by our College Data Analytics Team
[Religious Studies](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/religious-studies/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the early-career earnings of their religious studies graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose religious studies graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is California Baptist University, our #1 for religious studies graduate salaries in California. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from California Baptist University typically earn about $40,623 annually.
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary produces some of the highest-paid graduates in religious studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career religious studies graduates from Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary make a median of around $37,286 per year.
California State University Northridge came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious studies schools. California State University Northridge is a public school located in the city of Northridge. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,219.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Santa Barbara one of the highest-paying schools for religious studies. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara typically earn about $19,911 annually.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their religious studies graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 4 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.