2026 Best Religious Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Religious Studies associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 780 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Religious Studies Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Liberty University to be the best Religious Studies school in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA. About 67% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Typical Religious Studies student debt is $32,873. Read the full report on Liberty University
Out of the 780 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Hamilton College landed the #2 spot. Read the full report on Hamilton College
The strong Religious Studies programs at Haverford College earned it the #3 place in the United States. More on Haverford College
Portland State University came in at #4 on this year's Religious Studies ranking in the United States. See the full Portland State University profile
A rank of #5 makes South Mountain Community College one of the top choices in the United States. See the full South Mountain Community College profile
Bethune Cookman University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Read the full report on Bethune Cookman University
Franklin College landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Franklin College
San Jose State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Get the full San Jose State University report
Baylor University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Get the full Baylor University report
Loyola University New Orleans did well this year, earning the #11 position. Read more about Loyola University New Orleans
Seattle University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full Seattle University report
Berea College
Berea College placed #13 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Berea College
California State University Bakersfield did well this year, earning the #14 position. More on California State University Bakersfield
Elyon College
Elyon College placed #15 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Elyon College
Salve Regina University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on Salve Regina University
Yeshiva Shaarei Torah Of Rockland ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Read the full report on Yeshiva Shaarei Torah Of Rockland
Gettysburg College landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Gettysburg College
Grace College Of Divinity came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Get the full Grace College Of Divinity report
Saint Joseph Seminary College did well this year, earning the #20 position. See the full Saint Joseph Seminary College profile
Alvernia University did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Alvernia University
Christian Brothers University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. More on Christian Brothers University
Hastings College
Hastings College landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Hastings College report
Randolph Macon College landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Randolph Macon College report
Saint Michaels College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Get the full Saint Michaels College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Religious Studies Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Catholic University Of America came in at #26 in this year's ranking. More on Catholic University Of America
Southern Adventist University came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Get the full Southern Adventist University report
Trinity Episcopal School For Ministry placed #28 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Trinity Episcopal School For Ministry
Yeshiva Gedolah Tiferes Boruch landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. See the full Yeshiva Gedolah Tiferes Boruch profile
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. More on Olivet Nazarene University
Southwestern Adventist University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Read the full report on Southwestern Adventist University
Mechon Lhoyroa
Mechon Lhoyroa landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Mechon Lhoyroa
Regis University
Regis University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Read more about Regis University
Appalachian State University landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Appalachian State University
Cuny Queens College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Get the full Cuny Queens College report
East Texas Baptist University did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on East Texas Baptist University
Saint Martins University placed #37 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. See the full Saint Martins University profile
Bet Medrash Gadol Ateret Torah landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. See the full Bet Medrash Gadol Ateret Torah profile
Hampshire College did well this year, earning the #39 position. More on Hampshire College
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Minnesota Twin Cities report
University Of Mobile placed #41 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. See the full University Of Mobile profile
Yeshiva Gedolah Shaarei Shmuel came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read more about Yeshiva Gedolah Shaarei Shmuel
Saint Leo University placed #43 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Saint Leo University report
Talmudical Institute Of Upstate New York landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Talmudical Institute Of Upstate New York
Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah placed #45 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. See the full Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah profile
Connecticut College came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Read more about Connecticut College
University Of Florida placed #47 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Florida
University Of Houston ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Read more about University Of Houston
Emmanuel College Massachusetts placed #49 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Emmanuel College Massachusetts
Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania placed #50 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania
Related Religious Studies Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Religious Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Religious Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Religious Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Religious Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Religious Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Religious Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 780 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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