2026 Best Value Philosophy Schools in the New England Region
[Philosophy](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong philosophy education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 70 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for philosophy students.
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2026 Best Value Philosophy Schools in the New England Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the philosophy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Philosophy Schools
Our analysis ranked Harvard University the best value for a degree in philosophy in the New England Region. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the philosophy program here. Philosophy graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Massachusetts Boston one of the best values for philosophy. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the philosophy program here. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $36,581. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rhode Island is a great value for students pursuing a degree in philosophy, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. In-state tuition and fees average $16,942, compared with $37,146 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,432 to complete the philosophy program here. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $52,821. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Vermont one of the best values for philosophy. Set in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,058, while out-of-state students pay about $45,502. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $22,607 in student loans. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from University Of Vermont generally make around $44,588. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Vermont admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of Connecticut is a great value for students pursuing a degree in philosophy, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete the philosophy program here. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $58,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Wellesley College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value philosophy schools. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,176. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $11,075. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $48,902. That is a strong return on a $11,075 median debt. Wellesley College admits about 14% of applicants.
Brown University earned the #7 position for value in philosophy this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,312. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete the philosophy program here. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $62,820. That is a strong return on a $13,025 median debt. Brown University admits about 5% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value philosophy schools. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Philosophy graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
Smith College earned the #9 position for value in philosophy this year. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,178. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $18,941 in student loans. Philosophy graduates of Smith College earn a median of $40,436 early in their careers. Set against $18,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Smith College admits about 21% of applicants.
Boston University earned the #10 position for value in philosophy this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $25,750. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $40,377. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Yale University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value philosophy schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,250. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $74,578. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Dartmouth College placed #12 among the best values for philosophy. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,019 in tuition and fees. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $81,992. That is a strong return on a $16,989 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Wesleyan University placed #13 among the best values for philosophy. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,042. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete the philosophy program here. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $39,764. That is a strong return on a $16,125 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Bates College landed the #14 spot for philosophy value this year. Located in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $66,590. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $12,226 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $43,933. That is a strong return on a $12,226 median debt. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University came in at #15 for value in philosophy this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $25,611 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $74,800. That is a strong return on a $25,611 median debt. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
Brandeis University came in at #16 for value in philosophy this year. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,080. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $25,653. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $47,783. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Tufts University landed the #17 spot for philosophy value this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $68,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Boston College came in at #18 for value in philosophy this year. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,702. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $47,345. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boston College admits about 16% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 70 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
