Education
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $80,260
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Instructing
ProgramsTheology and Religious Vocations
Religious Education
CIP39.04
79 colleges offer Religious Education. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 79
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $42,605
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $22,625
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 13
- Associate's
- 13
- Bachelor's
- 79
- Master's
- 49
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 2
- Doctoral
- 13
- First professional
- 2
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 18
What it covers
About Religious Education
A program that focuses on the theory and practice of providing educational services to members of faith communities, within the context of a particular religion, and that prepares individuals to serve as religious educators. Includes instruction in planning and teaching lessons, organizing and supervising instructional activities, designing and developing instructional materials, and administering religious education programs and facilities.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 39.04.
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 13 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Associate's | 13 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 79 | $42,6054 yrs after · 11 colleges | $22,6257 colleges |
| Master's | 49 | $52,2614 yrs after · 4 colleges | $27,3333 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2 | $57,8714 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 13 | $133,1421 yr after · 1 college | $82,6381 college |
| First professional | 2 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 18 | Not reported | $36,6061 college |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Religious Education graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Seward, NE · Private nonprofit · 16 graduates
$55,729
debt not reported
- 2
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit · 15 graduates
$50,647
debt not reported
- 3
Phoenix, AZ · — · 283 graduates
$45,165
debt $31,334
- 4
Wheaton, IL · Private nonprofit · 16 graduates
$42,605
debt $22,625
- 5
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Steubenville, OH · Private nonprofit · 17 graduates
$40,987
debt $23,125
- 6
Williamsburg, KY · Private nonprofit · 32 graduates
$39,211
debt $18,934
- 7
Saint Bonifacius, MN · Private nonprofit · 22 graduates
$36,826
debt $22,425
- 8
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 26 graduates
$36,770
debt $26,000
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Religious Education by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
Community and social service
Directors, Religious Activities and Education
- Median pay
- $52,100
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
More in Theology and Religious Vocations
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Theological and Ministerial Studies244 colleges
- Bible/Biblical Studies184 colleges
- Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries158 colleges
- Religious Music and Worship134 colleges
- Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology98 colleges
- Theology and Religious Vocations, Other56 colleges
- Religious Institution Administration and Law3 colleges
Questions about Religious Education
How many colleges offer Religious Education?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Religious Education at these degree levels: certificate (13 colleges), associate's (13 colleges), bachelor's (79 colleges), master's (49 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (2 colleges), doctoral (13 colleges), first professional (2 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (18 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Religious Education graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Religious Education earn $42,605 a year four years after finishing, across 11 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Religious Education graduates earn the most?
Concordia University-Nebraska reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Religious Education: $55,729 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.