by our College Data Analytics Team
[Religious Studies](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/religious-studies/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a religious studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 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 University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee, our #1 for religious studies graduate salaries in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Early-career religious studies graduates from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee make a median of around $44,527 per year.
Ohio Christian University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious studies schools. Set in the rural area of Circleville, Ohio Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Religious Studies graduates of Ohio Christian University earn a median of about $43,386 a year early in their careers.
Marquette University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in religious studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a private not-for-profit institution. Religious Studies graduates of Marquette University earn a median of about $73,388 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in religious studies will find them at Wabash College, which ranked #4. Wabash College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Crawfordsville. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $26,455.
A rank of #5 makes Hope College one of the highest-paying schools for religious studies. Located in the city of Holland, Hope College is a private not-for-profit institution. Religious Studies graduates of Hope College earn a median of about $25,208 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries religious studies graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 5 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.