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Religion/Religious Studies at University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $25,260/yr (-5% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (51% exposed)

Job Market Small (3,100 openings/yr)

ROI 7.8x earnings multiple (2.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #10 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	$676K	$654K	$584K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	8.1x	7.8x	7.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	2.9x	2.8x	2.5x
Probability of Field Employment	52%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	26	25	25

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$83,944

Out-of-state: $232,056 (2.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$91,524

-9% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

7.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$62,116

146% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $25,260/yr, Religion/Religious Studies graduates from University of Virginia-Main Campus land near the $26,709 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

At 7.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 51% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $15,000 debt-to-$25,260 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #10 out of 40 programs, University of Virginia-Main Campus's Religion/Religious Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $25,260 to $62,116 over five years (146% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Virginia-Main Campus

A 17% acceptance rate puts University of Virginia-Main Campus in competitive admissions territory, with a mid-sized student body of 17,315 in Charlottesville, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Virginia-Main Campus →

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 University of Virginia-Main Campus

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 University of Virginia-Main Campus's Religion/Religious Studies program score?

This program scores 25/100 — 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.

Why does University of Virginia-Main Campus rank so high for Religion/Religious Studies?

The #10 ranking out of 40 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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