Philosophy & Religious Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1273 schools to find the best for philosophy & religious studies students.
Stanford University tops our 2026 ranking of the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Stanford University awarded about 26 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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Santa Clara University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in philosophy & religious studies, ranking #2. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 41 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from Santa Clara University earn around $79,380 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,144.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in philosophy & religious studies, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $61,010. Students borrow a median of $19,273 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong philosophy & religious studies program will find one at Dartmouth College, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 28 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $81,992. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong philosophy & religious studies program will find one at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 179 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $73,053. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
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Washington University In St Louis placed #6 among the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 12 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $68,303 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
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Carnegie Mellon University earned the #7 position for philosophy & religious studies this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 13 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy & religious studies program make about $89,327 in their early career. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #8 spot for philosophy & religious studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. About 32 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $25,260. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,715 in student loans.
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Brown University landed the #9 spot for philosophy & religious studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
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Emory University landed the #10 spot for philosophy & religious studies this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 43 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Emory University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $58,984. Students borrow a median of $16,438 to complete this degree.
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Rice University earned the #11 position for philosophy & religious studies this year. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 11 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from Rice University earn around $75,299 in the first couple years of their career. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
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San Jose State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best philosophy & religious studies schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Tufts University came in at #13 for philosophy & religious studies this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 21 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies 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 landed the #14 spot for philosophy & religious studies this year. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates 80% of students within six years. About 13 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the philosophy & religious studies program make about $65,599 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University earned the #15 position for philosophy & religious studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 20 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from Cornell University earn around $75,976 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete this degree.
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Yale University earned the #16 position for philosophy & religious studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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Chapman University landed the #17 spot for philosophy & religious studies this year. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 19 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies 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 landed the #18 spot for philosophy & religious studies this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 36 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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Princeton University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 28 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
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College Of William And Mary came in at #20 for philosophy & religious studies this year. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 25 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $53,338. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University came in at #21 for philosophy & religious studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 46 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from Harvard University earn around $95,207 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus placed #22 among the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 22 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete this degree.
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Wake Forest University came in at #23 for philosophy & religious studies this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Wake Forest University awarded about 13 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from Wake Forest University earn around $67,369 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
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University Of Southern California landed the #24 spot for philosophy & religious studies this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 77 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $38,380 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,491 to complete this degree.
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Southern Methodist University earned the #25 position for philosophy & religious studies this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 27 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $42,334 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Philosophy & Religious Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong philosophy & religious studies education:
The ranking above is published 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 · 1273 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).
