Best colleges for Philosophy in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Pennsylvania, Temple University and Pennsylvania State University are the top bachelor's Philosophy programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. University of Pennsylvania leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $73,053, College Scorecard. University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus and Pennsylvania State University award the most Philosophy degrees in Pennsylvania: 214, 48 and 41 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 47 Pennsylvania colleges offer Philosophy and award 538 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 6 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 Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,053 | 214 | 97% | $22,055 | $18,500 |
| 2 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,648 | 21 | 75% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $17,881 | 41 | 86% | — | $23,878 |
| 4 | Gettysburg College Gettysburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,544 | 6 | 83% | $24,453 | $26,000 |
| 5 | University of Scranton Scranton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,513 | 2 | 80% | $25,834 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,869 | 3 | 66% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Philosophy degrees in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 214 | $73,053 |
| 2 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 48 | Not reported |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 41 | $17,881 |
| 4 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 28 | Not reported |
| 5 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 21 | $28,648 |
| 6 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 7 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 15 | Not reported |
| 8 | Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary - Overbrook Ambler Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 9 | Bucknell University Lewisburg Private not-for-profit | 11 | Not reported |
| 10 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 37 Pennsylvania colleges offering Philosophy
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | West Chester | Public | 9 |
| Dickinson College | Carlisle | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | Public | 8 |
| Lafayette College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Gettysburg College | Gettysburg | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Haverford College | Haverford | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Lehigh University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg | Public | 4 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Grove City College | Grove City | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Eastern University | Saint Davids | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Saint Vincent College | Latrobe | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock | Public | 3 |
| Washington & Jefferson College | Washington | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Allegheny College | Meadville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University of Scranton | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Albright College | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| DeSales University | Center Valley | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Gannon University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Geneva College | Beaver Falls | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Lincoln University | Lincoln University | Public | 1 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville | Public | 1 |
| Misericordia University | Dallas | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Thiel College | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Pennsylvania State University - World Campus (Online) | University Park | Public | 1 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mathematicians (SOC 15-2021).
Top skills
What Mathematicians earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Philosophy programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Philosophy degrees?+
University of Pennsylvania (214 graduates a year), University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (48 graduates a year) and Pennsylvania State University (41 graduates a year) award the most Philosophy degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 47 Pennsylvania colleges offer Philosophy.
What is the best college for Philosophy in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, University of Pennsylvania leads among bachelor's Philosophy programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $73,053, College Scorecard. Temple University and Pennsylvania State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Pennsylvania is the largest, with 214 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Philosophy program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Pennsylvania tops the list at $73,053. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card