by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, religion/religious studies was the 189th most popular major nationwide with 3,626 degrees awarded. This 206 less than the prior year, a decrease of 5.7%.
Our 2023 Best Religion/Religious Studies Schools ranking analyzes 50 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for religion/religious studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of religion programs later in this article.
A major in religion prepares you for careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is crucial. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and talking to others to convey information effectively.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific religion careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Religion degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in religion/religious studies to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a religion degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to religion, with approximately 73.8% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to religion tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 72.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 12.9% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 12.3% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 0.6% |
About 86.3% of workers in careers related to religion obtain at least doctor's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in religion/religious studies have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which religion career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your religion degree? Religion/Religious Studies careers are expected to grow 12.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to religion/religious studies.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Professors | 35,700 | 12.3% |
As you might expect, salaries for religion graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for religion/religious studies graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers religion grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Professors | $82,420 |
With over 1,048 different religion degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased religion school rankings to help you with this.
One of 7 majors within the Religious Studies area of study, Religion/Religious Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Jewish Studies | 1,387 |
| Christian Studies | 723 |
| Other Religion/Religious Studies | 117 |
| Islamic Studies | 50 |
| Catholic Studies | 6 |
