Religious Education programs
CIP 3904 · Theology & Religious Vocations · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
16 institutions report graduate earnings for Religious Education programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $48,019 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61× and 81% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 8 of the 20 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of ReligionNY · Master's | $86,481 n=16 | 100% 5yr | – | – | Above +22% | Clears 2/2 |
| 2 | Dallas Theological SeminaryTX · Master's | $73,926 n=18 | 100% 1yr | $27,950 | 0.38× | Above +13% | – |
| 3 | Dallas Baptist UniversityTX · Master's | $58,521 n=16 | 85% 5yr | $61,500 | 1.05× | Below -11% | Below 2/2 |
| 4 | Duke UniversityNC · Post-bacc cert | $57,871 n=22 | – | – | – | Below -1% | – |
| 5 | Concordia University-NebraskaNE · Bachelor's | $55,729 n=23 | 90% 5yr | $28,500 | 0.51× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 6 | Grand Canyon UniversityAZ · Master's | $52,623 n=142 | 80% | $32,954 | 0.63× | Below -14% | Below 2/2 |
| 7 | Grace Christian UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $52,314 n=19 | – | $29,000 | 0.55× | Above +49% | – |
| 8 | Crown CollegeMN · Master's | $51,900 n=30 | 55% 1yr | $25,150 | 0.48× | Below -24% | – |
| 9 | Dallas Baptist UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $50,647 n=27 | 58% 1yr | $20,500 | 0.41× | Above +42% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | Liberty UniversityVA · Master's | $49,751 n=31 | 75% 5yr | $48,041 | 0.97× | Below -30% | Below 2/2 |
| 11 | Trinity International University-IllinoisIL · Bachelor's | $46,286 n=46 | 81% 5yr | $32,000 | 0.69× | Above +23% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | College of Biblical Studies-HoustonTX · Bachelor's | $45,822 n=27 | – | $27,539 | 0.60× | Above +28% | Below 1/2 |
| 13 | Grand Canyon UniversityAZ · Bachelor's | $45,165 n=311 | 39% | $30,731 | 0.68× | Above +23% | Below 1/2 |
| 14 | Wheaton CollegeIL · Bachelor's | $42,605 n=21 | – | $25,000 | 0.59× | Above +13% | Below 1/2 |
| 15 | Franciscan University of SteubenvilleOH · Bachelor's | $40,987 n=58 | 82% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.61× | Above +11% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | Biola UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $40,261 n=35 | 87% 5yr | $25,437 | 0.63× | Above +5% | – |
| 17 | University of the CumberlandsKY · Bachelor's | $39,211 n=20 | – | $21,593 | 0.55× | Above +13% | – |
| 18 | Crown CollegeMN · Bachelor's | $36,826 n=38 | – | $24,250 | 0.66× | Below -8% | Below 2/2 |
| 19 | Moody Bible InstituteIL · Bachelor's | $36,770 n=68 | 63% 5yr | $12,647 | 0.34× | Below -2% | Below 2/2 |
| 20 | College of Biblical Studies-HoustonTX · Associate | $35,131 n=23 | – | $26,563 | 0.76× | Below -2% | – |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $50,647 | 5 |
| Illinois | $42,605 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting Religious Education programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Religious Education programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Religious Education programs in this dataset are Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion ($86,481), Dallas Theological Seminary ($73,926), Dallas Baptist University ($58,521). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Religious Education programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 8 of the 20 Religious Education programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.