Religion/Religious Studies at Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
31
Optimistic
30
Base Case
27
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,540/yr (44% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (51% exposed)
Job Market Small (3,100 openings/yr)
ROI 6.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #6 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 $507K $505K $472K
Earnings Multiple 6.0x 6.0x 5.6x
Probability of Field Employment 52% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 31 30 27

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$84,888
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$118,208
-39% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$31,332
9.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,603
29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of Liberty University's Religion/Religious Studies program earn $38,540/yr in their first year — 44% above the $26,709 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 6.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $31,332 represents roughly 10 months of the $38,540 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #6 of 40 nationally, this is a top-5% Religion/Religious Studies program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $38,540 to $49,603 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Liberty University

Liberty University has a 99% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 50,059 students enrolled in Lynchburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Liberty 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Religion/Religious Studies at Liberty University?
A score of 30/100 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 $472,372 in decade earnings vs $506,962 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Liberty University's Religion/Religious Studies program stand out?
Ranked #6 of 40 programs nationally, Liberty 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 →