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2023 Philosophy Degree Guide

Philosophy Degrees Remain Stable

#83 Most Popular Major
10.1k Degrees Awarded
0.4% Increase in Graduates

In 2020-2021, philosophy was the 83rd most popular major nationwide with 10,054 degrees awarded. This is approximately the same as the 10,015 graduates the prior year.

Our 2023 Best Philosophy Schools ranking analyzes 76 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for philosophy students. Explore this or one of our many other custom philosophy rankings further below.

2023 Best Colleges for Philosophy
2023 Overall Best Philosophy Colleges >

Best Philosophy Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Philosophy
Bachelor's Degrees in Philosophy
Master's Degrees in Philosophy
Doctorate Degrees in Philosophy

Requirements for Getting a Degree in Philosophy

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is a required skill for philosophy majors. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and talking to others to convey information effectively.

Getting Accepted Into a Philosophy Program

New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic philosophy program qualifications, to serve in some philosophy careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.

Types of Philosophy Degrees

There are many different philosophy degree levels. Philosophy programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest philosophy degree you can get. The time it takes to complete a philosophy degree varies depending on the program.

Degree Credit Requirements Typical Program Length
Associate Degree 60-70 credits 2 years
Bachelor’s Degree 120 credits 4 years
Master’s Degree 50-70 credits 1-3 years
Doctorate Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation At least 4 years

A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to philosophy, with approximately 42.5% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to philosophy tend obtained the following education levels.

Level of Education Percentage of Workers
Doctoral Degree 42.6%
Master’s Degree 29.2%
Bachelor’s Degree 16.4%
Post-Doctoral Training 8.0%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 1.8%

Most workers in philosophy have at least a master's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in philosophy careers have.

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The education level required is different depending on the philosophy career you are seeking.

Philosophy Careers

Average Number of Jobs
$30.5k Average Starting Salary
11% Growth Job Outlook 2016-26

There are a variety of careers available to students who have a degree in Philosophy. These careers include law, copy writing, finance, religious leadership, marketing and sales, public relations, and work in the government. This degree gives you the skills to think logically and analyze situations making you an asset to many companies in a variety of industries. The job outlook for Philosophy graduates varies on the career they choose to go into. Some jobs may require additional training or certification.

Solid Growth Projected for Philosophy Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your philosophy degree? Philosophy careers are expected to grow 10.6% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to philosophy.

Occupation Name Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Mathematical Science Professors 66,600 9.4%
Natural Sciences Managers 62,300 9.9%
Philosophy and Religion Professors 35,700 12.3%
Mathematicians 4,000 29.0%

How Much Money Do People With a Philosophy Degree Make?

Philosophy graduates between 2017-2019 reported earning an average of $30,510 in the 2019-2020 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $15,111 to as high as $96,764. As you might expect, salaries for philosophy graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

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High Paying Careers for Philosophy Majors

Salaries for philosophy graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers philosophy grads often go into.

Occupation Name Median Average Salary
Natural Sciences Managers $139,680
Mathematicians $104,870
Mathematical Science Professors $87,140
Philosophy and Religion Professors $82,420

Getting Your Philosophy Degree

With over 1,793 different philosophy degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased philosophy school rankings to help you with this.

Philosophy is one of 3 different types of Philosophy & Religious Studies programs to choose from.

Philosophy Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Philosophy 9,487
Other Philosophy 297
Ethics 150
Applied & Professional Ethics 98
Logic 22

View All Philosophy Concentrations >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Religious Studies 9,470
Other Philosophy & Religious Studies 285
General Philosophy & Religious Studies 184

View All Philosophy Related Majors >

References

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