by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Buddhist Studies involves the study of Buddhist Studies. A Program That Focuses On The Philosophy Preached By Siddartha Gautama, The Buddha, In Ancient India And Subsequently Interpreted By His Disciples And Apostles; Together With The Intellectual, Cultural, Social, And Ritual Developments Of The Faith And Its Branches. Includes Instruction In Buddhist Sacred Literature (Tripitaka, Etc.) And Study Of One Or More Of The Main Branches Including Early Buddhism, Hinayana, Theravada, Madhyamaka, Yogacara, Pure Land, Shingon, Tendai, Nichiren Shu, Zen, Tibetan, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, And Others. Read on to learn the important information every buddhist studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering buddhist studies programs.
Across the country, buddhist studies draws strong interest, with 23 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Buddhist Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 3 schools to determine the best overall colleges for buddhist studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of buddhist studies programs later in this article.
Programs in Buddhist Studies emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations buddhist studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a buddhist studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a buddhist studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several buddhist studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 19 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to buddhist studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 73.8% |
| Master’s degree | 13.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in buddhist studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in buddhist studies opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to buddhist studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to buddhist studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,031,835 | 3.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of buddhist studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,787 |
| 4 years | $35,631 |
| 5 years | $41,557 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for buddhist studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers buddhist studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
With 3 different buddhist studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased buddhist studies school rankings to help you.
Students interested in buddhist studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Talmudic Studies | 4,730 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 2,675 |
| Jewish/Judaic Studies | 1,045 |
| Christian Studies | 618 |
| Religion/Religious Studies, Other | 70 |
| Catholic Studies | 51 |
| Islamic Studies | 36 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
