Religious Studiesat Fordham University
Graduates earn $30,985/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Religious Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $838K; scenarios range from $722K to $885K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Fordham University
Fordham's Religion program, rooted in the university's Jesuit tradition, cultivates exceptional critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and communication skills, which are highly transferable across diverse sectors. Its strong national standing isn't just academic; it reflects how effectively graduates apply these competencies in the New York City job market and beyond. You'll find alumni excelling in education, non-profits, law, social impact, and even business roles where nuanced analysis and cultural understanding are paramount. The program's rigorous intellectual foundation prepares many for advanced degrees, often leading to roles in research, policy, or higher education, which contributes to its strong early career outcomes.
While the field generally faces a high AI risk for some routine tasks, your Fordham education, with its emphasis on complex interpretation and human-centric understanding, equips you with capabilities AI cannot replicate. Focus on integrating your analytical prowess with practical skills like data interpretation or project management to leverage your unique human insights in an evolving job landscape.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Fordham University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Religious Studies
How Fordham University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Fordham University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Fordham University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Religious Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Religious Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Religious Studies at Fordham University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Religious Studies at Fordham University?
A score of 28/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Religious Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Religious Studies careers?
With 51% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $721,581 in decade earnings vs $885,172 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Fordham University's Religious Studies program stand out?
Ranked #8 of 40 programs nationally, Fordham University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.