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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #61 | Boston, MA | $41,381 Median Philosophy Earnings | $13,072 | 83.0% | 51.1% | |
| #62 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | Vestal, NY | $40,896 Median Philosophy Earnings | $12,916 | 37.7% | 83.7% |
| #63 | Luther CollegePrivate | Decorah, IA | $40,208 Median Philosophy Earnings | $16,937 | 73.3% | 75.0% |
| #64 | Albuquerque, NM | $39,787 Median Philosophy Earnings | $13,908 | 95.5% | 52.5% | |
| #65 | Whitworth UniversityPrivate | Spokane, WA | $39,730 Median Philosophy Earnings | $16,492 | — | 68.4% |
| #66 | Santa Cruz, CA | $39,427 Median Philosophy Earnings | $9,472 | 62.5% | 74.5% | |
| #67 | Madison, WI | $39,216 Median Philosophy Earnings | $4,458 | 43.4% | 89.3% | |
| #68 | Beulah Heights UniversityPrivate | Atlanta, GA | $39,130 Median Philosophy Earnings | $5,970 | — | 16.7% |
| #69 | Suffolk UniversityPrivate | Boston, MA | $38,829 Median Philosophy Earnings | $25,575 | 84.7% | 59.9% |
| #70 | Long Beach, CA | $38,601 Median Philosophy Earnings | $5,477 | 47.1% | 69.9% | |
| #71 | Brookline, MA | $38,574 Median Philosophy Earnings | — | 90.5% | 44.4% | |
| #72 | Brigham Young UniversityPrivate | Provo, UT | $38,332 Median Philosophy Earnings | $9,531 | 69.2% | 82.2% |
| #73 | Normal, IL | $38,289 Median Philosophy Earnings | $11,075 | 89.0% | 66.3% | |
| #74 | Georgetown UniversityPrivate | Washington, DC | $38,289 Median Philosophy Earnings | $5,340 | 13.1% | 94.3% |
| #75 | Conception Seminary CollegePrivate | Conception, MO | $38,200 Median Philosophy Earnings | — | 100.0% | 64.3% |
| #76 | Denver, CO | $37,606 Median Philosophy Earnings | $12,364 | 99.1% | 29.9% | |
| #77 | Las Vegas, NV | $37,590 Median Philosophy Earnings | $8,024 | 96.3% | 50.1% | |
| #78 | Gustavus Adolphus CollegePrivate | Saint Peter, MN | $37,568 Median Philosophy Earnings | $15,799 | 61.8% | 75.8% |
| #79 | Randolph-Macon CollegePrivate | Ashland, VA | $37,568 Median Philosophy Earnings | $20,959 | 83.4% | 74.6% |
| #80 | Slippery Rock, PA | $37,260 Median Philosophy Earnings | $12,762 | 74.6% | 65.9% |
