Best institutions to study Religious Music and Worship
Compare 86 U.S. colleges offering Religious Music and Worship by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 31 states.
Religious Music and Worship programs report a median of $30,092 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 39.05 and the Music Directors and Composers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Religious Music and Worship programs
The Religious Music and Worship program focuses on the intersection of music, theology, and worship practices. It is designed for individuals interested in pursuing careers in religious settings, where music plays a vital role in enhancing worship experiences. This program prepares students to lead and create meaningful musical expressions within various faith communities.
Students in this program will develop core skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes music theory, performance techniques, and the study of sacred music, enabling students to understand and apply musical elements in worship contexts.
Top 3 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,284 | 117 | 65% | $28,911 | $27,000 |
| 2 | North Central University Minneapolis, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,092 | 3 | 66% | $23,452 | — |
| 3 | Southeastern University Lakeland, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,713 | 8 | 43% | $29,915 | $27,500 |
Offered across 31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginialimited | 2 | $33,284 | Liberty University |
| Minnesota | 4 | $30,092 | North Central University |
| Florida | 3 | $29,713 | Southeastern University |
| Alabamalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Arizonalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Arkansaslimited | 1 | — | — |
| California | 10 | — | — |
| Coloradolimited | 1 | — | — |
| New York | 3 | — | — |
| Georgialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Illinois | 3 | — | — |
| Indiana | 3 | — | — |
| Iowalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Kentuckylimited | 2 | — | — |
| Missouri | 7 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Massachusettslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Michiganlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Mississippilimited | 2 | — | — |
| Nebraskalimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jerseylimited | 1 | — | — |
| North Carolina | 3 | — | — |
| Ohio | 6 | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | — | — |
| South Carolina | 4 | — | — |
| South Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Tennessee | 6 | — | — |
| Texas | 8 | — | — |
| Washingtonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Wisconsinlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Puerto Ricolimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-2041, Music Directors and Composers, and its national outlook.
Career opportunities for graduates in Religious Music and Worship may include roles in worship ministry and sacred music leadership. The job outlook indicates little or no change, with approximately 4,300 annual openings and a median wage of $63,670. A typical requirement for these positions is a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Religious Music and Worship
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 39.05.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 39.05 (Religious Music and Worship) maps to 4 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 Education |
| 21-2099 | Religious Workers, All Other |
| 25-1126 | Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 27-2041 | Music Directors and Composersprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Religious Music and Worship 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
- Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
- Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
- Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
- Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
- Consider such factors as ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, to select music to be performed.
- Determine voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos, and tone balances required to achieve the effects desired in a musical composition.
Concentrations within Religious Music and Worship
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Religious/Sacred MusicCIP 39.0501
A program that focuses on the history, theory, composition, and performance of music for religious or sacred purposes, and that prepares individuals for religious musical vocations such as choir direc
- Worship MinistryCIP 39.0502
A program of study that focuses on the use of musical and theatrical arts in Christian worship
- Religious Music and Worship, OtherCIP 39.0599
Any instructional program in religious music and worship not listed above.
Common questions
What types of specializations are available?+
Specializations include Religious/Sacred Music, Worship Ministry, and other areas related to Religious Music and Worship.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 4,300 annual openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
A bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in this field.
How much do Religious Music and Worship graduates earn?+
Religious Music and Worship graduates report median earnings of $30,092 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Music Directors and Composers occupation pays about $90,470 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Religious Music and Worship?+
Religious Music and Worship maps to CIP 39.05 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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