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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Religion/Religious Studies in California

53 Ranked Colleges
297 Degrees Awarded
$36,100 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 3,626 people earned their degree in religion/religious studies, making the major the 189th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 297 religion/religious studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California” ranking, we looked at 53 colleges that offer a degree in religion/religious studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in religion/religious studies.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Religion/Religious Studies in California

1
California Graduate School of Theology crest
California Graduate School of Theology
Garden-Grove, 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. Garden-Grove, 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.

Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at California Graduate School of Theology

2
Claremont School of Theology crest
Claremont School of Theology
Claremont, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Claremont School of Theology. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. Claremont School of Theology is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 14 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. 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 full report on Religion/Religious Studies at Claremont School of Theology

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanguard University of Southern California. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California. This small school is located in Costa Mesa, California, and it awarded 26 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Religion/Religious Studies at Vanguard

4
Westmont crest
Westmont College
Santa Barbara, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Westmont College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified ’s religion students 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%.

Read full report on Religion/Religious Studies at Westmont College

5
Claremont Graduate University crest
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, California

Out of the 53 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Claremont Graduate University landed the #5 spot on the list. Claremont Graduate University is a small school located in Claremont, California that handed out 14 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.

Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at Claremont Graduate University

6
Pomona crest
Pomona College
Claremont, California

Pomona College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. Pomona is a private not-for-profit institution located in Claremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at Pomona College

7
La Sierra crest
La Sierra University
Riverside, California

La Sierra University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. La Sierra University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 Religion/Religious Studies at La Sierra University

8
Harvey Mudd College crest
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, California

Harvey Mudd College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. Harvey Mudd College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Claremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Religion/Religious Studies at Harvey Mudd College

9

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 38 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, 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%.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Religion/Religious Studies Report

10
Oxy crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

Occidental College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified ’s religion students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.

Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at Occidental College

11
Pepperdine crest
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California

Pepperdine University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. Malibu, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s religion degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Read full report on Religion/Religious Studies at Pepperdine University

12
CHC crest
Crafton Hills College
Yucaipa, California

Crafton Hills College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. Located in Yucaipa, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified ’s religion students in 2020-2021.

Full CHC Religion/Religious Studies Report

13
University of Redlands crest
University of Redlands
Redlands, California

University of Redlands ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. Located in Redlands, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified ’s religion students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full University of Redlands Religion/Religious Studies Report

14
Scripps crest
Scripps College
Claremont, California

Scripps College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. Located in Claremont, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified ’s religion students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Religion/Religious Studies at Scripps

15

California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Bakersfield, California, this fairly large public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified ’s religion students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Religion/Religious Studies at California State University - Bakersfield

16

California State University - Chico landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. California State University - Chico is a fairly large school located in Chico, California that handed out 12 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Chico Religion/Religious Studies Report

17
MSMU crest
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, California

Mount Saint Mary’s University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Los Angeles, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 degrees to qualified ’s religion students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Mount Saint Mary’s University Religion/Religious Studies Report

18
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Humboldt State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Arcata, California. It awarded 5 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Religion/Religious Studies at Humboldt State University

19
Claremont McKenna crest
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, California

With a ranking of #19, Claremont McKenna College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. Located in Claremont, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified ’s religion students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at Claremont McKenna

20
Whittier crest
Whittier College
Whittier, California

Whittier College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in Whittier, California, and it awarded 1 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Religion/Religious Studies at Whittier College

21
SRJC crest
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, California

Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking, coming in at #21. SRJC is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Rosa, California. It awarded 9 ’s religion degrees in 2020-2021.

Full SRJC Religion/Religious Studies Report

22

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California ranking, coming in at #22. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s religion degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Religion/Religious Studies at University of California - Riverside

23
USD crest
University of San Diego
San Diego, California

With a ranking of #23, University of San Diego did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. San Diego, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s religion degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%.

Read full report on Religion/Religious Studies at USD

24

With a ranking of #24, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. UCLA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at University of California - Los Angeles

25
SCU crest
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, California

With a ranking of #25, Santa Clara University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in California list. SCU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Santa Clara, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full SCU Religion/Religious Studies Report

Notes and References

References

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