by our College Data Analytics Team
[Religious Education](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/religious-education/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their religious education graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the early-career earnings of their religious education graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send religious education graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Olivet Nazarene University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid religious education graduates in the Great Lakes Region. Olivet Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Early-career religious education graduates from Olivet Nazarene University make a median of around $44,789 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Trinity International University Illinois one of the highest-paying schools for religious education. Set in the suburb of Deerfield, Trinity International University Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career religious education graduates from Trinity International University Illinois make a median of around $50,005 per year.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious education schools. Set in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the religious education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,201.
A rank of #4 makes Grace Bible College one of the highest-paying schools for religious education. Set in the city of Wyoming, Grace Bible College is a private not-for-profit institution. Religious Education graduates of Grace Bible College earn a median of about $33,308 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Moody Bible Institute earned it the #5 place for religious education. Set in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career religious education graduates from Moody Bible Institute make a median of around $35,073 per year.
Wheaton College Illinois ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious education schools. Located in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the religious education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,892.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their religious education graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 6 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.