by our College Data Analytics Team
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Religious Studies is the 90th most popular major in the country with 9,470 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, religious studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,289 and had an average of $24,431 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 420 religious studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,978 and $18,684 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California” ranking looked at 66 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in religious studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their religious studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
The religion school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Graduate School of Theology. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. California Graduate School of Theology is a small school located in Garden-Grove, California that handed out 4 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Religious Studies at California Graduate School of Theology
Out of the 66 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Claremont School of Theology landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Claremont, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 21 degrees to qualified ’s religion students in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Academy for Jewish Religion - California. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. Academy for Jewish Religion - California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Academy for Jewish Religion - California Religious Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Institute of Buddhist Studies. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. This small school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 2 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Religious Studies at Institute of Buddhist Studies
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of the West. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. This small school is located in Rosemead, California, and it awarded 6 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
American Jewish University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s religion degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Religious Studies at American Jewish University
Vanguard University of Southern California came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. Vanguard University of Southern California is a small school located in Costa Mesa, California that handed out 26 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Religious Studies at Vanguard University of Southern California
With a ranking of #8, Westmont College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. Westmont College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Claremont Graduate University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 14 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Religious Studies at Claremont Graduate University
Simpson University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. Simpson University is located in Redding, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.
The Master’s University and Seminary landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. This small school is located in Santa Clarita, California, and it awarded 5 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Religious Studies at The Master’s University and Seminary
Pomona College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. Claremont, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s religion degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
California Baptist University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. Riverside, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s religion degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
With a ranking of #14, Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. Point Loma Nazarene University is a small school located in San Diego, California that handed out 11 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Santa Clara University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. SCU is located in Santa Clara, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
La Sierra University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. La Sierra University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 3 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Harvey Mudd College ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. Harvey Mudd College is a small school located in Claremont, California that handed out 1 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s religion degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on Religious Studies at University of California - Santa Barbara
Occidental College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. Oxy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Pepperdine University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. Pepperdine is a private not-for-profit institution located in Malibu, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #21, Crafton Hills College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. Crafton Hills College is a medium-sized school located in Yucaipa, California that handed out 6 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #22, University of Redlands did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. University of Redlands is located in Redlands, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Scripps College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. Scripps College is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
California State University - Bakersfield ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. California State University - Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Religious Studies at California State University - Bakersfield
California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking, coming in at #25. California State University - Chico is a public institution located in Chico, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
