Religion/Religious Studies at St Olaf College

St. Olaf's religion graduates earn 43% more than the national median for this major—a significant premium that places them in the 93rd percentile nationally. With first-year earnings of $36,329 versus the typical $25,450, this program substantially outperforms most religious studies degrees. The $25,000 in debt, while not trivial, translates to a manageable 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio.

However, the Minnesota picture is more nuanced. At the 60th percentile statewide, St. Olaf sits in the middle of the pack among Minnesota's 12 religion programs, which generally perform better than the national pool. The school's selectivity (52% admission rate, 1373 average SAT) and strong liberal arts reputation likely help graduates leverage their degrees into diverse career paths that value critical thinking and cultural literacy.

The major caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes vary considerably. But for families drawn to religious studies at a selective liberal arts college, St. Olaf delivers earnings well above what most programs produce nationally, with debt levels that won't become overwhelming. This represents solid value for a humanities degree, particularly if your student plans to pursue graduate school or careers where St. Olaf's alumni network and academic rigor provide advantages.