Best colleges for Philosophy
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Philosophy by graduate earnings are University of Pennsylvania ($73,053), Columbia University ($52,668) and Boston College ($47,345), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA): $73,053, 214 graduates a year
- Columbia University (New York, NY): $52,668, 52 graduates a year
- Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA): $47,345, 58 graduates a year
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus (Seattle, WA): $42,072, 56 graduates a year
- Tulane University of Louisiana (New Orleans, LA): $41,032, 32 graduates a year
Compare 747 U.S. colleges offering Philosophy by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 53 states.
Philosophy programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,583 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 38.01 and the Mathematicians occupation (BLS SOC).
About Philosophy programs
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 on various philosophical methods and assumptions. This program is ideal for those who enjoy deep thinking and exploring complex ideas.
Students in the Philosophy program develop essential skills such as critical thinking, reading comprehension, and effective writing. Coursework often includes specializations in areas like Logic, Ethics, and Applied and Professional Ethics, providing a well-rounded understanding of philosophical concepts and their applications.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,053 | 214 | 97% | $22,055 | $18,500 |
| 2 | Columbia University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $52,668 | 52 | 96% | $15,315 | $20,062 |
| 3 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,345 | 58 | 91% | $21,126 | $18,000 |
| 4 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,072 | 56 | 85% | — | $13,500 |
| 5 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,032 | 32 | 86% | $33,106 | $20,000 |
| 6 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,881 | 56 | 89% | — | $18,676 |
| 7 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,377 | 52 | 89% | $21,956 | $25,750 |
| 8 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,359 | 46 | 88% | $29,023 | $24,128 |
| 9 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,286 | 65 | 68% | — | $26,250 |
| 10 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,113 | 37 | 84% | — | $25,000 |
| 11 | Ohio State University Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,971 | 32 | 88% | — | $26,247 |
| 12 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,380 | 86 | 92% | $26,873 | $11,491 |
| 13 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,885 | 42 | 93% | — | $21,510 |
| 14 | University of North Texas Denton, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,231 | 25 | 61% | — | $17,750 |
| 15 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,355 | 79 | 93% | — | $14,475 |
| 16 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,975 | 56 | 90% | — | $24,216 |
| 17 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,608 | 74 | 89% | — | $20,164 |
| 18 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,602 | 20 | 84% | $28,851 | $23,250 |
| 19 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,179 | 27 | 78% | — | $19,875 |
| 20 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,289 | 33 | 68% | — | $21,250 |
| 21 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,284 | 37 | 91% | — | $15,408 |
| 22 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,749 | 61 | 86% | — | $13,200 |
| 23 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,480 | 24 | 47% | — | $28,495 |
| 24 | Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,165 | 42 | 75% | $21,122 | $25,000 |
| 25 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,662 | 32 | 51% | — | $23,380 |
Specializations within Philosophy
5 of the 5 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 38.01 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- PhilosophyCIP 38.01016,872 graduates / yr729 institutions53 states
- PhilosophyCIP 38.0199336 graduates / yr22 institutions17 states
- Applied and Professional EthicsCIP 38.0104250 graduates / yr27 institutions19 states
- EthicsCIP 38.0103131 graduates / yr24 institutions17 states
- LogicCIP 38.0102partial data19 graduates / yr4 institutions4 states
Offered across 53 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 15-2021, Mathematicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Philosophy program may pursue various careers, although the field is projected to experience little or no change, with an annual opening of about 100 positions. The typical education required is a Master's degree, and the median wage for related occupations is approximately $121,680.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Philosophy
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 38.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 38.01 (Philosophy) maps to 4 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9121 | Natural Sciences Managers |
| 15-2021 | Mathematiciansprimary |
| 25-1022 | Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1126 | Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Philosophy programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Mentor others on mathematical techniques.
- Maintain knowledge in the field by reading professional journals, talking with other mathematicians, and attending professional conferences.
- Develop new principles and new relationships between existing mathematical principles to advance mathematical science.
- Disseminate research by writing reports, publishing papers, or presenting at professional conferences.
- Assemble sets of assumptions, and explore the consequences of each set.
- Perform computations and apply methods of numerical analysis to data.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Philosophy program?+
The Philosophy program focuses on fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and values.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, reading comprehension, writing, and active listening skills.
What are the career prospects for Philosophy graduates?+
The career outlook shows little or no change, with about 100 annual openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
A Master's degree is typically required for careers related to Philosophy.
How much do Philosophy graduates earn?+
Philosophy graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,583, College Scorecard (2019); the Mathematicians occupation pays about $129,260 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Philosophy?+
Philosophy maps to CIP 38.01 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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