Is a religious studies degree worth it?

Questions

Is a religious studies degree worth it?

On average no — across 72 U.S. bachelor’s programs (FREOPP 2021, cohort-weighted), the mean lifetime ROI for Religious Studies is −$296,314 and the median is −$177,086. 61.8% 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 −$743,238 and +$203,056.

How long until a religious studies degree pays off?

For Religious Studies, Among programs that break even, the median program-estimated break-even age, weighted by graduate cohorts, is 38. 61.8% 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 religious studies major?

Enormously. The middle 50% of Religious Studies graduates span −$743,238 to +$203,056 — a +$946K 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.