Religious Education at Wheaton College

Wheaton, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
21 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
21
Optimistic
21
Base Case
21
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,892/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,800 openings/yr)
ROI 2.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #10 of 13 Religious Education programs

Program Analysis

Wheaton's Religious Education program offers a focused path into service-oriented careers, primarily within churches, parachurch organizations, and Christian schools. The specialized nature of this field, coupled with Wheaton's strong reputation within evangelical circles, means you'll tap into a specific, often national, recruiting pipeline. Many graduates become educators, youth ministers, or directors of religious programming, leveraging the program's emphasis on theological depth and practical leadership. For those aiming for postsecondary teaching, advanced degrees are typically essential. While these roles are incredibly rewarding, they often reside within the non-profit sector, which impacts compensation. Understand the salary structures common to ministry work and proactively build your network among alumni and denominational leaders to maximize your opportunities.

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $427K $435K $419K
Earnings Multiple 2.4x 2.5x 2.4x
Probability of Field Employment 52% 46% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 21 21 21

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$175,720
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$107,936
39% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
9.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$36,148
13% growth from Year 1

About Wheaton College

With 90% of applicants admitted, Wheaton College prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 2,087 in Wheaton, IL. The average net cost of $107,936 over four years represents a 39% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Wheaton College →

Top Career Paths

Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary $78,050/yr
Directors, religious activities and education $54,840/yr
View all 2 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Religious Education at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Wheaton College's Religious Education program score?
This program scores 21/100 — on the lower end for Religious Education. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Religious Education to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Religious Education careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →