Philosophy And Religious Studies

Best institutions to study Philosophy and Religious Studies

Compare 40 U.S. colleges offering Philosophy and Religious Studies by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 23 states.

Institutions
40
offering CIP 38.00
States offered
23
with a program page
With earnings data
0
College Scorecard
Degrees / yr
175
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
1 year after graduation
US pay · Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
$92,040
BLS OEWS May 2025

About Philosophy and Religious Studies programs

The Philosophy and Religious Studies program offers a comprehensive exploration of philosophical concepts and religious beliefs from historical and scientific perspectives. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the complexities of human thought, ethics, and the role of religion in society. It caters to those who seek to engage critically with diverse worldviews and cultural practices.

Learn more about Philosophy and Religious Studies

What you'll learn

Students in this program will develop essential skills such as critical thinking, reading comprehension, and effective communication. Coursework often includes topics in philosophy, theology, sociology, and anthropology, equipping graduates with a broad understanding of ethical issues and contemporary religious thought.

Top 40 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).

Graduate earnings for this program are not yet reported by College Scorecard. Explore the states below to see where it's offered.

Offered across 23 states

The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.

StateInstitutionsMedian earningsTop institution by earnings
Arizonalimited1
Californialimited1
Coloradolimited1
Floridalimited2
Georgia4
Illinoislimited1
Kansaslimited1
Kentuckylimited1
Louisianalimited1
Massachusettslimited1
Mississippi3
Missouri3
Montanalimited1
Nebraskalimited2
New Jerseylimited2
New York4
North Carolina4
Ohiolimited1
South Carolinalimited1
Tennesseelimited1
Texaslimited2
Utahlimited1
Washingtonlimited1

Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1126, Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.

Graduates of the Philosophy and Religious Studies program can pursue various careers in education, research, and community service. The job outlook indicates little or no change, with approximately 2,000 annual openings and a median wage of $78,050. Most positions typically require a doctoral or professional degree.

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
National employment
20,460
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
US average pay
$92,040
annual, BLS OEWS May 2025
US median pay
$80,260
annual

Top-paying metros

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$139,950avg
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$133,360avg
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$131,590avg
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$125,460avg
Ann Arbor, MI
$125,400avg

Related careers

Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
$92,040 avg · 20,460 jobs

CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Philosophy and Religious Studies

The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 38.00.

Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 38.00 (Philosophy and Religious Studies, General) maps to 1 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupation, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.

SOC codeOccupation
25-1126Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.

Skills & knowledge in Philosophy and Religious Studies programs

From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.

Skills you'll build

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Writing
Critical Thinking
Learning Strategies
Active Learning
Monitoring

Knowledge areas

Philosophy and Theology
English Language
Education and Training
History and Archeology
Sociology and Anthropology
Law and Government

What graduates do on the job

  • 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.

Concentrations within Philosophy and Religious Studies

Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).

  • Philosophy and Religious Studies, General
    CIP 38.0001

    A general program that combines the study of philosophy and religious studies

Common questions

What is the focus of the Philosophy and Religious Studies program?+

The program focuses on the study of philosophical concepts and religious beliefs from various perspectives.

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, and effective communication skills.

What are the career prospects after graduation?+

Career prospects include roles in education and research, with an outlook of about 2,000 annual openings.

What level of education is typically required for careers in this field?+

Most careers in Philosophy and Religious Studies require a doctoral or professional degree.

What is the CIP code for Philosophy and Religious Studies?+

Philosophy and Religious Studies maps to CIP 38.00 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.

Zoom outAll programs

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.

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