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Philosophy & Religion · Religious Studies Rank #9 of 40

Religious Studiesat University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Graduates earn $30,844/yr in their first year — about 15.0% above the national Religious Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $488K; scenarios range from $460K to $487K depending on AI disruption.

Milwaukee, WI Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
27 AT RISK
27
Optimistic
26
Pessimistic
Earnings
$30,844
1-year post-graduation
ROI
10.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$488K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
57% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

A Religion/Religious Studies degree from UWM offers a robust foundation in critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and cross-cultural understanding. These are highly transferable skills, helping graduates from this program often outperform national peers in leveraging their humanities background into tangible careers. This success likely stems from a combination of the program's rigor and the diverse labor market in Milwaukee, where graduates find opportunities in local non-profits, social services, education, and even entry-level roles in business or government that value strong communication and interpretive abilities. While some academic career paths face evolving challenges, your deep analytical capabilities remain invaluable. Focus on pairing your academic rigor with practical experience through internships or a complementary minor to translate your nuanced understanding into direct professional advantage in a competitive market.

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
$460K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score26/100
Earnings Multiple11.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$488K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score27/100
Earnings Multiple12.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$487K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score27/100
Earnings Multiple12.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee'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 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 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 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Other top programs at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 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 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

How does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Religious Studies program score?

This program scores 27/100 — 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 Wisconsin-Milwaukee rank so high for Religious Studies?

The #9 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.