Biblical Studies
Students study the texts, languages, historical contexts, and theological interpretations of the Bible, including both Old and New Testament scholarship. Graduates typically pursue careers in pastoral ministry, religious education, nonprofit leadership, chaplaincy, and biblical archaeology, or continue to seminary. This major provides deep textual and historical knowledge for those called to religious vocations or scholarly study of sacred texts.
What Biblical Studies graduates do
Your deep understanding of scripture and theology prepares you for careers centered on community, education, and spiritual guidance. Many graduates become directors of religious activities and education. In this role, your days are a blend of management and ministry: you’ll develop curricula for youth programs, organize community outreach events, manage volunteers, and oversee budgets for a church or non-profit. You might start by leading a specific ministry, like youth or outreach, before progressing to oversee all educational programs for a large congregation.
A different path leads to academia as a postsecondary religion teacher, a highly competitive field requiring a graduate degree. This involves intensive research, writing scholarly articles, and lecturing college students. While job growth in academia is nearly flat, opportunities in religious administration are more stable. AI will have a moderate impact, automating significant chunks of routine work like drafting announcements or organizing research notes. This won’t replace you, but it will change your daily tasks, freeing you to focus on the uniquely human elements of your job: mentoring, building community, and providing spiritual counsel. Adaptability is key.
If Biblical Studies isn't the right fit, programs like Religious Education, Missionary Studies, and Sacred Music draw from adjacent disciplines.
Where Biblical Studies graduates work
Common career paths for Biblical Studies graduates, with median salaries, projected growth, and AI exposure per role. Roughly 15,800 combined openings per year across these roles.
| Role | Median Pay | Annual Openings | 10-yr Growth | AI Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
|
$78,050
$61K–$102K
|
2,000 | +0.7% | High · 51% |
|
Directors, religious activities and education
|
$54,840
$42K–$75K
|
13,800 | +2.1% | Moderate · 44% |
Best schools for Biblical Studies
Schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score (earnings × AI resilience × ROI × job-market size). Top 10 of 37.
| # | School | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 |
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Marion, IN · Private nonprofit
|
34 | $46,674 | 3.1x |
| 6 |
Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, CO · Private nonprofit
|
34 | $39,272 | 3.1x |
| 7 |
Luther Rice College & Seminary
Lithonia, GA · Private nonprofit
|
34 | $37,863 | 9.7x |
| 8 |
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN · Private nonprofit
|
33 | $44,142 | 3.6x |
| 9 |
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH · Private nonprofit
|
32 | $42,572 | 1.9x |
| 10 |
Lancaster Bible College
Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofit
|
30 | $44,601 | 2.5x |
| 11 |
Central Baptist College
Conway, AR · Private nonprofit
|
29 | $36,109 | 3.6x |
| 12 |
Moody Bible Institute
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit
|
29 | $35,114 | 6.6x |
| 13 |
Carolina University
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit
|
28 | $39,834 | 3.9x |
| 14 |
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Waxahachie, TX · Private nonprofit
|
27 | $33,918 | 5.4x |
| 15 |
University of Northwestern-St Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
|
26 | $41,123 | 1.8x |
| 16 |
Dallas Baptist University
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit
|
25 | $37,958 | 2.2x |
| 17 |
Manhattan Christian College
Manhattan, KS · Private nonprofit
|
24 | $36,357 | 3.1x |
| 18 |
Grace Christian University
Wyoming, MI · Private nonprofit
|
24 | $30,263 | 4.0x |
| 19 |
Biola University
La Mirada, CA · Private nonprofit
|
23 | $37,518 | 1.7x |
| 20 |
Belhaven University
Jackson, MS · Private nonprofit
|
23 | $35,275 | 2.7x |
Highest Earnings Top 5
| Harding University
AR |
$48,073 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
IN |
$46,674 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
IN |
$46,674 |
| Lancaster Bible College
PA |
$44,601 |
| Freed-Hardeman University
TN |
$44,142 |
Best ROI Top 5
| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
IN |
14.5x |
| Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
MO |
10.3x |
| Luther Rice College & Seminary
GA |
9.7x |
| SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary
CA |
7.5x |
| Northpoint Bible College
MA |
6.8x |
Related majors
Similar fields of study often offered alongside Biblical Studies.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Biblical Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Biblical Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Biblical Studies
How much do Biblical Studies graduates earn?
The median first-year salary across 37 Biblical Studies programs is $33,741. School selection matters — the gap between the lowest ($11,491) and highest ($48,073) earning programs is significant.
What is the AI automation risk for Biblical Studies?
Biblical Studies is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with 55% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Where should I study Biblical Studies?
Our data ranks Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global first among 37 Biblical Studies programs. Its score of 48/100 reflects strong outcomes across earnings ($46,674/yr), return on investment, and career durability.
What's the outlook for a Biblical Studies degree?
The average 10-year earnings multiple is 4.2x tuition. ROI varies significantly by school — choose carefully. The spread between the best and worst programs is wide, so individual school selection has a major impact.