Best degree programs for Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary, ranked by enrollment
25 college programs and 1,336 schools train Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $80,260 median wage, 20,460 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
25 college programs at 1,336 schools train philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary, graduating 39,895 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Philosophy. The job pays a median of $80,260 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
25 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 38.0101 | 6,872 | 17.2% | 729 | $31,618 | $22,862 |
| 2 | CIP 39.0602 | 6,494 | 16.3% | 250 | $32,202 | $25,375 |
| 3 | CIP 39.0601 | 6,127 | 15.4% | 288 | $32,202 | $25,375 |
| 4 | Talmudic Studiesmain feeder CIP 38.0207 | 5,664 | 14.2% | 92 | $26,048 | $25,612 |
| 5 | CIP 39.0201 | 3,366 | 8.4% | 200 | $33,182 | $25,000 |
| 6 | Religion/Religious Studiesmain feeder CIP 38.0201 | 2,287 | 5.7% | 360 | $26,048 | $25,612 |
| 7 | CIP 39.0699 | 1,694 | 4.2% | 116 | $32,202 | $25,375 |
| 8 | CIP 39.0701 | 1,283 | 3.2% | 105 | $32,226 | $26,000 |
| 9 | CIP 39.0401 | 1,234 | 3.1% | 70 | $32,351 | $25,937 |
| 10 | CIP 39.0301 | 1,212 | 3.0% | 84 | $28,103 | $17,318 |
| 11 | CIP 51.3201 | 779 | 2.0% | 49 | $99,851 | $21,475 |
| 12 | Christian Studiesmain feeder CIP 38.0203 | 760 | 1.9% | 64 | $26,048 | $25,612 |
| 13 | CIP 39.0501 | 359 | 0.9% | 68 | $30,092 | $27,000 |
| 14 | CIP 38.0199 | 336 | 0.8% | 22 | $31,618 | $22,862 |
| 15 | CIP 38.0104 | 250 | 0.6% | 27 | $31,618 | $22,862 |
| 16 | CIP 39.0604 | 180 | 0.5% | 34 | $32,202 | $25,375 |
| 17 | Philosophy and Religious Studies, Generalmain feeder CIP 38.0001 | 175 | 0.4% | 40 | — | — |
| 18 | CIP 30.5101 | 164 | 0.4% | 20 | — | — |
| 19 | Philosophy and Religious Studies, Othermain feeder CIP 38.9999 | 159 | 0.4% | 26 | $28,712 | $24,734 |
| 20 | CIP 39.0605 | 153 | 0.4% | 11 | $32,202 | $25,375 |
| 21 | CIP 38.0103 | 131 | 0.3% | 24 | $31,618 | $22,862 |
| 22 | CIP 39.0502 | 107 | 0.3% | 20 | $30,092 | $27,000 |
| 23 | CIP 39.0706 | 61 | 0.2% | 12 | $32,226 | $26,000 |
| 24 | CIP 39.0703 | 42 | 0.1% | 8 | $32,226 | $26,000 |
| 25 | Buddhist Studiesmain feeder CIP 38.0202 | 6 | 0.0% | 2 | $26,048 | $25,612 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · 10 feeder programs | 3,220 | Theology/Theological Studies | 65% | $28,911 | 99% |
| 2 | Beth Medrash Govoha Lakewood, NJ Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2,119 | Talmudic Studies | — | — | — |
| 3 | The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, KY Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 935 | Divinity/Ministry | 40% | — | 56% |
| 4 | Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Kansas City, MO Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 712 | Divinity/Ministry | 48% | $26,572 | 96% |
| 5 | Uta Mesivta of Kiryas Joel Monroe, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 480 | Talmudic Studies | 70% | $6,856 | — |
| 6 | Word of Life Bible Institute Pottersville, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 462 | Missions/Missionary Studies | 80% | $12,373 | — |
| 7 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 448 | Religious Education | 43% | $21,535 | 79% |
| 8 | Moody Bible Institute Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 436 | Theological and Ministerial Studies, Other | 62% | $24,848 | 83% |
| 9 | Southeastern University Lakeland, FL Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 436 | Divinity/Ministry | 43% | $29,915 | 53% |
| 10 | Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Wake Forest, NC Private not-for-profit · 11 feeder programs | 396 | Divinity/Ministry | 58% | $6,608 | 75% |
| 11 | Dallas Theological Seminary Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 390 | Theology/Theological Studies | — | — | — |
| 12 | New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary New Orleans, LA Private not-for-profit · 11 feeder programs | 389 | Divinity/Ministry | 74% | — | — |
| 13 | Duke University Durham, NC Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 366 | Theology/Theological Studies | 97% | $16,260 | 6% |
| 14 | Fuller Theological Seminary Pasadena, CA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 365 | Theological and Ministerial Studies, Other | — | — | — |
| 15 | United Talmudical Seminary Brooklyn, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 356 | Talmudic Studies | 58% | $8,271 | — |
| 16 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 318 | Bioethics/Medical Ethics | 98% | $15,013 | 4% |
| 17 | Asbury Theological Seminary Wilmore, KY Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 317 | Divinity/Ministry | — | — | — |
| 18 | Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, OH Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 292 | Theology/Theological Studies | 75% | $21,122 | 58% |
| 19 | Lancaster Bible College Lancaster, PA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 272 | Bible/Biblical Studies | 67% | $21,399 | 56% |
| 20 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 261 | Philosophy, Other | 97% | $22,055 | 5% |
| 21 | Biola University La Mirada, CA Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 237 | Theological and Ministerial Studies, Other | 68% | $26,727 | 74% |
| 22 | Regent University Virginia Beach, VA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 234 | Divinity/Ministry | 57% | $18,677 | 38% |
| 23 | Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz Brooklyn, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 218 | Talmudic Studies | 5% | $20,451 | 87% |
| 24 | Kairos University Sioux Falls, SD Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 213 | Divinity/Ministry | — | — | 85% |
| 25 | Emory University Atlanta, GA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 199 | Divinity/Ministry | 91% | $20,586 | 11% |
| 26 | Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 193 | Divinity/Ministry | 72% | $17,800 | 82% |
| 27 | Oral Roberts University Tulsa, OK Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 186 | Divinity/Ministry | 57% | $23,543 | 99% |
| 28 | The Master's University and Seminary Santa Clarita, CA Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 180 | Theology/Theological Studies | 68% | $30,641 | 84% |
| 29 | Columbia International University Columbia, SC Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 179 | Missions/Missionary Studies | 47% | $21,361 | 94% |
| 30 | Nelson University Waxahachie, TX Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 177 | Christian Studies | 42% | $19,790 | 89% |
| 31 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 170 | Theology/Theological Studies | 91% | $21,126 | 16% |
| 32 | Baylor University Waco, TX Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 167 | Divinity/Ministry | 80% | $35,682 | 51% |
| 33 | Trinity International University - Illinois Deerfield, IL Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 167 | Theology/Theological Studies | 46% | $20,539 | 100% |
| 34 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 161 | Philosophy | 89% | $21,956 | 11% |
| 35 | Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary South Hamilton, MA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 161 | Theological and Ministerial Studies, Other | — | — | — |
| 36 | Yale University New Haven, CT Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 160 | Divinity/Ministry | 96% | $27,025 | 4% |
| 37 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 154 | Theology/Theological Studies | 95% | $19,452 | 11% |
| 38 | University of St Thomas Houston, TX Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 149 | Pastoral Studies/Counseling | 69% | $19,546 | 90% |
| 39 | Western Seminary Portland, OR Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 134 | Divinity/Ministry | — | — | — |
| 40 | Mesivta Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary Brooklyn, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 133 | Talmudic Studies | 50% | $5,636 | 80% |
| 41 | Mosdos Yaakov V'Yisroel Lakewood, NJ Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 132 | Talmudic Studies | 46% | — | 89% |
| 42 | Yeshivath Viznitz Monsey, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 128 | Talmudic Studies | 69% | $7,882 | — |
| 43 | Holy Apostles College and Seminary Cromwell, CT Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 127 | Theology/Theological Studies | 79% | $16,073 | — |
| 44 | Wheaton College Wheaton, IL Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 127 | Religious Education | 85% | $23,461 | 87% |
| 45 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 123 | Philosophy | 93% | — | 9% |
| 46 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 120 | Theology/Theological Studies | 84% | $33,246 | 63% |
| 47 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 117 | Philosophy | 96% | $15,315 | 4% |
| 48 | Rabbinical Seminary of America Flushing, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 117 | Theology/Theological Studies | 30% | $6,533 | 98% |
| 49 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 117 | Theology/Theological Studies | 96% | $13,333 | 4% |
| 50 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 116 | Bioethics/Medical Ethics | 73% | $33,454 | 82% |
What philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $92,050 | 1,700 | 1.34× | 144 | 4,786 |
| Virginia | $85,310 | 620 | 1.15× | 34 | 3,921 |
| California | $105,820 | 1,850 | 0.77× | 173 | 3,525 |
| New Jersey | $99,450 | 900 | 1.59× | 45 | 3,259 |
| Texas | $76,700 | 1,760 | 0.95× | 67 | 2,189 |
| Illinois | $77,720 | 1,080 | 1.34× | 46 | 1,583 |
| Missouri | $75,280 | 320 | 0.83× | 37 | 1,579 |
| Kentucky | $65,580 | 320 | 1.22× | 24 | 1,543 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,600 | 1,280 | 1.61× | 71 | 1,531 |
| North Carolina | $76,340 | 680 | 1.05× | 41 | 1,360 |
| Florida | $63,330 | 460 | 0.36× | 38 | 1,186 |
| Massachusetts | $98,360 | 890 | 1.86× | 39 | 1,149 |
| Ohio | $77,010 | 780 | 1.06× | 46 | 1,131 |
| Indiana | $79,740 | 480 | 1.15× | 39 | 801 |
| Arizona | $78,940 | 350 | 0.83× | 19 | 782 |
| Michigan | $89,610 | 620 | 1.07× | 33 | 757 |
| Tennessee | $74,090 | 490 | 1.13× | 31 | 756 |
| Minnesota | $79,720 | 410 | 1.06× | 31 | 744 |
| Georgia | $77,570 | 280 | 0.43× | 31 | 697 |
| Louisiana | $76,310 | 70 | 0.28× | 13 | 575 |
| South Carolina | $77,230 | 250 | 0.82× | 20 | 467 |
| Colorado | $78,060 | 390 | 1.04× | 21 | 464 |
| Oregon | $85,300 | 480 | 1.86× | 15 | 446 |
| Oklahoma | $64,840 | 150 | 0.65× | 14 | 402 |
| Connecticut | $100,360 | 350 | 1.55× | 11 | 378 |
| Iowa | $77,180 | 260 | 1.28× | 25 | 365 |
| Wisconsin | $79,140 | 420 | 1.08× | 22 | 346 |
| Washington | $81,240 | 330 | 0.70× | 21 | 331 |
| Maryland | $78,360 | 480 | 1.33× | 18 | 313 |
| Alabama | $62,210 | 280 | 1.02× | 17 | 288 |
| District of Columbia | $79,310 | 290 | 3.19× | 8 | 284 |
| South Dakota | $58,000 | 40 | 0.69× | 5 | 227 |
| Kansas | $65,410 | 190 | 0.99× | 22 | 223 |
| Mississippi | $63,560 | 90 | 0.62× | 11 | 194 |
| Utah | $95,410 | 60 | 0.24× | 10 | 126 |
| North Dakota | $71,360 | — | — | 5 | 125 |
| Arkansas | $74,100 | 60 | 0.37× | 16 | 124 |
| Nebraska | $75,280 | 80 | 0.56× | 9 | 103 |
| Idaho | — | 120 | 1.10× | 9 | 93 |
| Maine | $102,760 | 60 | 0.73× | 6 | 79 |
| Rhode Island | $82,510 | 150 | 2.32× | 5 | 66 |
| Hawaiimoderate | $101,010 | 220 | 2.66× | 3 | 57 |
| New Hampshiremoderate | $82,820 | 130 | 1.42× | 3 | 31 |
| Vermontmoderate | $102,600 | 80 | 1.89× | 3 | 28 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Write articles and books.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Active Listening4.1
- Speaking4.1
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Writing4.0
- Learning Strategies3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Monitoring3.3
Knowledge areas
- Philosophy and Theology4.8
- English Language4.6
- Education and Training4.2
- History and Archeology3.5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.1
- Law and Government3.0
Abilities
- Oral Expression4.1
- Speech Clarity4.1
- Written Comprehension4.1
- Inductive Reasoning4.0
- Oral Comprehension4.0
- Written Expression4.0
Core activities
- Training and Teaching Others4.8
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others4.5
- Getting Information4.5
- Thinking Creatively4.2
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.2
- Working with Computers4.1
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Philosophy
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary24 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 30.5101Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
- 38.0001Philosophy and Religious Studies, General
- 38.0101Philosophy
- 38.0103Ethics
- 38.0104Applied and Professional Ethics
- 38.0199Philosophy, Other
- 38.0201Religion/Religious Studies
- 38.0202Buddhist Studies
- 38.0203Christian Studies
- 38.0204Hindu Studies(no graduates reported)
- 38.0207Talmudic Studies
- 38.9999Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other
- 39.0201Bible/Biblical Studies
- 39.0301Missions/Missionary Studies
- 39.0401Religious Education
- 39.0501Religious/Sacred Music
- 39.0502Worship Ministry
- 39.0601Theology/Theological Studies
- 39.0602Divinity/Ministry
- 39.0604Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies
- 39.0605Rabbinical Studies
- 39.0699Theological and Ministerial Studies, Other
- 39.0701Pastoral Studies/Counseling
- 39.0703Urban Ministry
- 39.0706Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Philosophy?+
Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Philosophy, which awarded 6,872 degrees in 2024-25, 17.2% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Philosophy?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 25 programs to this occupation. The largest are Theological and Ministerial Studies, Religion/Religious Studies, Philosophy, Bible/Biblical Studies, plus 8 more. Together they graduate about 39,895 people a year.
How much do philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary earn?+
The median is $80,260 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $49,140 at the 10th percentile to $139,580 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary growing?+
BLS projects a +0.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, little or no change, with roughly 2,000 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
1,336 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 25 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Professor, Religion Professor, Assistant Professor, Philosophy Professor among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-1126.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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