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2026 Best Value Philosophy & Religious Studies Schools in District of Columbia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the philosophy & religious studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Philosophy & Religious Studies Schools
Catholic University Of America earned the #1 spot for value among philosophy & religious studies schools in District of Columbia. Set in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,378 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for philosophy & religious studies graduates is $23,843. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from Catholic University Of America generally make around $65,120. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Students looking for strong value in philosophy & religious studies will find it at George Washington University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans. Early-career philosophy & religious studies graduates make about $73,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 47%.
Students looking for strong value in philosophy & religious studies will find it at American University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,771. Typical student debt for philosophy & religious studies graduates is $24,139. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of American University earn a median of $58,030 early in their careers. Set against $24,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. American University admits about 62% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Howard University earned it the #4 place for philosophy & religious studies. Set in the city of Washington, Howard University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,810. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete the philosophy & religious studies program here. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from Howard University generally make around $58,495. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
ADBLOCK #116
[Philosophy & Religious Studies](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
