Philosophy programs
CIP 3801 · Philosophy & Religious Studies · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
87 institutions report graduate earnings for Philosophy programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $57,663 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37× and 80% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 5 of the 88 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carolina UniversityNC · Doctoral | $115,630 n=23 | 94% 1yr | $56,798 | 0.49× | Above +97% | — |
| 2 | University of PennsylvaniaPA · Bachelor's | $107,454 n=79 | 76% 1yr | $19,000 | 0.18× | Above +185% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA · Bachelor's | $98,592 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +156% | — |
| 4 | Boston CollegeMA · Bachelor's | $97,519 n=40 | 98% | $18,000 | 0.18× | Above +124% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | American UniversityDC · Master's | $82,273 n=30 | 86% 1yr | $42,373 | 0.52× | Below -5% | Below 2/2 |
| 6 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeNY · Bachelor's | $78,041 n=23 | — | — | — | Above +105% | — |
| 7 | William & MaryVA · Bachelor's | $75,423 n=17 | — | $18,312 | 0.24× | Above +98% | — |
| 8 | Fordham UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $74,507 n=42 | 90% 5yr | $20,500 | 0.28× | Above +96% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | University of California-Santa BarbaraCA · Bachelor's | $71,796 n=73 | 52% | $15,000 | 0.21× | Above +87% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | The University of Texas at AustinTX · Bachelor's | $71,790 n=48 | 81% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.27× | Above +101% | Clears 2/2 |
| 11 | University of ChicagoIL · Bachelor's | $71,709 n=24 | 79% 5yr | $22,641 | 0.32× | Above +90% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNC · Bachelor's | $70,709 n=32 | 56% 1yr | $14,618 | 0.21× | Above +106% | — |
| 13 | Seton Hall UniversityNJ · Bachelor's | $70,628 n=29 | — | $19,250 | 0.27× | Above +77% | — |
| 14 | University of Massachusetts-LowellMA · Bachelor's | $68,629 n=20 | — | $19,500 | 0.28× | Above +58% | — |
| 15 | Boston UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $68,026 n=25 | 64% 1yr | $25,375 | 0.37× | Above +56% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $67,948 n=17 | — | — | — | Above +79% | Below 1/2 |
| 17 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · Bachelor's | $67,293 n=35 | 57% 5yr | $19,125 | 0.28× | Above +92% | Clears 2/2 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's | $65,675 n=24 | 88% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.35× | Above +74% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusPA · Bachelor's | $65,675 n=24 | 88% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.35× | Above +74% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | California State University-SacramentoCA · Bachelor's | $65,115 n=27 | 56% 5yr | $14,753 | 0.23× | Above +69% | Below 1/2 |
| 21 | George Washington UniversityDC · Bachelor's | $64,898 n=18 | — | $20,471 | 0.32× | Above +80% | — |
| 22 | University of Maryland-College ParkMD · Bachelor's | $64,846 n=22 | 91% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.30× | Above +54% | Clears 2/2 |
| 23 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $64,402 n=21 | — | $20,500 | 0.32× | Above +69% | — |
| 24 | American Public University SystemWV · Bachelor's | $64,098 n=25 | — | $29,481 | 0.46× | Above +82% | — |
| 25 | University of ScrantonPA · Bachelor's | $63,410 n=25 | 89% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.43× | Above +68% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | University of California-BerkeleyCA · Bachelor's | $63,326 n=67 | 80% 5yr | $13,345 | 0.21× | Above +65% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | University of California-Los AngelesCA · Bachelor's | $61,754 n=104 | 45% | $15,000 | 0.24× | Above +61% | Clears 2/2 |
| 28 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusWA · Bachelor's | $61,595 n=65 | 100% | $13,500 | 0.22× | Above +45% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Bachelor's | $61,595 n=65 | 100% | $13,500 | 0.22× | Above +45% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | Fordham UniversityNY · Master's | $61,194 n=18 | — | — | — | Below -14% | — |
| 31 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI · Bachelor's | $61,186 n=32 | 81% 5yr | $21,500 | 0.35× | Above +57% | Clears 2/2 |
| 32 | Loyola University ChicagoIL · Bachelor's | $60,571 n=18 | 100% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.43× | Above +61% | Clears 2/2 |
| 33 | Georgia State UniversityGA · Bachelor's | $60,009 n=44 | 81% 5yr | $22,600 | 0.38× | Above +70% | Clears 2/2 |
| 34 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's | $59,935 n=65 | 71% 5yr | $24,188 | 0.40× | Above +63% | Clears 2/2 |
| 35 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's | $59,935 n=65 | 71% 5yr | $24,188 | 0.40× | Above +63% | Clears 2/2 |
| 36 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusOK · Bachelor's | $59,640 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +68% | — |
| 37 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWI · Bachelor's | $59,370 n=18 | 73% 1yr | $24,500 | 0.41× | Above +52% | Below 1/2 |
| 38 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTN · Bachelor's | $59,329 n=21 | — | $26,000 | 0.44× | Above +70% | Clears 2/2 |
| 39 | Rutgers University-CamdenNJ · Bachelor's | $58,891 n=62 | 92% 5yr | $21,625 | 0.37× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 40 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Bachelor's | $58,891 n=62 | 92% 5yr | $21,625 | 0.37× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 41 | Rutgers University-NewarkNJ · Bachelor's | $58,891 n=62 | 92% 5yr | $21,625 | 0.37× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 42 | University of OregonOR · Bachelor's | $58,635 n=28 | 54% 5yr | $24,500 | 0.42× | Above +60% | Below 1/2 |
| 43 | University of California-DavisCA · Bachelor's | $58,633 n=38 | 50% | $13,000 | 0.22× | Above +53% | Below 1/2 |
| 44 | North Carolina State University at RaleighNC · Bachelor's | $58,285 n=18 | — | $21,706 | 0.37× | Above +70% | — |
| 45 | West Virginia UniversityWV · Bachelor's | $57,041 n=16 | — | $26,250 | 0.46× | Above +62% | — |
| 46 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkNY · Bachelor's | $56,885 n=24 | 59% 1yr | $20,937 | 0.37× | Above +50% | — |
| 47 | University of Minnesota-DuluthMN · Bachelor's | $56,812 n=16 | — | $27,000 | 0.47× | Above +42% | — |
| 48 | University of IowaIA · Bachelor's | $56,786 n=16 | — | $25,385 | 0.45× | Above +47% | — |
| 49 | University of HoustonTX · Bachelor's | $55,875 n=19 | — | $24,200 | 0.43× | Above +56% | — |
| 50 | Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $55,823 n=34 | 76% 1yr | $20,800 | 0.37× | Above +52% | Clears 2/2 |
| 51 | University of ArizonaAZ · Bachelor's | $55,804 n=35 | 87% 5yr | $19,750 | 0.35× | Above +52% | Clears 2/2 |
| 52 | University of Massachusetts-BostonMA · Bachelor's | $54,868 n=23 | 82% 5yr | $26,250 | 0.48× | Above +26% | Below 1/2 |
| 53 | Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Bachelor's | $54,822 n=30 | — | $17,375 | 0.32× | Above +53% | Clears 2/2 |
| 54 | San Diego State UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $53,390 n=16 | — | $25,000 | 0.47× | Above +39% | — |
| 55 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN · Bachelor's | $53,189 n=32 | 71% 5yr | $20,500 | 0.39× | Above +33% | — |
| 56 | California State University-Los AngelesCA · Bachelor's | $53,127 n=20 | — | $10,000 | 0.19× | Above +38% | — |
| 57 | University of FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $52,656 n=44 | 89% 5yr | $17,413 | 0.33× | Above +56% | Clears 2/2 |
| 58 | New York UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $52,633 n=16 | 78% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.44× | Above +38% | — |
| 59 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPA · Bachelor's | $52,436 n=16 | — | $20,375 | 0.39× | Above +39% | — |
| 60 | St. John's University-New YorkNY · Bachelor's | $52,006 n=16 | 81% 5yr | $22,821 | 0.44× | Above +37% | Clears 2/2 |
| 61 | University of Southern CaliforniaCA · Bachelor's | $51,831 n=48 | 84% 5yr | $7,500 | 0.14× | Above +35% | — |
| 62 | University of California-RiversideCA · Bachelor's | $51,402 n=47 | 86% 5yr | $19,022 | 0.37× | Above +34% | Clears 2/2 |
| 63 | University of California-Santa CruzCA · Bachelor's | $51,398 n=46 | 66% 5yr | $15,000 | 0.29× | Above +34% | Clears 2/2 |
| 64 | Texas State UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $50,768 n=18 | — | $24,500 | 0.48× | Above +42% | Clears 2/2 |
| 65 | Portland State UniversityOR · Bachelor's | $50,191 n=29 | 59% 5yr | $18,822 | 0.38× | Above +37% | Below 1/2 |
| 66 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLA · Bachelor's | $50,016 n=23 | 65% 5yr | $18,375 | 0.37× | Above +44% | Clears 2/2 |
| 67 | University of Colorado Colorado SpringsCO · Bachelor's | $49,909 n=31 | — | $25,000 | 0.50× | Above +20% | Below 1/2 |
| 68 | CUNY Hunter CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $49,583 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +30% | — |
| 69 | University of South FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $49,561 n=23 | 90% 5yr | $22,500 | 0.45× | Above +47% | — |
| 70 | The Catholic University of AmericaDC · Bachelor's | $49,378 n=25 | 90% 5yr | $26,759 | 0.54× | Above +37% | Clears 2/2 |
| 71 | California State University-Long BeachCA · Bachelor's | $49,062 n=27 | 73% 5yr | $12,919 | 0.26× | Above +28% | Clears 2/2 |
| 72 | California State University-NorthridgeCA · Bachelor's | $48,566 n=23 | — | $12,500 | 0.26× | Above +26% | Clears 2/2 |
| 73 | Temple UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $47,414 n=26 | 71% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.53× | Above +26% | Clears 2/2 |
| 74 | Florida State UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $47,153 n=42 | 78% 5yr | $22,000 | 0.47× | Above +40% | Clears 2/2 |
| 75 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteNC · Bachelor's | $46,067 n=29 | — | $23,750 | 0.52× | Above +34% | — |
| 76 | California State University-FullertonCA · Bachelor's | $44,533 n=26 | — | $14,203 | 0.32× | Above +16% | Below 1/2 |
| 77 | University of LouisvilleKY · Bachelor's | $44,329 n=17 | — | $19,250 | 0.43× | Above +28% | — |
| 78 | CUNY Lehman CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $43,165 n=28 | 63% 1yr | $17,600 | 0.41× | Above +13% | — |
| 79 | Florida International UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $43,085 n=27 | — | $13,393 | 0.31× | Above +28% | Below 1/2 |
| 80 | San Francisco State UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $42,993 n=35 | 69% 5yr | $15,750 | 0.37× | Above +12% | Clears 2/2 |
| 81 | California State University-FresnoCA · Bachelor's | $42,337 n=25 | — | $13,824 | 0.33× | Above +10% | — |
| 82 | University of St ThomasMN · Bachelor's | $41,209 n=26 | 89% 5yr | $17,500 | 0.42× | Above +3% | Clears 2/2 |
| 83 | Hobart William Smith CollegesNY · Bachelor's | $40,284 n=16 | — | $27,000 | 0.67× | Above +6% | — |
| 84 | Wheaton CollegeIL · Bachelor's | $40,076 n=21 | — | $23,685 | 0.59× | Above +6% | — |
| 85 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointWI · Bachelor's | $39,532 n=26 | 59% 1yr | $22,993 | 0.58× | Above +1% | — |
| 86 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Bachelor's | $34,482 n=19 | — | $18,413 | 0.53× | Below -9% | Below 1/2 |
| 87 | The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyTX · Bachelor's | $33,457 n=20 | — | $13,000 | 0.39× | Below -6% | — |
| 88 | Franciscan University of SteubenvilleOH · Bachelor's | $31,906 n=26 | — | $20,000 | 0.63× | Below -13% | — |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $68,328 | 4 |
| District of Columbia | $64,898 | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,542 | 6 |
| North Carolina | $64,497 | 4 |
| Arizona | $59,935 | 3 |
| Wisconsin | $59,370 | 3 |
| New Jersey | $58,891 | 4 |
| Texas | $54,822 | 5 |
| New York | $54,759 | 10 |
| Minnesota | $53,189 | 3 |
| California | $52,479 | 16 |
| Illinois | $50,324 | 4 |
| Florida | $48,357 | 4 |
States with at least 3 reporting Philosophy programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Philosophy programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Philosophy programs in this dataset are Carolina University ($115,630), University of Pennsylvania ($107,454), California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($98,592). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Philosophy programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 5 of the 88 Philosophy programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.