by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 27 U.S. colleges awarded 256 degrees and certificates in Applied & Professional Ethics. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 57% of graduates. College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Applied & Professional Ethics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $35,030 one year after completing, rising to $60,179 after four years.
Studying Applied & Professional Ethics involves the study of Applied And Professional Ethics. A Program That Focuses On The Systematic Study Of Ethical Issues In The Workplace And Public Life, And The Application Of Ethical Decision-Making To The Practical Problems Of Society And The Professions. Includes Instruction In Ethical Theory; History Of Ethics; Contemporary Social Dilemmas; Methods In Applied Ethics; And Applications Including Medical Ethics, Legal Ethics, Business Ethics, Environmental Ethics, And Criminal Justice Ethics. Examples: [Applied Ethics], [Professional Ethics], [Engineering Ethics].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, applied & professional ethics is a widely-pursued major, with 256 degrees awarded annually. 27 colleges award applied & professional ethics degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 54.
By level, the 256 awards include 89 bachelor’s degrees, 146 master’s degrees and 21 doctorates.
Women earned 57% of applied & professional ethics degrees and certificates in the latest year (146 of 256). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (135) and Black or African American (46), and international students earned 9.
College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Applied & Professional Ethics Schools ranking, including 4 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks applied & professional ethics schools within 1 state. In all, 27 colleges offer applied & professional ethics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Applied & Professional Ethics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common applied & professional ethics credential is the master’s degree: 146 of the 256 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to applied & professional ethics call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Instructing, and for knowledge of Philosophy and Theology, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Speech Clarity, Written Comprehension and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an applied & professional ethics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 89 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 146 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 21 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to applied & professional ethics, 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 Applied & Professional Ethics, 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 Adjunct Professor, Religious Educator, Philosophy Adjunct Professor and Religion Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to applied & professional ethics, at 1,031,835.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,031,835 | 3.7% |
Applied & Professional Ethics graduates earn a median $35,030 one year after completing their program, $60,179 after four years and $56,416 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,030 |
| 4 years | $60,179 |
| 5 years | $56,416 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to applied & professional ethics, with a median salary of $71,584.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
Applied & Professional Ethics has 4 similar majors in the Philosophy & Religious Studies field, which together award 9,152 degrees a year; the largest are Philosophy (8,635), Philosophy, Other (360) and Ethics (138). Browse all Philosophy & Religious Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Philosophy | 8,635 |
| Philosophy, Other | 360 |
| Ethics | 138 |
| Logic | 19 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
