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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #41 | Seattle, WA | $44,568 Median Philosophy Earnings | $6,398 | 42.5% | 83.7% | |
| #42 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | Lynchburg, VA | $44,318 Median Philosophy Earnings | $30,504 | 99.3% | 63.5% |
| #43 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | Waco, TX | $44,312 Median Philosophy Earnings | $30,674 | 51.0% | 80.2% |
| #44 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | Chicago, IL | $44,104 Median Philosophy Earnings | $23,758 | 73.5% | 70.0% |
| #45 | Los Angeles, CA | $43,881 Median Philosophy Earnings | $6,864 | 8.7% | 92.7% | |
| #46 | Colgate UniversityPrivate | Hamilton, NY | $43,798 Median Philosophy Earnings | $3,341 | 11.9% | 90.5% |
| #47 | Utah Valley UniversityPublic | Orem, UT | $43,699 Median Philosophy Earnings | $6,381 | — | 40.7% |
| #48 | Clemson UniversityPublic | Clemson, SC | $43,659 Median Philosophy Earnings | $14,212 | 38.0% | 87.9% |
| #49 | Santa Barbara, CA | $43,390 Median Philosophy Earnings | $7,745 | 27.8% | 85.3% | |
| #50 | Cuny Lehman CollegePublic | Bronx, NY | $43,311 Median Philosophy Earnings | $2,047 | 55.4% | 49.3% |
| #51 | Austin, TX | $43,275 Median Philosophy Earnings | $12,972 | 29.1% | 87.6% | |
| #52 | Champaign, IL | $42,942 Median Philosophy Earnings | $3,883 | 43.7% | 84.9% | |
| #53 | Florida State UniversityPublic | Tallahassee, FL | $42,736 Median Philosophy Earnings | $5,777 | 25.4% | 83.0% |
| #54 | College Of The Holy CrossPrivate | Worcester, MA | $42,682 Median Philosophy Earnings | $14,900 | 21.1% | 89.6% |
| #55 | Cairn University-LanghornePrivate | Langhorne, PA | $42,600 Median Philosophy Earnings | $24,409 | 83.6% | 65.2% |
| #56 | University Of St ThomasPrivate | Saint Paul, MN | $42,546 Median Philosophy Earnings | $26,922 | 84.9% | 75.2% |
| #57 | Dallas, TX | $42,334 Median Philosophy Earnings | $30,165 | 61.2% | 83.3% | |
| #58 | University Of ArizonaPublic | Tucson, AZ | $42,250 Median Philosophy Earnings | $12,043 | 85.7% | 65.9% |
| #59 | St Olaf CollegePrivate | Northfield, MN | $42,008 Median Philosophy Earnings | $9,504 | 52.1% | 83.5% |
| #60 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | San Francisco, CA | $41,565 Median Philosophy Earnings | $31,741 | 50.8% | 71.1% |
