Best colleges for Religious Education in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Wheaton College, Trinity International University - Illinois and Moody Bible Institute award the most Religious Education degrees in Illinois: 38, 19 and 17 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 Illinois colleges offer Religious Education and award 90 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Religious Education program focuses on equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to develop and direct educational programs within religious contexts. It is ideal for those interested in fostering spiritual growth and…
Top 3 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheaton College Wheaton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,892 | 38 | 85% | $23,461 | $25,000 |
| 2 | Trinity International University - Illinois Deerfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,903 | 19 | 46% | $20,539 | $32,934 |
| 3 | Moody Bible Institute Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,671 | 17 | 62% | $24,848 | $14,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Religious Education degrees in Illinois
Top 5 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheaton College Wheaton Private not-for-profit | 38 | $31,892 |
| 2 | Trinity International University - Illinois Deerfield Private not-for-profit | 19 | $31,903 |
| 3 | Moody Bible Institute Chicago Private not-for-profit | 17 | $30,671 |
| 4 | North Park University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 5 | Concordia University - Chicago River Forest Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 Illinois colleges offering Religious Education
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (Graduate only) | Evanston | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Directors, Religious Activities and Education (SOC 21-2021).
Top skills
What Directors, Religious Activities and Education earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Religious Education programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Religious Education degrees?+
Wheaton College (38 graduates a year), Trinity International University - Illinois (19 graduates a year) and Moody Bible Institute (17 graduates a year) award the most Religious Education degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 Illinois colleges offer Religious Education.
Which Religious Education program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Wheaton College tops the list at $31,892. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Directors, Religious Activities and Education earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Directors, Religious Activities and Education in Illinois is $61,620 (median $53,600). Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Religious Education program?+
The Religious Education program focuses on equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to develop and direct educational programs within religious contexts. It is ideal for those interested in fostering spiritual growth and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, active learning, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Directors, Religious Activities and Education?+
The national job outlook is about +2.1% growth with around 13,800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card