Philosophy degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 913 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for philosophy students pursuing a degree.
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the best school in the country for a degree in philosophy. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $100,827 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes Santa Clara University one of the top schools for philosophy. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 philosophy degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $79,380. Typical student debt for the program is $20,144.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best philosophy schools. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 30 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Philosophy graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $61,010 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,273.
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Dartmouth College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in philosophy, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Dartmouth College awarded about 23 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from Dartmouth College earn around $81,992 in the first couple years of their career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best philosophy schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 177 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $73,053 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #6 position for philosophy this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 19 philosophy degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $69,126 in their early career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $15,509 in student loans.
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Washington University In St Louis landed the #7 spot for philosophy this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 12 philosophy degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $68,303 in the first couple years of their career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
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Carnegie Mellon University placed #8 among the best philosophy schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $89,327 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
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Brown University earned the #9 position for philosophy this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from Brown University earn around $62,820 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete this degree.
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Emory University earned the #10 position for philosophy this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. Emory University awarded about 35 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $67,840. Students borrow a median of $16,438 to complete this degree.
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Rice University placed #11 among the best philosophy schools. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Rice University awarded about 10 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $75,299 in their early career. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
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San Jose State University placed #12 among the best philosophy schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 23 philosophy degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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Tufts University placed #13 among the best philosophy schools. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
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Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best philosophy schools. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Saint Louis University Main Campus awarded about 12 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Philosophy graduates of Saint Louis University Main Campus earn a median of $65,599 early in their careers. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans.
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Cornell University landed the #15 spot for philosophy this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $75,976 in their early career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
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Yale University came in at #16 for philosophy this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 philosophy degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Philosophy graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
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Chapman University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best philosophy schools. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $50,947. Students borrow a median of $21,657 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #18 among the best philosophy schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 philosophy degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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Princeton University came in at #19 for philosophy this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Princeton University awarded about 20 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888.
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College Of William And Mary placed #20 among the best philosophy schools. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. College Of William And Mary awarded about 19 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $53,338 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750.
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Harvard University landed the #21 spot for philosophy this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. Harvard University awarded about 38 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Philosophy graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Purdue University Main Campus earned the #22 position for philosophy this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 21 philosophy degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete this degree.
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Wake Forest University placed #23 among the best philosophy schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wake Forest University awarded about 11 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $67,369 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
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University Of Southern California ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best philosophy schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 76 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $38,380 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,491 to complete this degree.
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Southern Methodist University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best philosophy schools. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 23 philosophy degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $42,334 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Philosophy Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s philosophy ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 913 schools evaluated.
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).
