Best colleges for Philosophy in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Southern California, University of California-Berkeley and University of California-Davis are the top bachelor's Philosophy programs in California by graduate earnings. University of Southern California leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,380, College Scorecard. University of California-Los Angeles, University of Southern California and University of California-Santa Barbara award the most Philosophy degrees in California: 121, 86 and 82 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 136 California colleges offer Philosophy and award 1,477 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Philosophy program offers a systematic study of fundamental questions related to existence, knowledge, mind, reason, language, and value. It is designed for students interested in engaging in rational and critical inquiry, reflecting…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,380 | 86 | 92% | $26,873 | $11,491 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,355 | 79 | 93% | — | $14,475 |
| 3 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,749 | 61 | 86% | — | $13,200 |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,285 | 46 | 75% | — | $15,832 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,182 | 121 | 93% | — | $15,000 |
| 6 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,712 | 35 | 76% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,326 | 20 | 56% | — | $15,034 |
| 8 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,539 | 31 | 50% | — | $18,000 |
| 9 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,303 | 82 | 83% | — | $15,000 |
| 10 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,171 | 54 | 76% | — | $19,022 |
Colleges awarding the most Philosophy degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 121 | $30,182 |
| 2 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 86 | $38,380 |
| 3 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 82 | $25,303 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 79 | $36,355 |
| 5 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 62 | $20,922 |
| 6 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 61 | $32,749 |
| 7 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 54 | $25,171 |
| 8 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 46 | $30,285 |
| 9 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 35 | $29,712 |
| 10 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public | 31 | $28,539 |
ShowHide the other 126 California colleges offering Philosophy
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mathematicians (SOC 15-2021).
Top skills
What Mathematicians earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Philosophy programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Philosophy degrees?+
University of California-Los Angeles (121 graduates a year), University of Southern California (86 graduates a year) and University of California-Santa Barbara (82 graduates a year) award the most Philosophy degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 136 California colleges offer Philosophy.
What is the best college for Philosophy in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of Southern California leads among bachelor's Philosophy programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,380, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley and University of California-Davis follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Los Angeles is the largest, with 121 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Philosophy program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Southern California tops the list at $38,380. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mathematicians earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Mathematicians in California is $129,110 (median $126,710), across about 250 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Philosophy program?+
The Philosophy program offers a systematic study of fundamental questions related to existence, knowledge, mind, reason, language, and value. It is designed for students interested in engaging in rational and critical inquiry, reflecting…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop mathematics, critical thinking, reading comprehension, active learning, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Mathematicians?+
The national job outlook is about -0.7% growth with around 100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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