Religious Studies at University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Religion/Religious Studies
25 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
26
Optimistic
25
Base Case
25
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,260/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (51% exposed)
Job Market Small (3,100 openings/yr)
ROI 7.8x earnings multiple (2.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #10 of 40 Religion/Religious Studies programs Top 25%

Program Analysis

UVA's Religion program, nestled within an elite liberal arts environment, cultivates exceptional critical thinking, research, and communication skills. The earnings trajectory reflects a common pattern for humanities graduates: while your foundational education is outstanding, many career paths in academia, non-profit work, or public service typically offer more modest starting salaries compared to direct entry into high-paying corporate roles. You're developing highly transferable skills, but direct industry recruitment pipelines are less common. The "Very High" AI risk for postsecondary teaching careers signals a broader evolution in knowledge-based professions, emphasizing the need for adaptable expertise. To best leverage your degree, actively seek internships that apply your analytical abilities in diverse settings, from policy analysis to community organizing, and strategically engage UVA's robust alumni network early in your academic journey.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Religious Studies graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $676K $654K $584K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.1x 7.8x 7.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.9x 2.8x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 52% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 26 25 25

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$83,944
Out-of-state: $232,056 (2.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$91,524
-9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,116
146% growth from Year 1

About University of Virginia-Main Campus

A 17% acceptance rate puts University of Virginia-Main Campus in competitive admissions territory, with a mid-sized student body of 17,315 in Charlottesville, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Virginia-Main Campus →

Top Career Paths

Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary $84,290/yr
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary $78,050/yr
View all 2 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Religious Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Virginia-Main Campus

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Virginia-Main Campus's Religious Studies program score?
This program scores 25/100 — 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 does University of Virginia-Main Campus rank so high for Religious Studies?
The #10 ranking out of 40 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →