# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/religious-education
- CIP code: 39.04 (Theology and Religious Vocations)
- Colleges offering it: 79 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Associate's | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 79 | $39,250 | $42,605 | $22,625 |
| Master's | 49 | $45,309 | $52,261 | $27,333 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2 | $49,458 | $57,871 | not reported |
| Doctoral | 13 | $133,142 | not reported | $82,638 |
| First professional | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 18 | not reported | not reported | $36,606 |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Concordia University-Nebraska](https://www.collegesref.com/college/concordia-university-nebraska-696) | Seward, NE | $55,729 | not reported |
| [Dallas Baptist University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dallas-baptist-university-762) | Dallas, TX | $50,647 | not reported |
| [Grand Canyon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/grand-canyon-university-1108) | Phoenix, AZ | $45,165 | $31,334 |
| [Wheaton College-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wheaton-college-illinois-3253) | Wheaton, IL | $42,605 | $22,625 |
| [Franciscan University of Steubenville](https://www.collegesref.com/college/franciscan-university-of-steubenville-1021) | Steubenville, OH | $40,987 | $23,125 |
| [University of the Cumberlands](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-the-cumberlands-3057) | Williamsburg, KY | $39,211 | $18,934 |
| [Crown College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/crown-college-726) | Saint Bonifacius, MN | $36,826 | $22,425 |
| [Moody Bible Institute](https://www.collegesref.com/college/moody-bible-institute-1768) | Chicago, IL | $36,770 | $26,000 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/philosophy-and-religion-teachers-postsecondary): $80,260 median pay
- [Directors, Religious Activities and Education](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/directors-religious-activities-and-education): $52,100 median pay

## More in Theology and Religious Vocations

- [Theological and Ministerial Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/theological-and-ministerial-studies): 244 colleges
- [Bible/Biblical Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/bible-biblical-studies): 184 colleges
- [Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/pastoral-counseling-and-specialized-ministries): 158 colleges
- [Religious Music and Worship](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/religious-music-and-worship): 134 colleges
- [Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/missions-missionary-studies-and-missiology): 98 colleges
- [Theology and Religious Vocations, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/theology-and-religious-vocations-other): 56 colleges
- Religious Institution Administration and Law: 3 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/