality

$28,670 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Doctorate in California list. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 3 doctorate’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also took the #3 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Religious Studies at UCSB

#3

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California

#4 in overall quality

$28,686 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Religion Schools for a Doctorate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Riverside landed the #3 spot on the list. UCR is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 1 doctorate’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR also made our “Best Religious Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Riverside Religious Studies Report

#4

Claremont Graduate University

Claremont, California

#1 in overall quality

$36,380 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$51,482 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Claremont Graduate University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Religion Schools for a Doctorate in California. Claremont Graduate University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Claremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree religion students list, Claremont Graduate University has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Religious Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Claremont Graduate University are $36,380, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Religious Studies at Claremont Graduate University

• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Religious Studies in the Far Western US Region
• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Religious Studies

Notes and References

References

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
• Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

• *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
• Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to Sowlos.

Featured Philosophy and Religious Studies Schools

Request Info

Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More >