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 7 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 Crown College, our #1 for religious studies graduate salaries in the The Plains States Region. Crown College is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,689.
Strong graduate earnings at Luther College earned it the #2 place for religious studies. Set in the town of Decorah, Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,246.
St Olaf College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious studies schools. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,329.
Students chasing top earnings in religious studies will find them at University Of St Thomas Minnesota, which ranked #4. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota typically earn about $48,307 annually.
Evangel University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in religious studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Evangel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career religious studies graduates from Evangel University make a median of around $47,618 per year.
Friends University earned the #6 position for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Friends University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wichita. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,502.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #7 for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield typically earn about $22,133 annually.
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 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.