Best Religion/Religious Studies Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
33
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$345,394
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$37,616
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Fordham University
Grad rate: 81.8% |
NY | +$320,324 | $75,263 | $77,351 | $26,320 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
American Public University System
Grad rate: 54.3% |
WV | +$178,318 | $55,605 | $16,358 | $21,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 | Beth Medrash Govoha | NJ | +$104,520 | $47,226 | N/A | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Grad rate: 83.8% |
NY | -$62,828 | $56,105 | $80,579 | $16,750 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Florida State University
Grad rate: 83.9% |
FL | -$68,312 | $43,321 | $23,683 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
University of South Florida
Grad rate: 74.4% |
FL | -$185,224 | $37,199 | $22,301 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
Grad rate: 57.4% |
MA | -$233,648 | $38,574 | $41,282 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Virginia Commonwealth University
Grad rate: 64.9% |
VA | -$257,904 | $35,974 | $34,346 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Grad rate: 68.8% |
NC | -$260,594 | $35,039 | $22,034 | $24,621 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Grad rate: 49.6% |
WI | -$294,896 | $31,690 | $22,174 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
University of Florida
Grad rate: 90.7% |
FL | -$338,856 | $29,401 | $21,719 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Whitworth University
Grad rate: 72.3% |
WA | -$341,994 | $39,730 | $65,711 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Bet Medrash Gadol Ateret Torah
Grad rate: 44.7% |
NY | -$347,740 | $27,913 | $16,500 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Cairn University-Langhorne
Grad rate: 60.7% |
PA | -$385,424 | $33,899 | $45,473 | $30,750 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Liberty University
Grad rate: 64.5% |
VA | -$386,696 | $33,470 | $41,707 | $36,495 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
University of St Thomas
Grad rate: 77.3% |
MN | -$390,241 | $36,741 | $64,684 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Ohio Christian University
Grad rate: 33.8% |
OH | -$393,158 | $31,534 | $33,472 | $37,000 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Uta Mesivta of Kiryas Joel
Grad rate: 81.4% |
NY | -$396,508 | $26,465 | $21,452 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
University of Puget Sound
Grad rate: 72.3% |
WA | -$400,936 | $37,055 | $75,509 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Baylor University
Grad rate: 80.8% |
TX | -$413,036 | $37,103 | $70,130 | $25,612 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Evangel University
Grad rate: 68.2% |
MO | -$415,574 | $30,816 | $38,931 | $26,793 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Grad rate: 95.3% |
VA | -$428,108 | $29,454 | $38,132 | $18,267 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Mission University
Grad rate: 38.6% |
MO | -$458,552 | $24,930 | $29,288 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Luther College
Grad rate: 74.6% |
IA | -$487,720 | $30,183 | $62,845 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
California Baptist University
Grad rate: 61.2% |
CA | -$489,611 | $29,653 | $52,408 | $24,474 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Yeshivath Viznitz
Grad rate: 71.4% |
NY | -$501,644 | $20,297 | $16,896 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary
Grad rate: 18.9% |
CA | -$512,200 | $21,910 | $27,600 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
United Talmudical Seminary
Grad rate: 58.0% |
NY | -$564,016 | $18,124 | $21,624 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Yeshiva of Nitra Rabbinical College
Grad rate: 17.6% |
NY | -$566,980 | $18,211 | $22,800 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Talmudical Seminary of Bobov
Grad rate: 33.9% |
NY | -$575,140 | $16,923 | $18,400 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary
Grad rate: 55.2% |
NY | -$595,784 | $16,081 | $19,351 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Yeshiva of Machzikai Hadas
Grad rate: 68.2% |
NY | -$610,360 | $17,760 | $31,390 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz
Grad rate: 6.2% |
NY | -$637,496 | $15,643 | $27,589 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Religion/Religious Studies Degrees by State
Browse Religion/Religious Studies programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.