by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Ethics involves the study of Ethics. A Program That Focuses On The Systematic Study Of The Theory Of Moral Good And Its Application To Various Theoretical And Practical Problems. Includes Instruction In Ethical Theory, History Of Ethics, Belief And Value Systems, Ethical Constructs, And Applications To Specific Topics, Issues And Problems. Continue reading for the important information every ethics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering ethics programs.
In the U.S., ethics is a popular field of study, with 147 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Ethics Schools ranking analyzes these 21 schools to determine the best overall colleges for ethics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of ethics programs later in this article.
Programs in Ethics develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations ethics graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a ethics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a ethics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several ethics degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 54 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 89 |
People currently working in careers related to ethics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 73.8% |
| Master’s degree | 13.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in ethics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in ethics can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to ethics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to ethics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,031,835 | 3.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of ethics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,242 |
| 4 years | $46,522 |
| 5 years | $56,339 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for ethics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers ethics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
With 21 different ethics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased ethics school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in ethics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Philosophy | 8,253 |
| Philosophy, Other | 328 |
| Applied and Professional Ethics | 234 |
| Logic | 11 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
