Best colleges for Religion/Religious Studies in Illinois
Ranked by graduates a year
Hebrew Theological College, Northwestern University and American Islamic College award the most Religion/Religious Studies degrees and certificates in Illinois: 21, 8 and 5 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Illinois colleges offer Religion/Religious Studies and award 107 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Religion/Religious Studies program explores the multifaceted nature of religion from historical and scientific perspectives. This field examines various religious traditions, their beliefs, practices, and cultural impacts, making it…
15 institutions offering Religion/Religious Studies in Illinois
Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spertus College Chicago Private not-for-profit Graduate only | — | 26 | — | — | — |
| 2 | Hebrew Theological College Skokie Private not-for-profit | — | 21 | 50% | $11,197 | — |
| 3 | Chicago Theological Seminary Chicago Private not-for-profit Graduate only | — | 15 | — | — | — |
| 4 | Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | — | 10 | 0% | $6,533 | — |
| 5 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | — | 8 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 6 | American Islamic College Chicago Private not-for-profit | — | 5 | — | — | — |
| 7 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | — | 5 | 85% | — | — |
| 8 | Meadville Theological School of Lombard College Chicago Private not-for-profit Graduate only | — | 4 | — | — | — |
| 9 | Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais Private not-for-profit | — | 3 | 61% | $20,903 | — |
| 10 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | 76% | $21,768 | — |
| 11 | Lake Forest College Lake Forest Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | 78% | $25,052 | — |
| 12 | Northern Baptist Theological Seminary Lisle Private not-for-profit Graduate only | — | 2 | — | — | — |
| 13 | Principia College Elsah Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | 74% | — | — |
| 14 | North Central College Naperville Private not-for-profit | — | 1 | 64% | $20,052 | — |
| 15 | Trinity International University - Illinois Deerfield Private not-for-profit | — | 1 | 46% | $20,539 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Religion/Religious Studies degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, rabbinical and Talmudic seminaries, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hebrew Theological College Skokie Private not-for-profit | 21 | Not reported |
| 2 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
| 3 | American Islamic College Chicago Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 5 | Not reported |
| 5 | Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
| 6 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
| 7 | Lake Forest College Lake Forest Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
| 8 | Principia College Elsah Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
| 9 | North Central College Naperville Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
| 10 | Trinity International University - Illinois Deerfield Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 5 Illinois colleges offering Religion/Religious Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spertus College (Graduate only) | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| Chicago Theological Seminary (Graduate only) | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago (Seminary) | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Meadville Theological School of Lombard College (Graduate only) | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (Graduate only) | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1126).
Top skills
What Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Religion/Religious Studies programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Religion/Religious Studies degrees?+
Hebrew Theological College (21 graduates a year), Northwestern University (8 graduates a year) and American Islamic College (5 graduates a year) award the most Religion/Religious Studies degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Illinois colleges offer Religion/Religious Studies.
How much do Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary in Illinois is $80,660 (median $77,720), across about 1,080 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Religion/Religious Studies program?+
The Religion/Religious Studies program explores the multifaceted nature of religion from historical and scientific perspectives. This field examines various religious traditions, their beliefs, practices, and cultural impacts, making it…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary?+
The national job outlook is about +0.7% growth with around 2,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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