MAJORS · 9 OF 115 SUBFIELDS BY ROI

Is a biblical studies degree worth it?

Part of Philosophy and Religious Studies — see the whole category’s numbers.

On average, no — the mean lifetime ROI is −$91,526, by FREOPP’s own published number. The honest details matter.

MEAN LIFETIME ROI · FREOPP 2021 · COHORT-WEIGHTED

−$91,526

across 52 bachelor’s programs · 3,863 graduates

MEDIAN GRADUATE

−$102K

MIDDLE 50% LAND BETWEEN

−$229K ⟷ +$15K

NEVER BREAK EVEN

68.9%

MEDIAN PROGRAM-ESTIMATED BREAK-EVEN AGE

43

Among programs that break even; weighted by graduate cohorts. These are program estimates, not tracked individual graduate outcomes.

ADJUSTED FOR REAL COMPLETION RATES

−$115K

IF YOU DROP OUT

−$123K

Questions

Is a biblical studies degree worth it?
On average no — across 52 U.S. bachelor’s programs (FREOPP 2021, cohort-weighted), the mean lifetime ROI for Biblical Studies is −$91,526 and the median is −$101,931. 68.9% of graduate cohort weight with reported break-even data is in programs flagged as never breaking even. The honest answer depends heavily on the specific program and school: the middle half of graduates land between −$229,034 and +$14,987.
How long until a biblical studies degree pays off?
For Biblical Studies, Among programs that break even, the median program-estimated break-even age, weighted by graduate cohorts, is 43. 68.9% of graduate cohort weight with reported break-even data is in programs flagged as never breaking even. FREOPP 2021.
Does the school matter for a biblical studies major?
Enormously. The middle 50% of Biblical Studies graduates span −$229,034 to +$14,987 — a +$244K spread within one major. The same field can be a strong trade at one school and a losing one at another, which is why the per-school number matters more than the field average.

↓ Download the data (CSV) · All 115 subfields with full statistics. Free to cite with attribution. · Methodology

Cite this:

LE TEEN (2026). “Biblical Studies: lifetime ROI statistics.” Data: FREOPP 2021. https://le-teen.com/majors/biblical-studies