Compare 10 Religious Education. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $36,464.
With top graduates earning $44,286, Religious Education stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $8K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Trinity International University-Illinois's Religious Education program leads with graduates earning $44,286, well above the $36,464 average across 10 Midwest programs. Olivet Nazarene University follows at $41,585, while Crown College rounds out the top three at $39,023—demonstrating how specialized programs create distinct career outcomes regardless of overall school recognition.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Trinity International graduates borrow $26,082 and face a 16.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Manageable' category. When parent loans are included, all three top programs show concerning family burdens above 30%, proving that financing strategy significantly impacts program value.
Highest program earnings: $44,286
Strong outcomes with 93% acceptance
16.5% payment burden | Manageable
30.3% family burden | High burden
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $44,286 | 18 | $26,082 | Manageable | $19,098 | High | |
| #2 | Olivet Nazarene UniversityPrivate | $41,585 | 5 | $25,000 | Challenging | $21,966 | High |
| #3 | Crown CollegePrivate | $39,023 | 19 | $22,500 | Challenging | $17,533 | High |
| #4 | $37,683 | 26 | $23,384 | Challenging | $29,400 | High | |
| #5 | $37,481 | 10 | $25,750 | Challenging | $18,850 | High | |
| #6 | Wheaton CollegePrivate | $36,148 | 23 | $23,250 | Challenging | $35,000 | High |
| #7 | Benedictine CollegePrivate | $35,133 | 13 | $24,599 | High | $41,904 | High |
| #8 | Grace Christian UniversityPrivate | $33,308 | 15 | $24,375 | High | $14,303 | High |
| #9 | Moody Bible InstitutePrivate | $33,056 | 36 | $18,149 | Challenging | $13,226 | High |
| #10 | $26,933 | 7 | $25,000 | High | $24,155 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
