Philosophy
Offered at 1,050 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 30 | — | — | — |
| Associate | 98 | — | — | — |
| Bachelor's | 664 | $38,197 | $62,448 | $20,000 |
| Master's | 141 | $56,977 | — | — |
| Doctoral | 102 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 15 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston College | MA | $58,101 | $123,546 | $19,000 |
| 2 | University of Pennsylvania | PA | $82,195 | $119,618 | $17,750 |
| 3 | University of Colorado Boulder | CO | $40,014 | $90,759 | $15,250 |
| 4 | Fordham University | NY | $37,710 | $88,781 | $21,500 |
| 5 | Loyola University Chicago | IL | $19,393 | $83,948 | $24,125 |
| 6 | University of Miami | FL | — | $83,490 | — |
| 7 | Boston University | MA | $43,896 | $83,061 | $16,750 |
| 8 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $47,723 | $82,771 | $21,183 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | NC | $43,620 | $82,120 | $13,500 |
| 10 | Vanderbilt University | TN | — | $81,301 | — |
| 11 | Chapman University | CA | — | $80,702 | — |
| 12 | Seton Hall University | NJ | $42,228 | $80,530 | $20,018 |
| 13 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | VA | — | $77,151 | — |
| 14 | American Public University System | WV | $76,837 | — | $45,160 |
| 15 | University of Southern California | CA | $52,079 | $76,819 | $20,500 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American University | DC | $55,267 | $99,288 | — |
| 2 | Johnson University | TN | $71,658 | — | — |
| 3 | Texas State University | TX | — | $61,579 | — |
| 4 | Biola University | CA | $56,977 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning doctoral programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carolina University | NC | — | $127,536 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning graduate certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas State University | TX | — | $60,041 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do philosophy graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in philosophy reports median earnings of $38,197. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
