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Religion/Religious Studies at Fordham University

Bronx, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,985/yr (16% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (51% exposed)

Job Market Small (3,100 openings/yr)

ROI 3.4x earnings multiple

Ranked #8 of 40 Religion/Religious Studies programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$885K	$838K	$722K
Earnings Multiple	3.6x	3.4x	2.9x
Probability of Field Employment	52%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	29	28	27

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$247,968

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$170,324

31% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,247

9.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$85,741

177% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Fordham University's Religion/Religious Studies graduates start at $30,985/yr — above the $26,709 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 3.4x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Religion/Religious Studies's typical career paths, with 51% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,247 represents roughly 10 months of the $30,985 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #8 of 40 nationally, this is a top-5% Religion/Religious Studies program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $85,741 show a 177% jump from the $30,985 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Fordham University

Fordham University's 56% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving 10,239 students in Bronx, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $170,324 over four years — 31% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Fordham University →

Top Career Paths

Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary $84,290/yr

Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary $78,050/yr

View all 2 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Religion/Religious Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Fordham University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Religion/Religious Studies at Fordham University?

A score of 28/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Religion/Religious Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Religion/Religious Studies careers?

With 51% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $721,581 in decade earnings vs $885,172 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Fordham University's Religion/Religious Studies program stand out?

Ranked #8 of 40 programs nationally, Fordham University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →