Religious Education at Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University's Religious Education graduates earn significantly more than their peers nationally—$37,273 versus the national median of $32,276—placing them in the 95th percentile nationwide. That's impressive on its face, but the context reveals a more nuanced picture. The debt load of $35,436 is substantially higher than the national median of $25,937, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio just under 1:1. More concerning is the earnings trajectory: graduates actually see their income decline by 4% between years one and four, dropping to $35,667. This pattern suggests either career transitions away from ministry roles or the limited earning potential within religious education broadly.

The comparison challenge here is that Grand Canyon appears to be the only Arizona institution reporting data for this program, making state-level benchmarks less meaningful. What matters more is whether families understand the trade-off: you're paying premium debt levels (better than only 5% of programs nationally) for above-average starting earnings that don't grow. For students committed to religious vocations where financial reward isn't the primary goal, this might align with their values. But parents financing this degree should recognize they're subsidizing a calling, not an investment that will quickly pay for itself. The first-year earnings barely cover the debt load, and the declining trajectory won't make repayment easier over time.