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Religious Studies at Northwest Nazarene University

Nampa, ID · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Religion/Religious Studies
14 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
15
Optimistic
14
Base Case
13
Pessimistic
Earnings $23,836/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (51% exposed)
Job Market Small (3,100 openings/yr)
ROI 2.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #29 of 40 Religion/Religious Studies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $380K $393K $389K
Earnings Multiple 2.4x 2.5x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 52% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 15 14 13

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$157,480
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$102,148
35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,325
13.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Northwest Nazarene University's Religious Studies program produces graduates earning $23,836/yr — within striking distance of the $26,709 national average for this field.

The financial case is thin at 2.5x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Religious Studies's typical career paths, with 51% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a -2% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,325 against $23,836/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.1 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #29 of 40 Religious Studies programs, Northwest Nazarene University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Northwest Nazarene University

Northwest Nazarene University's 63% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a smaller institution with 1,138 students in Nampa, ID. The average net cost of $102,148 over four years represents a 35% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Northwest Nazarene 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

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

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 Northwest Nazarene University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,383) Accounting and Related Services ($48,648) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($46,499) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($40,450) Biology, General ($33,875) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($25,923) Communication and Media Studies ($23,300)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Religious Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Religious Studies at Northwest Nazarene University?
A score of 14/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Religious Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Religious Studies at Northwest Nazarene University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $27,325 against $23,836/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Will AI replace Religious Studies careers?
With 51% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $388,559 in decade earnings vs $379,763 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →