2027 Best Philosophy Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Philosophy degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 182 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for philosophy students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Philosophy in the United States
Below are the best philosophy schools at the bachelor’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Philosophy
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for philosophy. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 philosophy degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Santa Clara University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in philosophy, ranking #2. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 12 philosophy degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Philosophy graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $79,380 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in philosophy, landing the #3 spot this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stanford University awarded about 15 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
More information about a degree in philosophy from Stanford University
University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in philosophy, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 199 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $73,053 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
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College Of William And Mary is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in philosophy, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $53,338 in their early career. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans.
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Washington University In St Louis earned the #6 position for philosophy this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 17 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. Typical student debt for the program is $17,553.
See the full philosophy program report for Washington University In St Louis
Carnegie Mellon University placed #7 among the best philosophy schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $89,327 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
See the full philosophy program report for Carnegie Mellon University
Georgetown University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgetown University awarded about 17 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $79,632 in their early career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
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Yale University earned the #9 position for philosophy this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 25 philosophy degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from Yale University earn around $74,578 in the first couple years of their career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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Emory University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. Emory University awarded about 48 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $67,840. Students borrow a median of $16,438 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University earned the #11 position for philosophy this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $95,207 in their early career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
More information about a degree in philosophy from Harvard University
Dartmouth College came in at #12 for philosophy this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 philosophy degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from Dartmouth College earn around $81,992 in the first couple years of their career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
See the full philosophy program report for Dartmouth College
Wake Forest University earned the #13 position for philosophy this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
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Brown University landed the #14 spot for philosophy this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. About 17 philosophy degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Philosophy graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
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Tufts University placed #15 among the best philosophy schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 philosophy degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from Tufts University earn around $68,154 in the first couple years of their career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
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Cornell University landed the #16 spot for philosophy this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Philosophy graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $75,976 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005.
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Princeton University placed #17 among the best philosophy schools. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 philosophy degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Philosophy graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #18 for philosophy this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 27 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $34,284 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,408 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in philosophy from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #19 among the best philosophy schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. Students borrow a median of $15,509 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus placed #20 among the best philosophy schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. About 39 philosophy degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Philosophy graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844.
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Northeastern University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Northeastern University awarded about 17 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from Northeastern University earn around $74,800 in the first couple years of their career. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $25,611 in student loans.
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University Of Delaware came in at #22 for philosophy this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Delaware awarded about 12 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Philosophy graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $54,155 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,861 to complete this degree.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 29 philosophy degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Philosophy graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $61,010 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,273 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in philosophy from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Pepperdine University placed #24 among the best philosophy schools. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $57,582. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $23,645 in student loans.
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Colgate University placed #25 among the best philosophy schools. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Colgate University awarded about 21 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from Colgate University earn around $52,924 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,286 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Philosophy Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong philosophy education:
Honorable Mentions
Also worth considering for philosophy:
- #51 — University Of New Hampshire Main Campus · Durham, NH
- #52 — Gustavus Adolphus College · Saint Peter, MN
- #53 — Rowan University · Glassboro, NJ
- #54 — Bates College · Lewiston, ME
- #55 — Vassar College · Poughkeepsie, NY
- #56 — University Of California Davis · Davis, CA
- #57 — University Of Maryland College Park · College Park, MD
- #58 — University Of Washington Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA
- #59 — Oregon State University · Corvallis, OR
- #60 — University Of Vermont · Burlington, VT
Other Philosophy Degree Levels
Explore the best philosophy schools at other degree levels:
View All Philosophy Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 182 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.