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Religion/Religious Studies at Hope College

Holland, MI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
15 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
15
Optimistic
15
Base Case
14
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,208/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (51% exposed)
Job Market Small (3,100 openings/yr)
ROI 2.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #22 of 40 Religion/Religious Studies programs

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 $388K $400K $394K
Earnings Multiple 2.4x 2.5x 2.4x
Probability of Field Employment 52% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 15 15 14

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$161,680
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$102,996
36% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $25,208 track close to the $26,709 national median for Religion/Religious Studies programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

An earnings multiple of 2.5x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 51% task exposure — and the -2% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #22 out of 40 programs, Hope College's financial outcomes for Religion/Religious Studies trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Hope College

Hope College has a 76% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 3,274 students in Holland, MI. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $102,996 — 36% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Hope College →

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

Compare this program → View all 40 schools offering Religion/Religious Studies →

Religion/Religious Studies at Other Schools

Yeshivas Be'er Yitzchok ($61,244) Jewish Theological Seminary of America ($56,236) Faith International University ($42,103) Liberty University ($38,540) Beth Medrash Govoha ($36,798) St Olaf College ($36,329) Cairn University-Langhorne ($34,663) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ($33,690)

Other Majors at Hope College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($72,146) Engineering, General ($67,410) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($61,325) Accounting and Related Services ($61,120) Special Education and Teaching ($48,630) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($45,590) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($45,137) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($45,046)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Religion/Religious Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Hope College's Religion/Religious Studies program score?
This program scores 15/100 — on the lower end for Religion/Religious Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Religion/Religious Studies to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Religion/Religious Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 51% 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 →