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Best Philosophy Programs 2026

Top philosophy programs ranked by salary. Philosophy grads often shine in law and business — see which schools prove it.

10 programs ranked

$30,682 avg salary

5 public schools

View as table

Rank	Program	School	State	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Value Score	Break-Even
1	Philosophy	Boston College	MA	$51,737	$41,704/yr	60/100	8 yr
2	Philosophy	Emory University	GA	$33,513	$23,911/yr	39/100	29.1 yr
3	Philosophy	George Washington University	DC	$33,265	$37,454/yr	25/100	48.2 yr
4	Philosophy	University of Arizona	AZ	$32,865	$15,960/yr	51/100	24.8 yr
5	Philosophy	University of Chicago	IL	$28,698	$18,967/yr	41/100	N/A
6	Philosophy	University of Southern California	CA	$28,506	$31,927/yr	24/100	N/A
7	Philosophy	University of Florida	FL	$25,985	$6,351/yr	54/100	N/A
8	Philosophy	University of California-Santa Barbara	CA	$25,487	$13,825/yr	49/100	N/A
9	Philosophy	University of California-Berkeley	CA	$23,934	$13,481/yr	48/100	N/A
10	Philosophy	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	IL	$22,831	$15,201/yr	39/100	N/A

Philosophy

60/100

Boston College · Chestnut Hill, MA

$51,737 median salary$41,704/yr net cost8 yr break-even+72% vs. HS diploma

Philosophy

39/100

Emory University · Atlanta, GA

$33,513 median salary$23,911/yr net cost29.1 yr break-even+12% vs. HS diploma

Philosophy

25/100

George Washington University · Washington, DC

$33,265 median salary$37,454/yr net cost48.2 yr break-even+11% vs. HS diploma

Philosophy

51/100Public

University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ

$32,865 median salary$15,960/yr net cost24.8 yr break-even+10% vs. HS diploma

Philosophy

41/100

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL

$28,698 median salary$18,967/yr net cost+-4% vs. HS diploma

Philosophy

24/100

University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA

$28,506 median salary$31,927/yr net cost+-5% vs. HS diploma

Philosophy

54/100Public

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

$25,985 median salary$6,351/yr net cost+-13% vs. HS diploma

Philosophy

49/100Public

University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA

$25,487 median salary$13,825/yr net cost+-15% vs. HS diploma

Philosophy

48/100Public

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$23,934 median salary$13,481/yr net cost+-20% vs. HS diploma

Philosophy

39/100Public

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL

$22,831 median salary$15,201/yr net cost+-24% vs. HS diploma

Compare Schools Side by Side

See how different philosophy programs stack up on cost, salary, and graduation rates.

Compare Schools Overall Rankings

Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Programs are ranked by median earnings 1 year after completion. Data reflects bachelor's degree programs only.