Best Religious Studies Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
India is home to 356 Religious Studies colleges in India and there is a split of colleges by ownership, public / government 108, public private 93 & private 89.
Location wise
India is home to Religious Studies colleges. Listing below the cities/states offering Religious Studies courses with no. of colleges.
| Location Details | Colleges |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 160 Colleges |
| Uttar Pradesh - Other | 39 Colleges |
| Rajasthan | 25 Colleges |
| Bihar | 22 Colleges |
| Varanasi | 21 Colleges |
| Maharashtra | 19 Colleges |
| Karnataka | 14 Colleges |
| Orissa | 14 Colleges |
| Tamil Nadu | 13 Colleges |
| Delhi/NCR | 13 Colleges |
| Gujarat | 12 Colleges |
| Himachal Pradesh | 12 Colleges |
| Allahabad | 10 Colleges |
| Punjab | 10 Colleges |
| Madhya Pradesh | 9 Colleges |
| Jaunpur | 9 Colleges |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 8 Colleges |
| Darbhanga | 8 Colleges |
| Delhi | 7 Colleges |
| Jaipur | 7 Colleges |
Specializations
Islam is the most popular specialisations offered by Religious Studies in India. Below is the table showing specilasations offering by no. of colleges.
| Specialization Details | Colleges |
|---|---|
| Islam | 21 Colleges |
| Hinduism | 20 Colleges |
| Theology | 11 Colleges |
| Christianity | 8 Colleges |
| Sikhism | 5 Colleges |
| English | 2 Colleges |
| Ethics | 2 Colleges |
| Hindi | 2 Colleges |
| Computer Science | 1 Colleges |
| Human Rights & International Humanitarian Law | 1 Colleges |
| Mathematics | 1 Colleges |
| Public Administration | 1 Colleges |
| Counseling | 1 Colleges |
| Sanskrit | 1 Colleges |
Entrance Exams
There are various exams accepted by Religious Studies in India like CBSE 12th, ISC, UP 12th and many more. Below table showing exams accepted by no. of colleges.
| Exam Details | Colleges |
|---|---|
| CBSE 12th | 253 Colleges |
| ISC | 253 Colleges |
| UP 12th | 152 Colleges |
| RBSE 12th | 19 Colleges |
| BSEB 12th | 17 Colleges |
| CUET-PG | 13 Colleges |
| Odisha CHSE | 12 Colleges |
| CUET | 9 Colleges |
| HPBOSE 12th | 9 Colleges |
| Maharashtra HSC | 9 Colleges |
| MPBSE 12th | 8 Colleges |
| GSEB HSC | 8 Colleges |
| Tamilnadu 12th | 7 Colleges |
| CBSE 10th | 6 Colleges |
| ICSE | 6 Colleges |
| AUAT | 3 Colleges |
| PSEB 12th | 2 Colleges |
| CGBSE 12th | 2 Colleges |
| HBSE 12th | 2 Colleges |
| GATE | 1 Colleges |
India is home to 356 Religious Studies colleges in India and there is a split of colleges by ownership, public / government 108, public private 93 & private 89.
Location wise
India is home to Religious Studies colleges. Listing below the cities/states offering Religious Studies courses with no. of colleges.
| Location Details | Colleges |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 160 Colleges |
| Uttar Pradesh - Other | 39 Colleges |
| Rajasthan | 25 Colleges |
| Bihar | 22 Colleges |
| Varanasi | 21 Colleges |
| Maharashtra | 19 Colleges |
| Karnataka | 14 Colleges |
| Orissa | 14 Colleges |
| Tamil Nadu | 13 Colleges |
| Delhi/NCR | 13 Colleges |
| Gujarat | 12 Colleges |
| Himachal Pradesh | 12 Colleges |
| Allahabad | 10 Colleges |
| Punjab | 10 Colleges |
| Madhya Pradesh | 9 Colleges |
| Jaunpur | 9 Colleges |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 8 Colleges |
| Darbhanga | 8 Colleges |
| Delhi | 7 Colleges |
| Jaipur | 7 Colleges |
Specializations
Islam is the most popular specialisations offered by Religious Studies in India. Below is the table showing specilasations offering by no. of colleges.
| Specialization Details | Colleges |
|---|---|
| Islam | 21 Colleges |
| Hinduism | 20 Colleges |
| Theology | 11 Colleges |
| Christianity | 8 Colleges |
| Sikhism | 5 Colleges |
| English | 2 Colleges |
| Ethics | 2 Colleges |
| Hindi | 2 Colleges |
| Computer Science | 1 Colleges |
| Human Rights & International Humanitarian Law | 1 Colleges |
| Mathematics | 1 Colleges |
| Public Administration | 1 Colleges |
| Counseling | 1 Colleges |
| Sanskrit | 1 Colleges |
Entrance Exams
There are various exams accepted by Religious Studies in India like CBSE 12th, ISC, UP 12th and many more. Below table showing exams accepted by no. of colleges.
| Exam Details | Colleges |
|---|---|
| CBSE 12th | 253 Colleges |
| ISC | 253 Colleges |
| UP 12th | 152 Colleges |
| RBSE 12th | 19 Colleges |
| BSEB 12th | 17 Colleges |
| CUET-PG | 13 Colleges |
| Odisha CHSE | 12 Colleges |
| CUET | 9 Colleges |
| HPBOSE 12th | 9 Colleges |
| Maharashtra HSC | 9 Colleges |
| MPBSE 12th | 8 Colleges |
| GSEB HSC | 8 Colleges |
| Tamilnadu 12th | 7 Colleges |
| CBSE 10th | 6 Colleges |
| ICSE | 6 Colleges |
| AUAT | 3 Colleges |
| PSEB 12th | 2 Colleges |
| CGBSE 12th | 2 Colleges |
| HBSE 12th | 2 Colleges |
| GATE | 1 Colleges |
Best Religious Studies Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
Commonly asked questions On Best Religious Studies Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
To pursue Bachelor of Theology course you should have completed Class 12 or equivalent qualification such as BVoc, Diploma etc. You could have studied in any stream such as Science, Commerce and Arts. But make sure that you have studied in a recognised institute.
Theology courses are degrees that involve the study of religious belief systems, traditions and other social and cultural facets of the particular faith. By pursuing a theology degree, students can enhance their knowledge associated with a belief system. A degree of theology has close links with fields like Philosophy, History, Anthropology and Religion Studies.
To become a professor, the first step that you need to clear is pursuing a Master. After completing the Masters, you should go for the UGC NET Exam. The UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) is conducted by the National Testing Agency NTA to select the candidates for Lectureships and Junior Research Fellowships.
The exam is conducted twice a year in 81 subjects like Humanities, English Literature, Management, etc. Make sure that you meet the required eligibility criteria before applying for this exam like qualification, age norms, etc. There are also other exams like CSIR NET SET, GATE, etc. That can help you pursue your dream of becoming a Professor.
Placement sessions are conducted in several colleges for Theology students. Some of these are as follows:
Theology Course Colleges | Average Fees (in INR) |
|---|---|
Faculty of Arts, Dayalbagh Educational Institute | 4 LPA |
Aliah University -City Campus (Park Circus) | 1 - 3.4 LPA |
Department of Jainology and Comparative Religion and Philosophy, Jain Vishva Bharti Institute | 2.9 LPA |
Aliah University -Old Campus (Taltala) | 1.8 - 2.5 LPA |
Shri Shankarlal Sundarbai Shasun Jain College for Women admissions are based on merit. The college considers Class 12 score for UG programmes whereas graduation scores are considered for PG admission. Once selected, aspirants are called for document verification and fee payment.
Religious Studies Applications open. Apply Now
Commonly asked questions On Best Religious Studies Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
There are several colleges that offer Theology courses with low fees. Some of these are as follows:
Theology Course Colleges | Average Fees (in INR) |
|---|---|
SHUATS - Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences | 1 K - 90 K |
Aliah University -Old Campus (Taltala) | 1.2 K - 2.8 K |
Faculty of Arts, Dayalbagh Educational Institute | 1.8 K |
Department of Jainology and Comparative Religion and Philosophy, Jain Vishva Bharti Institute | 2 K |
Aliah University -City Campus (Park Circus) | 4.5 K - 6.6 K |
Directorate of Distance Education, Madurai Kamaraj University | 5 K |
Christ University | 86 K |
There are many good books on Theology. Some of these are as follows:
Theology Books | Authors |
|---|---|
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine | Wayne Grudem |
On being a servant of God | Warren Wiersbe |
A Theology of Biblical Counseling: The Doctrinal Foundations of Counseling Ministry | Dr. Heath Lambert |
The Screwtape Letters | C. S. Lewis |
The Moody handbook of theology | Paul Enns |
The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses | C.S. Lewis |
Building Healthy Churches | Nick Roark |
Aligarh Muslim University conducts the application process for all the courses in online mode. Interested candidates can fill the application forms through the official website. The admissions to AMU are offered on the basis of valid entrance scores. Candidates must ensure the fulfilment of the prescribed eligibility criteria. Candidates can go to the Aligarh Muslim University website for admission updates.
School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jain University is a moderately competitive institute to get into, as its acceptance rate stands at 50%. This figure tells us that almost 50 out of every 100 applicants manage to get enrolled in the institute, which is more than half of all the applicants. Therefore, once an applicant fulfills School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jain University admission requirements i.e., competitive grades, standardised test scores, English language requirements as well as relevant documents, they are most likely to secure an admission in the institute. However, students must not take this lightly and apply to the institute within the deadlines in order to get enrolled as a student.
DU admission is open. Admission in Delhi University is based on CUET-UG & CUET-PG scores. Below are the upcoming events for DU admission:
- University of Delhi (DU) has released the admission cutoff for 5-yr integrated BA LLB and BBA LLB courses through Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) scores.
- The CUET PG 2026 registration process for admission to PG courses is expected to begin in Jan 2026.
- DU CSAS-PG 2025 Spot Round 3 allocations have been released for admission to various PG courses based on the CUET-PG 2025 scores, and the last date for fee payment is Aug 20, 2025.
Commonly asked questions On Best Religious Studies Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
Mumbai University admission to various courses is based on merit or entrance exam. Mumbai University admission process is conducted through an online application. Candidates can refer to the steps below to fill out the Mumbai University application form:
- Visit the official website of MU
- Fill MU pre-enrolment form
- Fill out the application form of MU affiliated colleges
- Wait for the release of MU merit lists which are published on the official websites of the affiliated colleges
Candidates must wait for the Mumbai University cutoff after submitting their application for admission. Those who make the university's merit list must report to the college for document verification and counselling.
According to the University of Madras NIRF report, 483 PG 2 year students were placed in 2024 with a median package of INR 4.2 LPA. In PG 3 year program, 7 students got placements with a median salary of INR 4.80 LPA.
Jamia Millia Islamia is an excellent choice with the State Public University being most well-known for its liberal and scholarly atmosphere with the university producing many well-known alumni and free thinkers such as Shah Rukh Khan, Kabir Khan, Mouni Roy, Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Barkha Dutt, and many more.
The liberal atmosphere of JMI Delhi extends to its faculty and courses with the university having a curriculum design with the latest breakthroughs and changes in mind.
Further the university has approvals from a number of national bodies such as the AICTE, BCI, CoA, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, INC, NCTE, National Medical Commission, PCI, and Rehabilitation Council of India.
IGNOU admission cycle opens twice in a year i.e. January and July. The registrations for January session usually begins in December and close by March. The July session for ODL/ Online programmes begin in May and continue till July. The mode of application is online for all the courses.
Commonly asked questions On Best Religious Studies Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
There are multiple courses offered by Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University. These courses are offered at the UG and PG levels in course field like MSc, MBA, MA, BTech. Admission to these Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University courses is subject to fulfilment of eligibility & selection criteria.
The particular scores needed for acceptance into the Undergraduate (UG) Diploma programmes at the Institute of Distance Education, University of Madras, can change based on the programme and the academic year. UG Dimploma at IDE requires about 33% in marks. The formal admission notification or prospectus that the institute releases for each academic session normally includes information about the qualifying requirements, including the minimal score requirement.
Yes, MDU Rohtak accept JEE Main scores for admission to the BTech and various other courses. Candidates must prepare well for the JEE Main exam. Students must prepare according to the JEE Main syllabus. Students must read the JEE Main books and pepare accordingly.
Lucknow University has a huge campus of 219.01 acres and provides modern facilities to students. Some of the facilities provided by the university are listed below:
- Well-stocked library
- Media and Entertainment Lab
- Seminar halls
- Indoor Sports Ground
- Medical facilities
For a few courses, such as MA, BA, MLib, etc., admissions are completely based on merit in the last qualifying examination. Students must go through the Panjab University CHD-conducted/ national-level entrances and then appear for the university-level selection rounds for final admission at Panjab University.
Commonly asked questions On Best Religious Studies Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
Bangalore University is a goverment university. The university was recognised by the UGC and accredited by NAAC A Grade. The university is a member of the Associaton of Indian Universities.
Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University courses are offered to students in streams such as Arts, Commerce, Management, Science, Law, Engineering, etc. The university offers BTech and MBA programmes to students as its popular programmes. These courses are offered in several specialisations for a duration of 4 years and 2 years, respectively.
Kurukshetra University (KUK) has a Centre for Distance and Online Education available for students. The online courses are approved by AICTE, UGC, and accredited with A+ Grade by NAAC. Some of the online programmes available are below:
PG Programmes
- Online MA
- Online MBA
- Online MBA Plus
- Online MCA
UG Programmes
- Online BBA
Online BCom
Online BA
Faculty at University of Mysore deliver instruction through blend of high quality, experienced teaching with strong emphasis on theoretical knowledge particularly in early years. Approach combines traditional lectures with research focused guidance aiming to develop analytical, problem solving & professional skills.
Punjab University Patiala offers various courses to students at UG, PG, and PhD levels. The university offers BTech and MBA programmes to students as its popular programmes. These courses are offered for a duration of 4 and 2 years, respectively.