Religious Studiesat University of Virginia-Main Campus
Graduates earn $25,260/yr in their first year — about 5.0% below the national Religious Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $654K; scenarios range from $584K to $676K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Virginia
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.
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 Virginia'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 Virginia stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Virginia
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Virginia, 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 Virginia
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.