North Carolina · Religion/Religious Studies

Best colleges for Religion/Religious Studies in North Carolina

Ranked by graduate earnings

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Duke University and Gardner-Webb University award the most Religion/Religious Studies degrees and certificates in North Carolina: 57, 54 and 17 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 22 North Carolina colleges offer Religion/Religious Studies and award 204 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…

Institutions
22
offering CIP 38.02
States offered
47
with a program page
Degrees / yr
204
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$31,123
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,402
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
62%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
$85,690
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 2 institutions, 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$33,6901391%—$12,550
2University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$31,1231269%—$24,621

Colleges awarding the most Religion/Religious Studies degrees in North Carolina

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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Wake Forest Private not-for-profit
57Not reported
2Duke University
Durham Private not-for-profit
54Not reported
3Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs Private not-for-profit
17Not reported
4University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill Public
13$33,690
5University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte Public
12$31,123
6North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh Public
8Not reported
7Campbell University
Buies Creek Private not-for-profit
6Not reported
8Manna University
Fayetteville Private not-for-profit
6Not reported
9Appalachian State University
Boone Public
5Not reported
10Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit
5Not reported
Show the other 12 North Carolina colleges offering Religion/Religious Studies
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of Mount OliveMount OlivePrivate not-for-profit3
University of North Carolina AshevilleAshevillePublic3
Barton CollegeWilsonPrivate not-for-profit2
Davidson CollegeDavidsonPrivate not-for-profit2
Elon UniversityElonPrivate not-for-profit2
Guilford CollegeGreensboroPrivate not-for-profit2
University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboroPublic2
Chowan UniversityMurfreesboroPrivate not-for-profit1
Mars Hill UniversityMars HillPrivate not-for-profit1
North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityRocky MountPrivate not-for-profit1
Pfeiffer UniversityMisenheimerPrivate not-for-profit1
Shaw UniversityRaleighPrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1126).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+0.7%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~2,000
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$78,050
typically Doctoral or professional degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingWritingCritical ThinkingLearning Strategies

What Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary earn in North Carolina

Jobs in North Carolina
680
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$85,690
median $76,340
Best-paying metro
$93,790
Wilmington, NC

Related careers

Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
$85,690 avg · 680 jobs
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
$76,050 avg · 590 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Religion/Religious Studies programs in North Carolina.

Which North Carolina colleges award the most Religion/Religious Studies degrees?+

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (57 graduates a year), Duke University (54 graduates a year) and Gardner-Webb University (17 graduates a year) award the most Religion/Religious Studies degrees and certificates in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 22 North Carolina colleges offer Religion/Religious Studies.

How much do Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary earn in North Carolina?+

The average annual wage for Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary in North Carolina is $85,690 (median $76,340), across about 680 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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