by our College Data Analytics TeamMajoring in Sacred Music will allow you to learn more about the different types of music used in religious ceremonies and understand the role it plays in religion. This is an ideal major for students with a passion for both religion and music who is interested in how music allows you to express emotions and beliefs.
Music allows people to express genuine emotions and thought. Classes in topics such as voice, piano, organ, composition, religious studies, history, music theory, and church music administration will teach you how to train a choir, play instruments used in religious ceremonies, and compose new religious music while allowing you to take a deeper look into scared compositions and the messages they wish to express. With a degree in Sacred Music, you will be able to express your faith in a unique and beautiful way.
A degree in Sacred Music covers Religious Music And Worship. Read on to learn the essential details every sacred music major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering sacred music programs.
Nationwide, sacred music draws strong interest, with 477 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Sacred Music Schools ranking analyzes these 97 schools to determine the best overall colleges for sacred music students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of sacred music programs later in this article.
Coursework for Sacred Music emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations sacred music graduates commonly enter.
Students interested in this major should already have some experience with music theory, know how to read sheet music and be able to play an instrument. Classes will usually involve some piano lessons as well as lessons in your main instrument. Worship or Sacred Music professionals often work with the Clergy or the choir making strong interpersonal and communication skills mandatory.
Most graduates with a Sacred Music degree work for churches or religious organizations. These fulltime jobs require professionals to attend church services on the weekends and during the week as well as run choir practices, causing work hours to be irregular. Scholars who wish to research or teach Sacred Music will have more typical hours and work in an office setting.
Students who want to pursue a career in Sacred Music should join their church choir or assist the music director in a congregation. This will allow you to gain experience leading choirs, playing instruments, and preparing the music for religious ceremonies. This previous experience will also be beneficial when graduates are looking for jobs.
The skill set emphasized by a sacred music program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a sacred music major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several sacred music 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 | 5 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 10 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 311 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 126 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 25 |
People currently working in careers related to sacred music tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 54.6% |
| Master’s degree | 14.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.4% |
| Some college courses | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.4% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in sacred music careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Graduates with a degree in Sacred Music typically pursue careers in churches and religious organizations as music directors, worship leaders, organists, cantors, and chanters. In these positions, you will train choirs and mucisians, as well as perform religious and sacred music for church services and other religious ceremonies. With the field growing at an average pace, graduates should be able to find a job after graduation. Those with previous experience in a choir or playing for religious events will be more competitive in the job market.
Studying sacred music prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to sacred music.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to sacred music.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,031,835 | 3.7% |
| Religious Workers, All Other | 258,483 | -1.4% |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | 239,121 | -2.3% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 180,947 | 6.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of sacred music graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,384 |
| 4 years | $38,039 |
| 5 years | $44,242 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for sacred music graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers sacred music grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $66,915 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $64,599 |
| Religious Workers, All Other | $58,956 |
With 97 different sacred music programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased sacred music school rankings to help you.
Those considering sacred music, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Religious/Sacred Music | 394 |
| Worship Ministry | 77 |
| Religious Music and Worship, Other | 6 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 15,135 |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | 3,603 |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | 3,230 |
| Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology | 1,249 |
| Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | 1,235 |
| Religious Education | 1,230 |
| Religious Institution Administration and Law | 57 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
