by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 44 U.S. colleges awarded 204 degrees and certificates in Philosophy & Religion. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 61% of graduates. Its 1 related occupations pay an average median salary of $71,584 a year.
A major in Philosophy & Religion covers Philosophy And Religious Studies, General. A General Program That Combines The Study Of Philosophy And Religious Studies. Includes Instruction In Logic; Ethics; Epistemology; Symbolism; Phenomenology; The Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Anthropology, Literature, And Art Of Religion; And World Religions.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, philosophy & religion is a popular field of study, with 204 degrees awarded annually. 44 colleges award philosophy & religion degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 22.
By level, the 204 awards include 7 associate degrees, 124 bachelor’s degrees, 56 master’s degrees and 17 doctorates.
Women earned 38% of philosophy & religion degrees and certificates in the latest year (77 of 204). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (143) and Hispanic or Latino (17), and international students earned 16.
The most common philosophy & religion credential is the bachelor’s degree: 124 of the 204 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to philosophy & religion call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of Philosophy and Theology, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Speech Clarity and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a philosophy & religion degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 124 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 56 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 17 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to philosophy & religion, at 73.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 73.8% |
| Master’s degree | 13.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Philosophy & Religion, with an average median salary of $71,584; the strongest outlook belongs to Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary, at 3.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include University Faculty Member, Philosophy Faculty Member, Church Music Professor and College Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to philosophy & religion, at 1,031,835.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,031,835 | 3.7% |
Philosophy & Religion graduates earn a median $57,874 four years after completing their program, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 4 years | $57,874 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to philosophy & religion, with a median salary of $71,584.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.