Best colleges for Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
A program that focuses on the systematic study of education as a social and cultural institution, and the educational process as an object of humanistic inquiry.
64 U.S. institutions graduated 1,038 Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 13.0901, a specialization of Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education (CIP 13.09), and leads most directly to the Education Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1081).
About Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education programs
A program that focuses on the systematic study of education as a social and cultural institution, and the educational process as an object of humanistic inquiry. Includes instruction in such subjects as the philosophy of education, history of education, educational literature, educational anthropology, sociology of education, economics and politics of education, educational policy studies, and studies of education in relation to specific populations, issues, social phenomena, and types of work.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education program focuses on the systematic study of education as a social and cultural institution. It is designed for students interested in exploring the educational process through humanistic inquiry, examining its historical, philosophical, and sociological dimensions. This program is ideal for those who aspire to understand the complexities of education and its impact on society.
Students in this program will develop critical skills in areas such as speaking, writing, and critical thinking. Coursework typically includes subjects like the philosophy of education, educational anthropology, and sociology of education, equipping graduates with a comprehensive understanding of educational systems and policies.
Credentials awarded
What Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree495 graduates / yr · 10 institutions48%
- Master's degree289 graduates / yr · 33 institutions28%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship109 graduates / yr · 25 institutions11%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year91 graduates / yr · 2 institutions8.8%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate40 graduates / yr · 8 institutions3.9%
- Post-master's certificate9 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.9%
- Doctor's degree - professional practice5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
Graduates over time
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 812 |
| 2013 | 637 |
| 2014 | 666 |
| 2015 | 699 |
| 2016 | 593 |
| 2017 | 491 |
| 2018 | 553 |
| 2019 | 606 |
| 2020 | 646 |
| 2021 | 665 |
| 2022 | 860 |
| 2023 | 897 |
| 2024 | 892 |
| 2025 | 1,038 |
Top 50 institutions for Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education, 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 starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor's | 207 | 76% | — | $23,447 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 142 | 90% | — | — |
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor's | 105 | 93% | — | — |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor's | 100 | 75% | — | — |
| 5 | Hope International University Fullerton, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 31 | 49% | $32,826 | — |
| 6 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 30 | 65% | — | — |
| 7 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicDoctoralMaster's | 27 | 84% | — | — |
| 8 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 25 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 9 | Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 24 | 67% | $21,933 | — |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WIPublicMaster's | 20 | 49% | — | — |
| 11 | Teachers College at Columbia University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 19 | — | — | — |
| 12 | Wesleyan University Middletown, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 17 | 93% | $16,467 | — |
| 13 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 16 | 84% | $28,851 | — |
| 14 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 15 | 74% | — | — |
| 15 | Dickinson College Carlisle, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 80% | $22,831 | $44,383 |
| 16 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicMaster's | 14 | 50% | — | — |
| 17 | Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MIPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 14 | 90% | — | — |
| 18 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 14 | 64% | — | — |
| 19 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicMaster's | 13 | 69% | — | — |
| 20 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster's | 12 | 53% | — | — |
| 21 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicMaster's | 10 | 61% | — | — |
| 22 | University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NMPublicDoctoralMaster's | 10 | 55% | — | — |
| 23 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OHPublicDoctoralMaster's | 10 | 75% | — | — |
| 24 | University of the Pacific Stockton, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 9 | 69% | $23,964 | — |
| 25 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 68% | $28,141 | — |
| 26 | Columbia University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 8 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 27 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HIPublicMaster's | 7 | 64% | — | — |
| 28 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KYPublicBachelor's | 7 | 52% | — | — |
| 29 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 7 | 86% | — | — |
| 30 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicMaster's | 6 | 68% | — | — |
| 31 | Amherst College Amherst, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 94% | $16,081 | — |
| 32 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PAPublicMaster's | 6 | 71% | — | — |
| 33 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 5 | 73% | $33,454 | — |
| 34 | Southern Utah University Cedar City, UTPublicMaster's | 5 | 61% | — | — |
| 35 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 68% | — | — |
| 36 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WIPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 5 | 57% | — | — |
| 37 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicDoctoral | 4 | 80% | — | — |
| 38 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MIPublicMaster's | 4 | 46% | — | — |
| 39 | University of Toledo Toledo, OHPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 4 | 57% | — | — |
| 40 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, ARPublicDoctoral | 3 | 71% | — | — |
| 41 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 90% | — | — |
| 42 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicMaster's | 3 | 69% | — | — |
| 43 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicDoctoral | 3 | 75% | — | — |
| 44 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NCPublicMaster's | 3 | 56% | — | — |
| 45 | Vermont State University Randolph, VTPublicMaster'sMaster's | 3 | 47% | — | — |
| 46 | Eastern Washington University Cheney, WAPublicBachelor's | 3 | 43% | — | — |
| 47 | Washington State University Pullman, WAPublicDoctoral | 3 | 60% | — | — |
| 48 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicDoctoral | 2 | 86% | — | — |
| 49 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicMaster's | 2 | 53% | — | — |
| 50 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicDoctoral | 2 | 75% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education field (CIP 13.09) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 31 states
Where Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education graduates come from. Each state links to all Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education programs offered there.
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 often pursue careers as postsecondary education teachers. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.1% and approximately 5,600 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $72,090, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 13.0901
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Education Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1081 | $75,350 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~5,600 | 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 Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education 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
- 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.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or a Doctor's degree in this field.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a postsecondary education teacher or in related educational roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.1% and 5,600 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education?+
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education is CIP 13.0901 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education (CIP 13.09). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the systematic study of education as a social and cultural institution, and the educational process as an object of humanistic inquiry. Includes instruction in such subjects as the philosophy of education, history of education, educational literature, educational anthropology, sociology of education, economics and politics of education, educational policy studies, and studies of education in relation to specific populations, issues, social phenomena, and types of work.
How many institutions offer Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education programs?+
64 U.S. institutions reported Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 31 states, awarding 1,038 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education graduates.
How much do Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Education Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education most directly leads to, pays a median of $75,350 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,383, 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 Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education graduates, so its figures match the Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education program page.
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