by our College Data Analytics Team
[Religious Studies](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/religious-studies/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a religious studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 48 schools to find where religious studies graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
The right religious studies school can pay off in your paycheck for years to come. To help, we created our Highest Paid Religious Studies Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose religious studies degrees pay off the most.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Religious Studies Graduates list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you want to know which schools send religious studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Jewish Theological Seminary Of America the top school for religious studies graduate earnings in the United States. Set in the city of New York, Jewish Theological Seminary Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. Religious Studies graduates of Jewish Theological Seminary Of America earn a median of about $98,891 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in religious studies will find them at Yeshivas Beer Yitzchok, which ranked #2. Yeshivas Beer Yitzchok is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elizabeth. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,244.
Strong graduate earnings at Florida State University earned it the #3 place for religious studies. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a public institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from Florida State University typically earn about $53,041 annually.
Fordham University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious studies schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from Fordham University typically earn about $85,741 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in religious studies will find them at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public institution. Religious Studies graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of about $46,607 a year early in their careers.
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Furman University came in at #6 for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career religious studies graduates from Furman University make a median of around $46,350 per year.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious studies schools. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Religious Studies graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of about $46,061 a year early in their careers.
Beth Medrash Govoha placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for religious studies. Beth Medrash Govoha is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lakewood. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from Beth Medrash Govoha typically earn about $55,680 annually.
University Of Florida placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for religious studies. University Of Florida is a public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,263.
Luther College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious studies schools. Located in the town of Decorah, Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career religious studies graduates from Luther College make a median of around $44,246 per year.
Liberty University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious studies schools. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from Liberty University typically earn about $49,603 annually.
Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School Of Theology came in at #12 for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Brookline, Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School Of Theology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,512.
Faith Evangelical College And Seminary earned the #13 position for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, Faith Evangelical College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,103.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for religious studies. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus typically earn about $62,116 annually.
Beulah Heights University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for religious studies. Located in the city of Atlanta, Beulah Heights University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from Beulah Heights University typically earn about $39,130 annually.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #16 for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte typically earn about $47,478 annually.
Baylor University came in at #17 for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Baylor University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Early-career religious studies graduates from Baylor University make a median of around $46,611 per year.
Gardner Webb University landed the #18 spot for religious studies salaries this year. Gardner Webb University is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Boiling Springs. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $37,084.
St Olaf College earned the #19 position for religious studies graduate earnings this year. St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. Students who complete the religious studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,329.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #20 position for religious studies graduate earnings this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public school located in the city of Milwaukee. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee typically earn about $44,527 annually.
Ohio Christian University earned the #21 position for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Ohio Christian University is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Circleville. Early-career religious studies graduates from Ohio Christian University make a median of around $43,386 per year.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #22 for religious studies graduate earnings this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Early-career religious studies graduates from University Of St Thomas Minnesota make a median of around $48,307 per year.
Evangel University landed the #23 spot for religious studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Evangel University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, religious studies degree recipients from Evangel University typically earn about $47,618 annually.
California Baptist University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying religious studies schools. California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. Early-career religious studies graduates from California Baptist University make a median of around $40,623 per year.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #25 for religious studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. Religious Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of about $33,690 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid religious studies ranking:
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This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries religious studies graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 48 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
