by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Religious/Sacred Music explores Religious/sacred Music. A Program That Focuses On The History, Theory, Composition, And Performance Of Music For Religious Or Sacred Purposes, And That Prepares Individuals For Religious Musical Vocations Such As Choir Directors, Cantors, Organists, And Chanters. Read on to learn the important information every religious/sacred music major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering religious/sacred music programs.
Nationwide, religious/sacred music is a widely-pursued major, with 394 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Religious/Sacred Music Schools ranking analyzes these 81 schools to determine the best overall colleges for religious/sacred music students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of religious/sacred music programs later in this article.
Studies in Religious/Sacred Music develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations religious/sacred music graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a religious/sacred music program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a religious/sacred music major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several religious/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 | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 243 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 113 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 25 |
People currently working in careers related to religious/sacred music tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 66.1% |
| Master’s degree | 15.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
| Some college courses | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in religious/sacred music careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in religious/sacred music prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to religious/sacred music.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to religious/sacred music.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,031,835 | 3.7% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 180,947 | 6.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of religious/sacred music graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 religious/sacred music graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers religious/sacred music grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $66,915 |
With 81 different religious/sacred music programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased religious/sacred music school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in religious/sacred music, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Worship Ministry | 77 |
| Religious Music and Worship, Other | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
