by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Catholic Studies covers A Program That Focuses On Catholic Thought, Culture, And How Catholic Tradition Informs Theology, Culture, Institutions, And Identity. Includes Instruction In Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Catholic Bioethics, Catholic Social Thought, Church History, Latin, Philosophy, And Theology. Continue reading for the key facts every catholic studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering catholic studies programs.
Across the country, catholic studies draws strong interest, with 51 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Catholic Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 6 schools to determine the best overall colleges for catholic studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of catholic studies programs later in this article.
Programs in Catholic Studies build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations catholic studies graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a catholic studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a catholic studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several catholic 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 7 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 38 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to catholic studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 60.5% |
| Master’s degree | 31.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in catholic studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying catholic studies prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to catholic studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to catholic studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of catholic studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 catholic studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers catholic studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 6 different catholic studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased catholic studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in catholic 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 |
| Islamic Studies | 36 |
| Buddhist Studies | 23 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
