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Philosophy & Religion · Religious Studies Rank #11 of 40

Religious Studiesat St Olaf College

Graduates earn $36,329/yr in their first year — about 36.0% above the national Religious Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $458K; scenarios range from $437K to $453K depending on AI disruption.

Northfield, MN Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
24 AT RISK
25
Optimistic
22
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,329
1-year post-graduation
ROI
0.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$458K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
57% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at St Olaf College

St. Olaf's reputation as a rigorous liberal arts college significantly shapes the career trajectories of its Religion graduates. Your strong analytical, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning skills, honed within this program, are highly valued across diverse sectors, including non-profits, education, and even government or policy analysis. Many graduates leverage this foundational understanding to pursue advanced degrees in fields like law, divinity, or higher education, leading to specialized roles such as university professors or leaders in faith-based organizations and NGOs. The college's strong network and career services help funnel students into roles that demand sophisticated interpretation and communication. To maximize your prospects, actively seek internships that apply your analytical skills in a practical setting, perhaps even combining your studies with a complementary minor in areas like data analysis or communications to broaden your professional toolkit.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$437K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score22/100
Earnings Multiple1.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$458K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score24/100
Earnings Multiple2.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$453K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score25/100
Earnings Multiple2.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to St Olaf College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Religious Studies graduates typically work

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.

1
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
+2.4% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$84,290/yr
High
2
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
+0.7% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$78,050/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Religious Studies

How St Olaf College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Yeshivas Be'er Yitzchok
NJ · Private nonprofit
47
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
12.4x
ROI
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
NY · Private nonprofit
47
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
Faith International University
WA · Private nonprofit
39
DW Score
$42K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Liberty University
VA · Private nonprofit
30
DW Score
$39K
1-yr earn
4.8x
ROI
Beth Medrash Govoha
NJ · Private nonprofit
30
DW Score
$37K
1-yr earn
Also at St Olaf College

Other top programs at St Olaf College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at St Olaf College, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Religious Studies at St Olaf College

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Religious Studies at St Olaf College?

A score of 24/100 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 $437,134 in decade earnings vs $453,482 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is St Olaf College a hidden gem for Religious Studies?

After financial aid, the average student pays $91,008 over four years — 60% below the $227,880 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.