by our College Data Analytics Team
[Philosophy](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a philosophy degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where philosophy graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Where you study philosophy affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we developed our Highest Paid Philosophy Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose philosophy degrees pay off the most.
Learn more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Philosophy Graduates list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
If you want to know which schools send philosophy graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Vanderbilt University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools in the United States. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from Vanderbilt University typically earn about $107,157 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Fordham University earned it the #2 place for philosophy. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. Philosophy graduates of Fordham University earn a median of about $93,875 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in philosophy will find them at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #3. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,545.
Students chasing top earnings in philosophy will find them at Seton Hall University, which ranked #4. Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,028.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania typically earn about $73,053 annually.
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University Of Chicago landed the #6 spot for philosophy salaries this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from University Of Chicago make a median of around $72,246 per year.
Wheaton College Illinois earned the #7 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from Wheaton College Illinois make a median of around $72,113 per year.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #8 for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,470.
University Of Notre Dame earned the #9 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from University Of Notre Dame make a median of around $67,240 per year.
West Virginia University came in at #10 for philosophy graduate earnings this year. West Virginia University is a public school located in the city of Morgantown. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,560.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #11 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus typically earn about $63,572 annually.
Catholic University Of America landed the #12 spot for philosophy salaries this year. Set in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. Philosophy graduates of Catholic University Of America earn a median of about $62,337 a year early in their careers.
University Of Southern California placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $95,023 annually.
Georgia State University earned the #14 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Georgia State University is a public school located in the city of Atlanta. Early-career philosophy graduates from Georgia State University make a median of around $60,232 per year.
Baylor University landed the #15 spot for philosophy salaries this year. Baylor University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,363.
Loyola Marymount University placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Early-career philosophy graduates from Loyola Marymount University make a median of around $58,354 per year.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Philosophy graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of about $57,472 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #18 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University typically earn about $56,170 annually.
New York University earned the #19 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from New York University typically earn about $76,802 annually.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #20 for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,852.
Marquette University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Marquette University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Early-career philosophy graduates from Marquette University make a median of around $53,208 per year.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #22 for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,182.
St Johns University New York earned the #23 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. St Johns University New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,256.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #24 for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Philosophy graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of about $51,582 a year early in their careers.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Philosophy graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of about $51,522 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send philosophy graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries philosophy graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
