by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Religion/Religious Studies is the 189th most popular major in the country with 3,329 degrees awarded in 2021-2022.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major” ranking looked at 609 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in religion/religious studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their religion/religious studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
The colleges and universities below are the best for religion students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Graduate School of Theology. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major list. This small school is located in Garden Grove, California, and it awarded 3 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Religion/Religious Studies at California Graduate School of Theology
Out of the 609 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School landed the #2 spot on the list. Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School is located in Rochester, New York and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hartford Seminary. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major. Hartford Seminary is located in Hartford, Connecticut and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 19 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at Hartford Seminary
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major list. Trinity School for Ministry is located in Ambridge, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 11 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at Trinity School for Ministry
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Piedmont International University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major list. Piedmont International University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 44 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Piedmont International University Religion/Religious Studies Report
Memphis Theological Seminary ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major list. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 3 degrees to qualified ’s religion students in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at Memphis Theological Seminary
Faith International University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major list. Tacoma, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s religion degrees to 18 students in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Faith International University Religion/Religious Studies Report
With a ranking of #8, Chicago Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major list. Chicago Theological Seminary is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 18 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at Chicago Theological Seminary
Claremont School of Theology did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major ranking, coming in at #9. Claremont School of Theology is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 7 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Claremont School of Theology Religion/Religious Studies Report
Clinton College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major ranking. Located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified ’s religion students in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at Clinton College
Brite Divinity School did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major ranking, coming in at #11. Brite Divinity is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fort Worth, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at Brite Divinity
Simmons College of Kentucky ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major list. This small school is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and it awarded 5 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Simmons College of Kentucky Religion/Religious Studies Report
Wabash College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major ranking. Wabash College is a small school located in Crawfordsville, Indiana that handed out 13 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Arkansas Baptist College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major ranking. Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified ’s religion students in 2021-2022.
Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at Arkansas Baptist College
With a ranking of #16, Meadville Lombard Theological School did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified ’s religion students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Religion/Religious Studies at Meadville Lombard Theological School
Seminario Evangelico de Puerto Rico came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major ranking. San Juan, Puerto Rico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s religion degrees to 6 students in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Seminario Evangelico de Puerto Rico Religion/Religious Studies Report
Denver Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major ranking, coming in at #18. Denver Seminary is a small school located in Littleton, Colorado that handed out 0 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Martin University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s religion degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Religion/Religious Studies at Martin University
With a ranking of #20, Texas College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major list. Located in Tyler, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified ’s religion students in 2021-2022.
University of Mobile came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major ranking. University of Mobile is a small school located in Mobile, Alabama that handed out 11 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Naropa University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Boulder, Colorado, and it awarded 8 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Vanguard University of Southern California came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major ranking. Vanguard University of Southern California is located in Costa Mesa, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 18 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Birmingham Southern College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major ranking. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 degrees to qualified ’s religion students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Birmingham Southern College Religion/Religious Studies Report
Hellenic College - Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major ranking. Hellenic College - Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Brookline, Massachusetts. It awarded 4 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL |
| 52 | Reed College | Portland, OR |
| 53 | Furman University | Greenville, SC |
| 54 | Carleton College | Northfield, MN |
| 55 | Graceland University - Lamoni | Lamoni, IA |
| 56 | Kentucky Wesleyan College | Owensboro, KY |
| 57 | Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, PA |
| 58 | Carson - Newman University | Jefferson City, TN |
| 59 | Salem College | Winston-Salem, NC |
| 60 | Athens State University | Athens, AL |
| 61 | Shorter University | Rome, GA |
| 62 | Northwestern College | Orange City, IA |
| 63 | Luther College | Decorah, IA |
| 64 | Saint Norbert College | De Pere, WI |
| 65 | Manchester University | North Manchester, IN |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Wheaton College Massachusetts | Norton, MA |
| 67 | Pfeiffer University | Misenheimer, NC |
| 68 | Hope College | Holland, MI |
| 69 | University of St Thomas Minnesota | Saint Paul, MN |
| 70 | Northland College | Ashland, WI |
| 71 | Macalester College | Saint Paul, MN |
| 72 | Colgate University | Hamilton, NY |
| 73 | Oklahoma City University | Oklahoma City, OK |
| 74 | Albion College | Albion, MI |
| 75 | Gardner - Webb University | Boiling Springs, NC |
| 76 | Hampden - Sydney College | Hampden-Sydney, VA |
| 77 | Loras College | Dubuque, IA |
| 78 | Bethel College - North Newton | North Newton, KS |
| 79 | Randolph - Macon College | Ashland, VA |
| 80 | Meredith College | Raleigh, NC |
| 81 | Beloit College | Beloit, WI |
| 82 | Ferrum College | Ferrum, VA |
| 83 | Oakland City University | Oakland City, IN |
| 84 | Bayamon Central University | Bayamón, PR |
| 85 | Saint Mary’s College | Notre Dame, IN |
| 86 | Rhodes College | Memphis, TN |
| 87 | Catholic University of America | Washington, DC |
| 88 | Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL |
| 88 | Franklin College | Franklin, IN |
| 90 | Schreiner University | Kerrville, TX |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Bowdoin College | Brunswick, ME |
| 92 | Hendrix College | Conway, AR |
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
