Best institutions to study Philosophy
A program that focuses on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena.
729 U.S. institutions graduated 6,872 Philosophy students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 38.0101, a specialization of Philosophy (CIP 38.01), and leads most directly to the Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1126).
About Philosophy programs
A program that focuses on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena. Includes instruction in logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, symbolism, and history of philosophy, and applications to the theoretical foundations and methods of other disciplines.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Philosophy program focuses on the exploration of ideas and their logical structures, encompassing a wide range of topics such as ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, and metaphysics. This program is designed for students interested in understanding abstract concepts and their applications to various disciplines, making it suitable for those who enjoy critical thinking and intellectual discussions.
Students in the Philosophy program develop essential skills such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes the study of philosophical theories, logic, and the history of philosophy, equipping graduates with a strong foundation for various professional paths.
Credentials awarded
What Philosophy graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree5,289 graduates / yr · 612 institutions77%
- Master's degree686 graduates / yr · 134 institutions10%
- Associate's degree433 graduates / yr · 108 institutions6.3%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship394 graduates / yr · 98 institutions5.7%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year40 graduates / yr · 8 institutions0.6%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate21 graduates / yr · 8 institutions0.3%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
- Post-master's certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Philosophy completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 8,660 |
| 2013 | 8,734 |
| 2014 | 8,291 |
| 2015 | 7,653 |
| 2016 | 7,113 |
| 2017 | 7,163 |
| 2018 | 7,236 |
| 2019 | 7,560 |
| 2020 | 7,676 |
| 2021 | 7,646 |
| 2022 | 7,284 |
| 2023 | 6,904 |
| 2024 | 6,710 |
| 2025 | 6,872 |
Top 50 institutions for Philosophy, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 121 | 93% | — | $30,182 |
| 2 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 82 | 83% | — | $25,303 |
| 3 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 79 | 93% | — | $36,355 |
| 4 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 61 | 86% | — | $32,749 |
| 5 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicBachelor's | 58 | 0% | — | $40,286 |
| 6 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 56 | 68% | — | $40,286 |
| 7 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 56 | 74% | — | — |
| 8 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 56 | 91% | $21,126 | $47,345 |
| 9 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 56 | 89% | — | $40,881 |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 56 | 90% | — | $35,975 |
| 11 | Emory University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 54 | 91% | $20,586 | — |
| 12 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 53 | 87% | — | $20,922 |
| 13 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 53 | 86% | — | — |
| 14 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 52 | 89% | $21,956 | $40,377 |
| 15 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoralMaster's | 52 | 96% | $15,315 | $52,668 |
| 16 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 49 | 76% | — | $25,171 |
| 17 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 49 | 85% | — | $42,072 |
| 18 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 48 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 19 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 48 | 85% | — | — |
| 20 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 47 | 53% | — | — |
| 21 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 46 | 75% | — | $30,285 |
| 22 | The Catholic University of America Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 46 | 79% | $27,724 | — |
| 23 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 46 | 88% | $29,023 | $40,359 |
| 24 | Holy Apostles College and Seminary Cromwell, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 45 | 79% | $16,073 | — |
| 25 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 44 | 91% | — | $24,048 |
| 26 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 43 | 75% | — | — |
| 27 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 42 | 93% | — | $37,885 |
| 28 | Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sAssociate's | 42 | 75% | $21,122 | $32,165 |
| 29 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 42 | 72% | — | $27,640 |
| 30 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 42 | 83% | — | — |
| 31 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 41 | 86% | — | $17,881 |
| 32 | Fordham University Bronx, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 40 | 82% | $38,931 | — |
| 33 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 39 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 34 | The New School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 39 | 69% | $54,185 | — |
| 35 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 37 | 84% | — | $40,113 |
| 36 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 37 | 91% | — | $34,284 |
| 37 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 35 | 76% | — | $29,712 |
| 38 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 32 | 86% | $33,106 | $41,032 |
| 39 | Princeton University Princeton, NJPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 32 | 98% | $13,729 | — |
| 40 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 31 | 68% | — | $34,289 |
| 41 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 31 | 50% | — | $28,539 |
| 42 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 31 | 97% | $22,055 | $73,053 |
| 43 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 30 | 69% | — | — |
| 44 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 30 | 96% | $27,025 | — |
| 45 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 30 | 84% | — | $30,058 |
| 46 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 30 | 65% | — | — |
| 47 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CAPublicBachelor's | 29 | 86% | — | — |
| 48 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 29 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 49 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 29 | 85% | — | $31,652 |
| 50 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 28 | 53% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Philosophy field (CIP 38.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 53 states & territories
Where Philosophy graduates come from. Each state links to all Philosophy programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1126, Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Philosophy program often pursue careers as postsecondary philosophy and religion teachers. The job outlook for this field shows little or no change, with an annual opening of about 2,000 positions and a median wage of $78,050. A doctoral or professional degree is typically required for these roles.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 38.0101
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1126 | $80,260 | +0.7% Little or no change | ~2,000 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Philosophy programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Tools and technology used
Other Philosophy specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Philosophy (CIP 38.01).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Philosophy?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, Associate's, or Doctor's degree in Philosophy.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, writing, active listening, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Philosophy?+
You can become a postsecondary philosophy or religion teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for Philosophy graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 2,000 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Philosophy?+
Philosophy is CIP 38.0101 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Philosophy (CIP 38.01). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena. Includes instruction in logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, symbolism, and history of philosophy, and applications to the theoretical foundations and methods of other disciplines.
How many institutions offer Philosophy programs?+
729 U.S. institutions reported Philosophy graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 53 states & territories, awarding 6,872 credentials in the year. That is 90.3% of all Philosophy graduates.
How much do Philosophy graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Philosophy most directly leads to, pays a median of $80,260 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Philosophy field report median earnings of $31,583 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Philosophy graduates, so its figures match the Philosophy program page.
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