Compare 13 Religious Education. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $40,744. Top programs: $55,729+.
The highest-earning Religious Education program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $30K earnings gap across 13 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand. Graduates at the top earn $55,729 while others earn as little as $25,967—a spread that makes program selection the most important decision you'll make.
Concordia University-Nebraska leads the rankings, with Religious Education graduates earning $55,729—well above the $40,744 average across all 13 programs. Grace Christian University (ranked #2, $52,314) and Dallas Baptist University (ranked #3, $50,647) demonstrate that strong outcomes in this field come from lesser-known private institutions, not from chasing the biggest names in higher education.
Dallas Baptist University graduates borrow $21,591 in student loans and face a 10.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category—meaning loan payments are manageable for most graduates. Grace Christian University leads on family affordability with a 18.8% combined burden, the lowest among programs with full debt data. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
Highest program earnings: $55,729
Strong outcomes ($55,729) with 86% acceptance rate
10.5% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
18.8% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $55,729 | 10 | $25,750 | Good | $18,850 | Challenging | |
| #2 | Grace Christian UniversityPrivate | $52,314 | 6 | $24,375 | Good | $14,303 | Challenging |
| #3 | Dallas Baptist UniversityPrivate | $50,647 | 13 | $21,591 | Good | $19,836 | Challenging |
| #4 | $46,286 | 9 | $26,082 | Manageable | $19,098 | High | |
| #5 | Wheaton CollegePrivate | $42,605 | 13 | $23,250 | Manageable | $35,000 | High |
| #6 | $40,987 | 29 | $23,384 | Manageable | $29,400 | High | |
| #7 | Biola UniversityPrivate | $40,261 | 22 | $23,875 | Challenging | $50,726 | High |
| #8 | $39,211 | 44 | $14,911 | Manageable | $11,623 | Challenging | |
| #9 | Crown CollegePrivate | $36,826 | 17 | $22,500 | Challenging | $17,533 | High |
| #10 | Moody Bible InstitutePrivate | $36,770 | 33 | $18,149 | Manageable | $13,226 | High |
| #11 | Benedictine CollegePrivate | $35,133 | 12 | $24,599 | High | $41,904 | High |
| #12 | $26,933 | 14 | $25,000 | High | $24,155 | High | |
| #13 | Messiah UniversityPrivate | $25,967 | 6 | $25,621 | High | $37,908 | 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
