Best colleges for Religious Education
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Religious Education by graduate earnings are Grand Canyon University ($37,273), Franciscan University of Steubenville ($35,803) and Wheaton College ($31,892), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ): $37,273, 362 graduates a year
- Franciscan University of Steubenville (Steubenville, OH): $35,803, 35 graduates a year
- Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL): $31,892, 38 graduates a year
Compare 70 U.S. colleges offering Religious Education by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 32 states.
Religious Education programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,426 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 39.04 and the Directors, Religious Activities and Education occupation (BLS SOC).
About Religious Education programs
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 understanding through structured learning experiences in congregations and community settings.
Students in this program will gain core skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and writing. They will also acquire knowledge in philosophy, theology, education, psychology, and counseling, preparing them to effectively engage with diverse individuals and groups.
Top 12 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,273 | 362 | 43% | $21,535 | $35,436 |
| 2 | Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,803 | 35 | 75% | $21,122 | $26,980 |
| 3 | Wheaton College Wheaton, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,892 | 38 | 85% | $23,461 | $25,000 |
| 4 | Concordia University - Nebraska Seward, NE Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $55,023 | 18 | 65% | $22,390 | $29,000 |
| 5 | Benedictine College Atchison, KS Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,133 | 3 | 62% | $24,826 | $24,625 |
| 6 | Grace Christian University Wyoming, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,308 | 1 | 51% | $14,254 | $30,750 |
| 7 | Dallas Baptist University Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,426 | 19 | 57% | $29,227 | $21,500 |
| 8 | Crown College Saint Bonifacius, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,276 | 15 | 45% | $26,706 | $25,937 |
| 9 | Trinity International University - Illinois Deerfield, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,903 | 19 | 46% | $20,539 | $32,934 |
| 10 | Biola University La Mirada, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,887 | 13 | 68% | $26,727 | $25,454 |
| 11 | Moody Bible Institute Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,671 | 17 | 62% | $24,848 | $14,000 |
| 12 | Messiah University Mechanicsburg, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,885 | 4 | 75% | $25,675 | $26,000 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University Durham, NC Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree | $35,553 | 62 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
Specializations within Religious Education
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 39.04 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 32 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraskalimited | 1 | $55,023 | Concordia University - Nebraska |
| Arizonalimited | 1 | $37,273 | Grand Canyon University |
| Ohio | 3 | $35,803 | Franciscan University of Steubenville |
| North Carolina | 3 | $35,553 | Duke University |
| Kansaslimited | 1 | $35,133 | Benedictine College |
| Michiganlimited | 2 | $33,308 | Grace Christian University |
| Texas | 3 | $32,426 | Dallas Baptist University |
| Minnesota | 3 | $32,276 | Crown College |
| Illinois | 6 | $31,892 | Trinity International University - Illinois |
| California | 4 | $30,887 | Biola University |
| Pennsylvanialimited | 1 | $28,885 | Messiah University |
| Alabamalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Coloradolimited | 1 | — | — |
| District of Columbialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Georgialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Idaholimited | 1 | — | — |
| Indiana | 3 | — | — |
| Iowalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Kentucky | 5 | — | — |
| Missourilimited | 2 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Massachusettslimited | 2 | — | — |
| Mississippilimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jerseylimited | 2 | — | — |
| New York | 4 | — | — |
| Oklahomalimited | 1 | — | — |
| South Carolinalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Tennessee | 3 | — | — |
| Utahlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Virginialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Puerto Ricolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Washingtonlimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-2021, Directors, Religious Activities and Education, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Religious Education program can pursue careers in various educational and religious settings. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.1% and approximately 13,800 annual openings. The median wage for related positions is $54,840, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Religious Education
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 39.04.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 39.04 (Religious Education) maps to 2 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 21-2021 | Directors, Religious Activities and Educationprimary |
| 25-1126 | Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Religious Education programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Develop or direct study courses or religious education programs within congregations.
- Identify and recruit potential volunteer workers.
- Select appropriate curricula or class structures for educational programs.
- Schedule special events, such as camps, conferences, meetings, seminars, or retreats.
- Counsel individuals regarding interpersonal, health, financial, or religious problems.
- Collaborate with other ministry members to establish goals and objectives for religious education programs or to develop ways to encourage program participation.
Common questions
What is Religious Education?+
Religious Education is a program that prepares students to develop and direct educational programs within religious contexts.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn skills such as speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and writing, along with knowledge in philosophy, theology, and education.
What are the career prospects?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.1% and around 13,800 annual openings.
What is the typical education required?+
A Bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in Religious Education.
How much do Religious Education graduates earn?+
Religious Education graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,426, College Scorecard (2019); the Directors, Religious Activities and Education occupation pays about $62,100 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Religious Education?+
Religious Education maps to CIP 39.04 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.
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.
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