by our College Data Analytics TeamA 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. Continue reading for the essential details every philosophy & religion student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering philosophy & religion programs.
Across the country, philosophy & religion is a popular field of study, with 184 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Philosophy & Religion Schools ranking analyzes these 46 schools to determine the best overall colleges for philosophy & religion students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of philosophy & religion programs later in this article.
Programs in Philosophy & Religion emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations philosophy & religion graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a philosophy & religion program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a philosophy & religion major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several philosophy & religion degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 6 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 100 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 52 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 26 |
People currently working in careers related to philosophy & religion tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in philosophy & religion careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in philosophy & religion can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to philosophy & religion.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to philosophy & religion.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,031,835 | 3.7% |
Salaries for philosophy & religion graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers philosophy & religion grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
With 46 different philosophy & religion programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased philosophy & religion school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
