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Religion/Religious Studies at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
15 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
16
Optimistic
15
Base Case
14
Pessimistic
Earnings $19,911/yr (-25% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (51% exposed)
Job Market Small (3,100 openings/yr)
ROI 6.2x earnings multiple (2.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #20 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 $357K $373K $373K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 6.0x 6.2x 6.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 1.9x 2.0x 2.0x
Probability of Field Employment 52% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 16 15 14

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,860
Out-of-state: $182,968 (2.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,300
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,500
9.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $19,911 per year, Religion/Religious Studies graduates from University of California-Santa Barbara earn below the $26,709 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 6.2x 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 -5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $16,500 represents roughly 10 months of the $19,911 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #20 of 40 Religion/Religious Studies programs, University of California-Santa Barbara scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

A 28% acceptance rate puts University of California-Santa Barbara in competitive admissions territory, one of the larger campuses at 23,205 students in Santa Barbara, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Barbara →

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 University of California-Santa Barbara

Computer Science ($107,776) Computer Engineering ($91,387) Mechanical Engineering ($81,108) Chemical Engineering ($79,737) Economics ($66,334) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($66,099) Applied Mathematics ($59,638) Statistics ($55,110)

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Religion/Religious Studies at University of California-Santa Barbara?
A score of 15/100 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 $373,298 in decade earnings vs $356,602 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Religion/Religious Studies from University of California-Santa Barbara?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →