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Religion/Religious Studies at St Olaf College

Northfield, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,329/yr (36% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (51% exposed)

Job Market Small (3,100 openings/yr)

ROI 2.0x earnings multiple

Ranked #11 of 40 Religion/Religious Studies programs Top 50%

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	$453K	$458K	$437K
Earnings Multiple	2.0x	2.0x	1.9x
Probability of Field Employment	52%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	25	24	22

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$227,880

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$91,008

60% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

8.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,329 put St Olaf College's Religion/Religious Studies program 36% above the national median of $26,709 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The financial case is thin at 2.0x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $36,329 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #11 of 40 Religion/Religious Studies programs, St Olaf College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About St Olaf College

A 52% admission rate makes St Olaf College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a smaller student body of 3,049 in Northfield, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $91,008 — 60% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at St Olaf 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

Religion/Religious Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at St Olaf College

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 St Olaf College?

A score of 24/100 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 $437,134 in decade earnings vs $453,482 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is St Olaf College a hidden gem for Religion/Religious Studies?

After financial aid, the average student pays $91,008 over four years — 60% below the $227,880 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

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