Religious Studies · Pennsylvania

Religious Studies colleges in Pennsylvania

CampusPin lists 153 U.S. colleges in Pennsylvania that offer Religious Studies programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

Religious Studies examines the world's religious traditions, texts, and practices through history, philosophy, and social science, suiting students drawn to belief, culture, and ethics.

Schools in Pennsylvania that offer Religious Studies

Religious Studies programs in Pennsylvania: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 50 schools (of 153 total) listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

153

Public / private

12 / 38

Universities / 2-year

36 / 14

Cities represented

36

In-state tuition range

$4,632–$68,300

Median in-state tuition

$33,118

Lowest published in-state tuition

Community College of Philadelphia

$4,632

Most selective

Carnegie Mellon University

11% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

Drexel University

21,623 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Religious Studies program

  • Comparative survey of major world religious traditions
  • Scriptural and textual analysis of primary sacred sources
  • History of religions and religious movements
  • Philosophy of religion and ethics
  • Sociology, psychology, and anthropology of religious practice
  • Mythology and ritual studies
  • Sacred-language reading skills (Hebrew, Greek, Arabic, or Sanskrit)
  • Research methods and writing in the humanities
  • Senior thesis or capstone research project

Where a Religious Studies degree can lead

  • Clergy Member
  • Chaplain
  • Religious Educator
  • Nonprofit Program Director
  • Community Outreach Coordinator
  • Religious Studies Researcher

Typical pay: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 clergy median $60,820).

A Religious Studies major analyzes how religious belief, sacred texts, rituals, and communities work, drawing on history, philosophy, sociology, psychology, anthropology, literature, and art rather than training students for a single faith's ministry. Students read scripture and other primary sources closely, study how myths and traditions develop and spread, and compare specific faith communities, their beliefs, practices, and the political and social roles they play. Unlike theology or divinity programs, which are confessional and prepare candidates to lead within one tradition, Religious Studies takes an academic, comparative stance and treats every tradition as an object of study rather than a commitment to defend.

The credential is usually a four-year bachelor's degree, built around survey courses, a foreign or sacred language, methods coursework, and a senior thesis or capstone research project rather than clinical or laboratory training. Reading knowledge of a language such as Hebrew, Greek, Arabic, or Sanskrit is often expected for students who plan graduate work. Graduates work in nonprofit and community organizations, education, publishing, government and public affairs, and interfaith or social-service settings; roles in ministry or hospital and military chaplaincy typically require additional graduate study and ordination or board certification, and state or institutional requirements should be verified for any path involving counseling, teaching, or chaplaincy.

In federal data for the closely related occupation of clergy, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $60,820 and projects employment to grow about 1% from 2024 to 2034; a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.

Religious Studies in other states

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Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 153+ Religious Studies programs in Pennsylvania by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

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