Washington · Religion/Religious Studies

Best colleges for Religion/Religious Studies in Washington

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Puget Sound, Pacific Lutheran University and Western Washington University award the most Religion/Religious Studies degrees in Washington: 11, 8 and 5 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 Washington colleges offer Religion/Religious Studies and award 55 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Religion/Religious Studies program explores the multifaceted nature of religion from historical and scientific perspectives. This field examines various religious traditions, their beliefs, practices, and cultural impacts, making it…

Institutions
7
offering CIP 38.02
States offered
47
with a program page
Degrees / yr
55
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$25,243
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
3
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,510
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
66%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
$86,670
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 3 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Faith International University
Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$42,1032225%$18,744$17,813
2Whitworth University
Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$25,243471%$23,510$25,000
3University of Puget Sound
Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$20,3571168%$35,057—

Colleges awarding the most Religion/Religious Studies degrees in Washington

Top 6 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, rabbinical and Talmudic seminaries, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Puget Sound
Tacoma Private not-for-profit
11$20,357
2Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma Private not-for-profit
8Not reported
3Western Washington University
Bellingham Public
5Not reported
4Whitworth University
Spokane Private not-for-profit
4$25,243
5University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle Public
3Not reported
6Whitman College
Walla Walla Private not-for-profit
2Not reported
Show the other 1 Washington colleges offering Religion/Religious Studies
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Faith International UniversityTacomaPrivate not-for-profit22

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1126).

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

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingWritingCritical ThinkingLearning Strategies

What Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Washington

Jobs in Washington
330
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$86,670
median $81,240
Best-paying metro
$92,210
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Related careers

Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
$86,670 avg · 330 jobs
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
$84,450 avg · 240 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Religion/Religious Studies programs in Washington.

Which Washington colleges award the most Religion/Religious Studies degrees?+

University of Puget Sound (11 graduates a year), Pacific Lutheran University (8 graduates a year) and Western Washington University (5 graduates a year) award the most Religion/Religious Studies degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 Washington colleges offer Religion/Religious Studies.

How much do Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Washington?+

The average annual wage for Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary in Washington is $86,670 (median $81,240), across about 330 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Religion/Religious Studies program?+

The Religion/Religious Studies program explores the multifaceted nature of religion from historical and scientific perspectives. This field examines various religious traditions, their beliefs, practices, and cultural impacts, making it…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, writing, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary?+

The national job outlook is about +0.7% growth with around 2,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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.

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