Best institutions to study Religion/Religious Studies
Any instructional program in religion/religious studies not listed above.
15 U.S. institutions graduated 69 Religion/Religious Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 38.0299, a specialization of Religion/Religious Studies (CIP 38.02).
About Religion/Religious Studies programs
Any instructional program in religion/religious studies not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Religion/Religious Studies program offers an exploration of various religious beliefs, practices, and their impact on society. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the complexities of religion and its role in cultural and philosophical contexts. It caters to those who seek to deepen their knowledge of spiritual traditions and their influence on human behavior and thought. Students in this program will engage with diverse religious texts, historical developments, and contemporary issues related to faith and spirituality. The curriculum is ideal for individuals pursuing careers in education, social services, or any field where an understanding of religious perspectives is valuable.
Core coursework in the Religion/Religious Studies program typically covers a range of topics, including religious texts, ethical theories, and the sociocultural implications of various belief systems. Students develop critical thinking skills and a nuanced understanding of how religion shapes human experiences.
Credentials awarded
What Religion/Religious Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree29 graduates / yr · 6 institutions42%
- Master's degree15 graduates / yr · 6 institutions22%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate13 graduates / yr · 2 institutions19%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year6 graduates / yr · 2 institutions8.7%
- Associate's degree4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions5.8%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship2 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.9%
Graduates over time
Religion/Religious Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 289 |
| 2013 | 208 |
| 2014 | 196 |
| 2015 | 173 |
| 2016 | 162 |
| 2017 | 146 |
| 2018 | 144 |
| 2019 | 108 |
| 2020 | 111 |
| 2021 | 106 |
| 2022 | 76 |
| 2023 | 80 |
| 2024 | 69 |
| 2025 | 69 |
Top 15 institutions for Religion/Religious Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beulah Heights University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sAssociate's | 16 | 33% | $5,970 |
| 2 | Spring Hill College Mobile, ALPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.Master's | 14 | 52% | $14,119 |
| 3 | Williamson Christian College Franklin, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 10 | 67% | $22,823 |
| 4 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicBachelor's | 7 | 86% | — |
| 5 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 68% | — |
| 6 | Oklahoma Baptist University Shawnee, OKPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 52% | $23,214 |
| 7 | University of Saint Joseph West Hartford, CTPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 64% | $25,841 |
| 8 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 96% | $27,025 |
| 9 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 2 | 95% | $22,242 |
| 10 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | 95% | $14,799 |
| 11 | Westminster College Fulton, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 55% | $25,185 |
| 12 | Spartanburg Methodist College Spartanburg, SCPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 2 | 43% | $16,728 |
| 13 | Drew University Madison, NJPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 70% | $23,094 |
| 14 | Daemen University Amherst, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 59% | $16,826 |
| 15 | Academy for Jewish Religion California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | — | — |
Offered in 14 states
Where Religion/Religious Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Religion/Religious Studies programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 1 | 16 | Beulah Heights University16 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 14 | Spring Hill College14 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 10 | Williamson Christian College10 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 7 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University7 / yr |
| Connecticut | 2 | 4 | University of Saint Joseph2 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 4 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion4 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 3 | Oklahoma Baptist University3 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 2 | Georgetown University2 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 2 | Northwestern University2 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 2 | Westminster College2 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 2 | Spartanburg Methodist College2 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 1 | Drew University1 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 1 | Daemen University1 / yr |
| California | 1 | 1 | Academy for Jewish Religion California1 / yr |
Other Religion/Religious Studies specializations
The 9 other 6-digit CIP codes under Religion/Religious Studies (CIP 38.02).
- Talmudic StudiesCIP 38.02075,664 graduates / yr92 institutions
- Religion/CIP 38.0201
Religious Studies 2,287 graduates / yr360 institutions - Jewish/CIP 38.0206
Judaic Studies 1,149 graduates / yr52 institutions - Christian StudiesCIP 38.0203760 graduates / yr64 institutions
- Catholic StudiesCIP 38.0208partial data40 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Islamic StudiesCIP 38.020530 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Buddhist StudiesCIP 38.0202limited data6 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Hindu Studies38.0204
- Mormon Studies38.0209
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, postbaccalaureate certificate, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
How many colleges offer this program?+
There are 15 colleges in the U.S. that offer the Religion/Religious Studies program.
What topics will I study?+
You will study various religious texts, ethical theories, and the sociocultural implications of different belief systems.
What is the average number of graduates per year?+
Approximately 69 students graduate from this program each year in the U.S.
What is the CIP code for Religion/Religious Studies?+
Religion/Religious Studies is CIP 38.0299 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Religion/Religious Studies (CIP 38.02). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in religion/religious studies not listed above.
How many institutions offer Religion/Religious Studies programs?+
15 U.S. institutions reported Religion/Religious Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 14 states, awarding 69 credentials in the year. That is 0.7% of all Religion/Religious Studies graduates.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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