Master’s Degrees in Religious Studies
Education Levels of Religion Majors
During the most recent year for which data is available, 1,467 people earned their master's degree in religion. This earns it the #102 spot on the list of the most popular master's degree programs in the nation.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in religion at each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 5,554 |
| Master’s Degree | 1,467 |
| Associate Degree | 1,461 |
| Graduate Certificate | 479 |
| Basic Certificate | 364 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 228 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 34 |
Earnings of Religion Majors With Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in religion is $46,502. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $39,956 and the high is $53,160.
Student Debt
We do not have the data to estimate the median debt for this class of people.
Student Diversity
More men than women pursue master's degrees in religion. About 74.0% of graduates in this field are male.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 1,085 |
| Women | 382 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of religion master’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 39 |
| Black or African American | 77 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 69 |
| White | 1,160 |
| International Students | 63 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 59 |
Most Popular Religion Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 184 colleges that offer a master’s degree in religion. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Beth Medrash Govoha tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for religion majors who are seeking their master's degree. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $25,780 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,693 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 219 people received their master's degree in religion from Beth Medrash Govoha. Those who complete their master's degree in religion at Beth Medrash Govoha make a median salary of 46,502.
The 2nd most popular school in the country for religion majors who are seeking their master's degree is Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Each year, around 3,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,816 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,688 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 91 people received their master's degree in religion from SEBTS. Around 21% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 36% were women. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary religion graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $46,502.
Ner Israel Rabbinical College is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in religion. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,400 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,400 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 35 people received their master's degree in religion from Ner Israel Rabbinical College. Ner Israel Rabbinical College religion graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $46,502.
Yale University comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in religion. Roughly 12,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $64,700 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $48,300 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 27 people received their master's degree in religion from Yale. About 35% of this group were women, and 47% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that Yale graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $46,502.
Crown College is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in religion. Each year, around 1,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $29,300 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,980 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 27 people received their master's degree in religion from Crown. Around 31% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 27% were women. Data shows that Crown graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $46,502.
Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in religion. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,400 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,200 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 27 people received their master's degree in religion from Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz. Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz religion graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $46,502.
The 8th most popular school in the country for religion majors who are seeking their master's degree is Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. Roughly 200 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 26 people received their master's degree in religion from Northern Seminary. About 10% of this group were women, and 50% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their master's degree in religion at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary make a median salary of 46,502.
Spertus College is the 9th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in religion. Roughly 100 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 25 people received their master's degree in religion from Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies. Those who complete their master's degree in religion at Spertus College make a median salary of 46,502.
The 10th most popular school in the country for religion majors who are seeking their master's degree is Friends University. Roughly 1,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $32,108 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,448 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 24 people received their master's degree in religion from Friends University. Of these students, 75% were women and 6% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Friends University religion graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $46,502.
University of Virginia - Main Campus is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in religion. Roughly 25,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $18,823 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $19,118 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 22 people received their master's degree in religion from University of Virginia. Around 43% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 64% were women. University of Virginia - Main Campus religion graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $46,502.
Hartford Seminary is the 12th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in religion. Roughly 100 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 21 people received their master's degree in religion from Hartford Seminary. Of these students, 63% were women and 21% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that Hartford Seminary graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $46,502.
The 13th most popular school in the country for religion majors who are seeking their master's degree is Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Roughly 300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $62,676 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $37,840 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 19 people received their master's degree in religion from Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Of these students, 55% were women and 14% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in religion at Jewish Theological Seminary of America make a median salary of 46,502.
Wayland Baptist University comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in religion. Roughly 4,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $21,728 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,598 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 19 people received their master's degree in religion from Wayland Baptist University. Around 50% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 17% were women. Data shows that Wayland Baptist University graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $46,502.
Rabbinical Academy Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin is the 15th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in religion. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,800 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,450 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 18 people received their master's degree in religion from Rabbinical Academy Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin. Rabbinical Academy Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin religion graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $46,502.
Claremont School of Theology is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in religion. Roughly 200 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 17 people received their master's degree in religion from Claremont School of Theology. Of these students, 71% were women and 57% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in religion at Claremont School of Theology make a median salary of 46,502.
Santa Clara University comes in at #16 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in religion. Each year, around 8,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,587 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $25,873 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 17 people received their master's degree in religion from SCU. Around 50% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 67% were women. Data shows that SCU graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $46,502.
Denver Seminary comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in religion. During the most recent year for which we have data, 16 people received their master's degree in religion from Denver Seminary. Denver Seminary religion graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $46,502.
The 19th most popular school in the country for religion majors who are seeking their master's degree is Columbia University in the City of New York. Each year, around 30,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $64,526 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $53,576 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 15 people received their master's degree in religion from Columbia. Of these students, 63% were women and 21% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in religion at Columbia University in the City of New York make a median salary of 46,502.
The 20th most popular school in the country for religion majors who are seeking their master's degree is Harvard University. Each year, around 30,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,269 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $54,032 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 14 people received their master's degree in religion from Harvard. About 62% of this group were women, and 38% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their master's degree in religion at Harvard University make a median salary of 46,502.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to religion that offer master’s degrees.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Philosophy | 846 |
| Other Philosophy & Religion | 92 |
| General Philosophy & Religion | 20 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Image Credit: By Sowlos under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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