by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Jewish Studies involves the study of Jewish/judaic Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Culture, And Religion Of The Jewish People. Includes Instruction In Jewish Religious Heritage, Sacred Texts, And Law; Jewish Philosophy And Intellectual History; Jewish Life And Culture, Both In Israel And The Jewish Diaspora; Historical Jewish Minority Cultures Such As The Yiddish, Sephardic, And Other; Anti-Semitism, Gentile Relations And Shoa; Zionism; And Modern Developments Within Judaism. Read on to learn the important information every jewish studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering jewish studies programs.
Across the country, jewish studies draws strong interest, with 1,045 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Jewish Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 54 schools to determine the best overall colleges for jewish studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of jewish studies programs later in this article.
Programs in Jewish Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations jewish studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a jewish studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a jewish studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several jewish 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 7 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 544 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 238 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 245 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 11 |
People currently working in careers related to jewish 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in jewish studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in jewish studies prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to jewish studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to jewish studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of jewish studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 jewish studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers jewish studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 54 different jewish studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased jewish studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in jewish 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 |
| Christian Studies | 618 |
| Religion/Religious Studies, Other | 70 |
| Catholic Studies | 51 |
| Islamic Studies | 36 |
| Buddhist Studies | 23 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
