Philosophy programs produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $10,153 to $95,023—a spread that demonstrates how institutional selection dramatically impacts outcomes. Across 105 programs nationwide, Philosophy graduates earn a median of $40,226, with top-tier programs achieving earnings $12,874 higher than national averages for the major.
Leading the list is University Of Southern California, achieving the highest program earnings at $95,023. University of Pennsylvania follows closely with $90,761, while Vanderbilt University rounds out the top three at $81,508. These top-performing programs demonstrate how critical thinking and humanities education translate into strong median earnings when combined with institutional excellence.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #21 | Irvine, CA | $52,707 Median Philosophy Earnings | $6,485 | 25.6% | 86.0% | |
| #22 | New York, NY | $51,730 Median Philosophy Earnings | $1,290 | 57.2% | 55.5% | |
| #23 | New York, NY | $51,482 Median Philosophy Earnings | $18,385 | 45.1% | 86.8% | |
| #24 | Queens, NY | $50,635 Median Philosophy Earnings | $23,468 | 79.7% | 68.5% | |
| #25 | Georgia State UniversityPublic | Atlanta, GA | $50,389 Median Philosophy Earnings | $13,552 | 62.3% | 53.7% |
| #26 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,683 Median Philosophy Earnings | $8,460 | 11.4% | 92.5% |
| #27 | College Station, TX | $49,447 Median Philosophy Earnings | $12,273 | 63.2% | 83.8% | |
| #28 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | Chicago, IL | $49,427 Median Philosophy Earnings | $28,666 | 81.4% | 76.9% |
| #29 | Blacksburg, VA | $48,988 Median Philosophy Earnings | $13,536 | 57.0% | 86.3% | |
| #30 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | Milwaukee, WI | $48,910 Median Philosophy Earnings | $18,364 | 87.4% | 80.1% |
| #31 | Tempe, AZ | $48,225 Median Philosophy Earnings | $8,909 | 90.2% | 67.8% | |
| #32 | Boston CollegePrivate | Chestnut Hill, MA | $47,768 Median Philosophy Earnings | $5,851 | 15.7% | 91.0% |
| #33 | Baton Rouge, LA | $47,253 Median Philosophy Earnings | $14,035 | 74.0% | 71.0% | |
| #34 | Boston UniversityPrivate | Boston, MA | $47,043 Median Philosophy Earnings | $11,453 | 10.8% | 90.0% |
| #35 | Boulder, CO | $46,884 Median Philosophy Earnings | $11,251 | 83.3% | 75.0% | |
| #36 | Temple UniversityPublic | Philadelphia, PA | $46,706 Median Philosophy Earnings | $23,080 | 82.9% | 74.7% |
| #37 | San Diego, CA | $46,456 Median Philosophy Earnings | $9,655 | 34.4% | 78.3% | |
| #38 | Fredericksburg, VA | $45,898 Median Philosophy Earnings | $11,137 | 86.3% | 67.4% | |
| #39 | Pomona, CA | $45,340 Median Philosophy Earnings | $7,599 | 73.7% | 66.7% | |
| #40 | Riverside, CA | $44,648 Median Philosophy Earnings | $8,240 | 63.3% | 76.6% |
