Religious Studiesat University of Puget Sound
Graduates earn $20,357/yr in their first year — about 24.0% below the national Religious Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $555K; scenarios range from $509K to $563K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Puget Sound
Your journey through Religion/Religious Studies at a liberal arts college like the University of Puget Sound offers deep critical thinking and analytical skills, but it's important to understand how these translate into the job market. The outcomes reflect that this degree isn't designed as a direct vocational pipeline to high-paying roles in the immediate post-graduation years. While the Seattle-Tacoma region boasts a robust economy, demand is concentrated in tech, healthcare, and business, rather than directly for humanities specialists.
Graduates often find themselves leveraging their transferable skills in broader fields like non-profit management, education, communications, or administrative roles where initial salaries may be modest. The academic career paths listed typically require significant further education (master's, PhD) to reach those salary levels. To mitigate this, proactively seek internships in areas like community outreach, marketing, or research early in your program, ensuring you build practical experience alongside your academic pursuits.
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 University of Puget Sound'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 University of Puget Sound stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Puget Sound
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Puget Sound, 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 University of Puget Sound
How does University of Puget Sound's Religious Studies program score?
This program scores 9/100 — on the lower end for Religious Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Religious Studies to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Religious Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 51% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Religious Studies earnings lower at University of Puget Sound?
Lower starting pay at University of Puget Sound may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.