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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find where religious studies graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose religious studies graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in religious studies, no school beat Jewish Theological Seminary Of America this year. Set in the city of New York, Jewish Theological Seminary Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from Jewish Theological Seminary Of America typically earn about $98,891 annually.
Fordham University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious studies schools. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,741.
A rank of #3 makes Bet Medrash Gadol Ateret Torah one of the highest-paying schools for religious studies. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Bet Medrash Gadol Ateret Torah is a private not-for-profit institution. Religious Studies graduates of Bet Medrash Gadol Ateret Torah earn a median of about $31,558 a year early in their careers.
Yeshiva Shaarei Torah Of Rockland came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious studies schools. Located in the suburb of Suffern, Yeshiva Shaarei Torah Of Rockland is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career religious studies graduates from Yeshiva Shaarei Torah Of Rockland make a median of around $29,861 per year.
Uta Mesivta Of Kiryas Joel came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious studies schools. Uta Mesivta Of Kiryas Joel is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Monroe. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from Uta Mesivta Of Kiryas Joel typically earn about $30,411 annually.
Yeshiva Of Machzikai Hadas earned the #6 position for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Yeshiva Of Machzikai Hadas is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career religious studies graduates from Yeshiva Of Machzikai Hadas make a median of around $18,722 per year.
Yeshivath Viznitz ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious studies schools. Located in the suburb of Monsey, Yeshivath Viznitz is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from Yeshivath Viznitz typically earn about $28,497 annually.
United Talmudical Seminary ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious studies schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, United Talmudical Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career religious studies graduates from United Talmudical Seminary make a median of around $20,733 per year.
Machzikei Hadath Rabbinical College earned the #9 position for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Machzikei Hadath Rabbinical College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from Machzikei Hadath Rabbinical College typically earn about $18,546 annually.
Talmudical Seminary Of Bobov came in at #10 for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Talmudical Seminary Of Bobov is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from Talmudical Seminary Of Bobov typically earn about $18,295 annually.
Mesivta Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for religious studies. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Mesivta Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from Mesivta Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary typically earn about $15,903 annually.
Beer Yaakov Talmudic Seminary landed the #12 spot for religious studies salaries this year. Beer Yaakov Talmudic Seminary is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Spring Valley. Religious Studies graduates of Beer Yaakov Talmudic Seminary earn a median of about $21,946 a year early in their careers.
Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz earned the #13 position for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,504.
Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion earned the #14 position for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $10,153.
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 · 14 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.