Best colleges for Philosophy in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Columbia University, New York University and Syracuse University are the top bachelor's Philosophy programs in New York by graduate earnings. Columbia University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,668, College Scorecard. Fordham University, Columbia University and New York University award the most Philosophy degrees in New York: 57, 52 and 46 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 60 New York colleges offer Philosophy and award 649 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 9 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 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $52,668 | 52 | 96% | $15,315 | $20,062 |
| 2 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,359 | 46 | 88% | $29,023 | $24,128 |
| 3 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,602 | 20 | 84% | $28,851 | $23,250 |
| 4 | CUNY Hunter College New York Public · Bachelor's degree | $10,363 | 20 | 57% | — | — |
| 5 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $43,311 | 14 | 51% | — | $18,700 |
| 6 | CUNY City College New York Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,339 | 9 | 57% | — | — |
| 7 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,851 | 5 | 56% | — | — |
| 8 | CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $27,926 | 14 | 54% | — | $14,125 |
| 9 | Binghamton University Vestal Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,626 | 9 | 82% | — | $26,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Philosophy degrees in New York
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 | Fordham University Bronx Private not-for-profit | 57 | Not reported |
| 2 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 52 | $52,668 |
| 3 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 46 | $40,359 |
| 4 | The New School New York Private not-for-profit | 39 | Not reported |
| 5 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit | 27 | Not reported |
| 6 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public | 22 | Not reported |
| 7 | Colgate University Hamilton Private not-for-profit | 21 | Not reported |
| 8 | CUNY Hunter College New York Public | 20 | $10,363 |
| 9 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit | 20 | $35,602 |
| 10 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public | 17 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 50 New York colleges offering Philosophy
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center (Online) | New York | Public | 27 |
| University of Rochester | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Vassar College | Poughkeepsie | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | Brooklyn | Public | 14 |
| CUNY Lehman College | Bronx | Public | 14 |
| United States Military Academy | West Point | Public | 14 |
| College of Staten Island CUNY | Staten Island | Public | 12 |
| Manhattan University | Riverdale | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Hamilton College | Clinton | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges | Geneva | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| St Lawrence University | Canton | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| St. John's University - New York | Queens | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| University at Albany | Albany | Public | 11 |
| State University of New York at New Paltz | New Paltz | Public | 11 |
| Barnard College | New York | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| CUNY City College | New York | Public | 9 |
| Binghamton University | Vestal | Public | 9 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | New York | Public | 8 |
| Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| CUNY Queens College | Queens | Public | 7 |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College | Long Island City | Public | 6 |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | New York | Public | 5 |
| St Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry (Graduate only) | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| SUNY Oneonta | Oneonta | Public | 5 |
| Ithaca College | Ithaca | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Marist University | Poughkeepsie | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| St Bonaventure University | Saint Bonaventure | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| State University of New York at Cortland | Cortland | Public | 4 |
| Suffolk County Community College | Selden | Public | 4 |
| Canisius University | Buffalo | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| State University of New York at Oswego | Oswego | Public | 3 |
| SUNY at Purchase College | Purchase | Public | 3 |
| Union College | Schenectady | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Iona University | New Rochelle | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Le Moyne College | Syracuse | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Siena University | Loudonville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | Geneseo | Public | 2 |
| Yeshiva University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Adelphi University | Garden City | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Manhattanville University | Purchase | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of Mount Saint Vincent | Bronx | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Nazareth University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| St. Francis College | Brooklyn | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| St. Joseph's University - New York | Brooklyn | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| SUNY Brockport | Brockport | Public | 1 |
| SUNY Buffalo State University | Buffalo | Public | 1 |
| SUNY at Fredonia | Fredonia | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mathematicians (SOC 15-2021).
Top skills
What Mathematicians earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Philosophy programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Philosophy degrees?+
Fordham University (57 graduates a year), Columbia University (52 graduates a year) and New York University (46 graduates a year) award the most Philosophy degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 60 New York colleges offer Philosophy.
What is the best college for Philosophy in New York?+
By graduate earnings, Columbia University leads among bachelor's Philosophy programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,668, College Scorecard. New York University and Syracuse University follow. By degrees awarded, Fordham University is the largest, with 57 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Philosophy program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Columbia University tops the list at $52,668. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mathematicians earn in New York?+
The average annual wage for Mathematicians in New York is $147,660 (median $126,950), across about 150 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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