2026 Best Religious Studies Schools in California
Religious Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their religious studies programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 63 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for religious studies students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Religious Studies in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall religious studies education in California.
Top Schools in Religious Studies
Our analysis ranked Santa Clara University the best school in the country for a degree in religious studies. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 26 religious studies degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Religious Studies graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $79,380 early in their careers. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans.
Get the full religious studies details for Santa Clara University
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Santa Barbara one of the top schools for religious studies. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 religious studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $19,911. Typical student debt for the program is $15,873.
Get the full religious studies details for University Of California Santa Barbara
Students looking for a strong religious studies program will find one at Vanguard University Of Southern California, which ranked #3. Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Costa Mesa. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Vanguard University Of Southern California awarded about 18 religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Religious Studies graduates of Vanguard University Of Southern California earn a median of $80,727 early in their careers. Vanguard University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $21,111 in student loans.
More information about a degree in religious studies from Vanguard University Of Southern California
A rank of #4 makes Mount St Marys College one of the top schools for religious studies. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. About 13 religious studies degrees were awarded at Mount St Marys College in the most recent year. Religious Studies graduates of Mount St Marys College earn a median of $58,110 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,555.
See the full religious studies program report for Mount St Marys College
California Baptist University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in religious studies, ranking #5. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 religious studies students who graduated with this degree at California Baptist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $29,582. Typical student debt for the program is $24,474.
See the full religious studies program report for California Baptist University
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary placed #6 among the best religious studies schools. Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary graduates 12% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 religious studies students who graduated with this degree at Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary in the most recent data year. Religious Studies graduates of Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary earn a median of $15,652 early in their careers.
Get the full religious studies details for Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary
More Religious Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 63 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
