Religion/Religious Studies at California State University-Northridge

CSU-Northridge's Religious Studies program produces extremely low first-year earnings—$23,219 puts graduates barely above the poverty line—but the program's value story is more nuanced than that number suggests. While this falls short of the national median by about $2,200, it actually outperforms most California programs in this field, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. The relatively modest debt load of $13,483 is genuinely low, coming in far below both the national and state medians for Religious Studies degrees.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 means graduates owe roughly seven months of their first year's salary—manageable compared to many humanities programs. For context, over half of CSU-Northridge's students receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from lower-income backgrounds where minimizing debt matters more than maximizing starting salary. A caveat: these figures come from a small graduating class (under 30), so individual outcomes may vary considerably from these medians.

For families weighing this choice, the key question is career trajectory. Religious Studies graduates often pursue graduate degrees, teaching positions, or nonprofit work where earnings grow slowly. If your student plans to stay in California and is committed to this field—perhaps for ministry, education, or nonprofit leadership—this program keeps debt low enough to preserve those options. Just understand that $23,000 starting salaries require careful financial planning, even with minimal debt.