Education

Best colleges for Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education

Ranked by graduate earnings

Compare 64 U.S. colleges offering Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 31 states.

Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,383 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 13.09 and the Education Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC).

Institutions
64
offering CIP 13.09
States offered
31
with a program page
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Degrees / yr
1,038
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$44,383
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
US pay · Education Teachers, Postsecondary
$79,350
BLS OEWS May 2025

About Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education programs

The Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education program explores the theoretical and practical aspects of education through various lenses, including philosophy, sociology, and psychology. This program is designed for individuals interested in understanding the broader social contexts of education and its impact on society. Students in this program will engage with critical issues in education, develop their analytical skills, and prepare for roles that require deep understanding of educational theories and practices. It is ideal for those aiming to influence educational policy, conduct research, or teach at higher education institutions.

Learn more about Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education →

What you'll learn

Core skills in this program include critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Students will gain knowledge in English language, education and training, psychology, and sociology, along with coursework that emphasizes research methodologies and the preparation of educational materials.

Top 2 institutions, 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA Public · Bachelor's degree
$23,44720776%—$15,000
2Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$44,3831580%$22,831$19,000

Specializations within Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education

1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 13.09 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.

Offered across 31 states

The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.

StateInstitutionsMedian earningsTop institution by earnings
Pennsylvania5$44,383Dickinson College
California8$23,447University of California-Riverside
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Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1081, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.

Graduates of the Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education program can pursue careers in academia, research, and educational policy. The job outlook indicates a growth rate of 2.1%, with approximately 5,600 annual openings and a median wage of $72,090. A doctoral or professional degree is typically required for advanced positions in this field.

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.1%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~5,600
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$72,090
typically Doctoral or professional degree
National employment
60,830
Education Teachers, Postsecondary
US average pay
$79,350
annual, BLS OEWS May 2025
US median pay
$75,350
annual

Top-paying metros

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$130,400avg
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA
$128,710avg
Eugene-Springfield, OR
$124,780avg
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$124,070avg
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$122,520avg

Related careers

Education Teachers, Postsecondary
$79,350 avg · 60,830 jobs

CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education

The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 13.09.

Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 13.09 (Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education) maps to 1 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupation, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.

SOC codeOccupation
25-1081Education Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.

Skills & knowledge in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education programs

From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.

Skills you'll build

Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Learning Strategies
Active Learning
Writing
Monitoring
Critical Thinking

Knowledge areas

English Language
Education and Training
Psychology
Sociology and Anthropology
Administration and Management
Communications and Media

What graduates do on the job

  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Supervise students' fieldwork, internship, and research work.
  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.

Common questions

What is the focus of the Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education program?+

The program focuses on understanding education through social and philosophical perspectives.

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and research.

What career opportunities are available after graduation?+

Graduates can work in academia, research, or educational policy.

What is the job outlook for this field?+

The job outlook shows a growth rate of 2.1% with about 5,600 annual openings.

How much do Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education graduates earn?+

Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,383, College Scorecard (2019); the Education Teachers, Postsecondary occupation pays about $79,350 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).

What is the CIP code for Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education?+

Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education maps to CIP 13.09 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.

↑ Zoom outAll programs
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education by statePennsylvaniaCaliforniaArizonaArkansasColoradoConnecticutFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIllinois

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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