by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 25 U.S. colleges awarded 138 degrees and certificates in Ethics. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 75% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best 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 Ethics involves the study of Ethics. A Program That Focuses On The Systematic Study Of The Theory Of Moral Good And Its Application To Various Theoretical And Practical Problems. Includes Instruction In Ethical Theory, History Of Ethics, Belief And Value Systems, Ethical Constructs, And Applications To Specific Topics, Issues And Problems.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., ethics is a popular field of study, with 138 degrees awarded annually. 25 colleges award ethics degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 22.
By level, the 138 awards include 6 certificates, 28 bachelor’s degrees and 104 master’s degrees.
Women earned 73% of ethics degrees and certificates in the latest year (101 of 138). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (67) and Black or African American (18), and international students earned 10.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Ethics Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks ethics schools within 1 state. In all, 25 colleges offer ethics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Ethics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common ethics credential is the master’s degree: 104 of the 138 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to ethics call most for Reading Comprehension, Instructing 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 an ethics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 6 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 28 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 104 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to 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 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 Eastern Philosophy Professor, Metaphysics Teacher, Philosophy Faculty Member and Western Philosophy Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to ethics, at 1,031,835.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,031,835 | 3.7% |
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 ethics, with a median salary of $71,584.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
Ethics has 4 similar majors in the Philosophy & Religious Studies field, which together award 9,270 degrees a year; the largest are Philosophy (8,635), Philosophy, Other (360) and Applied and Professional Ethics (256). Browse all Philosophy & Religious Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Philosophy | 8,635 |
| Philosophy, Other | 360 |
| Applied and Professional Ethics | 256 |
| Logic | 19 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
