DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: No offers_data.offers found, showing generic ESYOH widget
Philosophy Degrees Trends
#83Most Popular Major
9.8kDegrees Awarded
239Schools Offering Degrees
Philosophy was the 83rd most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 9,787 degrees in this year alone.
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: No offers_data.offers found, showing generic ESYOH widget
Requirements for Getting a Degree in Philosophy
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is a required skill for philosophy majors. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and talking to others to convey information effectively.
ADBLOCK #171
Getting Accepted Into a Philosophy Program
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic philosophy program qualifications, to serve in some philosophy careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Types of Philosophy Degrees
There are many different philosophy degree levels. Philosophy programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest philosophy degree you can get. The time it takes to complete a philosophy degree varies depending on the program.
Degree
Credit Requirements
Typical Program Length
Associate Degree
60-70 credits
2 years
Bachelor’s Degree
120 credits
4 years
Master’s Degree
50-70 credits
1-3 years
Doctorate
Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation
At least 4 years
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to philosophy, with approximately 42.5% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to philosophy tend obtained the following education levels.
Level of Education
Percentage of Workers
Doctoral Degree
42.6%
Master’s Degree
29.2%
Bachelor’s Degree
16.4%
Post-Doctoral Training
8.0%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
1.8%
ADBLOCK #172
Most workers in philosophy have at least a master's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in philosophy careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the philosophy career you are seeking.
Philosophy Careers
AverageNumber of Jobs
$37.7kAverage Starting Salary
11% GrowthJob Outlook 2016-26
There are a variety of careers available to students who have a degree in Philosophy. These careers include law, copy writing, finance, religious leadership, marketing and sales, public relations, and work in the government. This degree gives you the skills to think logically and analyze situations making you an asset to many companies in a variety of industries. The job outlook for Philosophy graduates varies on the career they choose to go into. Some jobs may require additional training or certification.
Solid Growth Projected for Philosophy Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your philosophy degree? Philosophy careers are expected to grow 10.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to philosophy.
Occupation Name
Projected Jobs
Expected Growth
Mathematical Science Professors
66,600
9.4%
Natural Sciences Managers
62,300
9.9%
Philosophy and Religion Professors
35,700
12.3%
Mathematicians
4,000
29.0%
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = "philosophy-and-religious-studies//philosophy"
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: No offers_data.offers found, showing generic ESYOH widget
How Much Money Do People With a Philosophy Degree Make?
Recently graduated philosophy students earned an average of $37,709 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $10,363 to as high as $123,153. As you might expect, salaries for philosophy graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
High Paying Careers for Philosophy Majors
Salaries for philosophy graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers philosophy grads often go into.
Occupation Name
Median Average Salary
Natural Sciences Managers
$139,680
Mathematicians
$104,870
Mathematical Science Professors
$87,140
Philosophy and Religion Professors
$82,420
ADBLOCK #173
Getting Your Philosophy Degree
With over 1,770 different philosophy degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased philosophy school rankings to help you with this.