Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Philosophy (Income $48-$75k)

79 Ranked Colleges
804 Degrees Awarded
$34,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master's For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 10,015 people earned their degree in philosophy, making the major the 81st most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, philosophy graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,067 and had an average of $22,199 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 804 philosophy graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 79 colleges that offer a degree in philosophy. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent philosophy programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the philosophy program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Philosophy Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Philosophy (Income $48-$75k)

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 79 schools in the Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s philosophy students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567.

Full Northwestern Philosophy Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia University in the City of New York. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia also took the #3 spot in our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194.

Read more about Philosophy at Columbia

#3

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. UPenn is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 2 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UPenn, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Philosophy at UPenn

#4

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 79 schools in the Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Cornell University landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Ithaca, New York, and it awarded 7 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Philosophy at Cornell University

#5

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 79 schools in the Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 2 degrees to qualified masters’s philosophy students in 2019-2020.

UChicago also took the #8 spot in our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Chicago Philosophy Report

#6

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#14 in overall quality

Vanderbilt University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s philosophy degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Vanderbilt, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt are $50,624.

Full Vanderbilt University Philosophy Report

#17 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. U-M is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 1 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M also made our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Philosophy at U-M

#8

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

With a ranking of #8, University of Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Florida is a large public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 4 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130.

Read more about Philosophy at University of Florida

#9

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#15 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s philosophy degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree philosophy students whose families make $48-$75k list, UNC Chapel Hill has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Chapel Hill are $30,248, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Philosophy Report

#19 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s philosophy degrees to qualified students.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Philosophy at University of Wisconsin - Madison

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s philosophy degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294.

Full UW Seattle Philosophy Report

#12

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

Boston College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Boston College is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. It awarded 24 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Boston College, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boston College are $31,930.

Read full report on Philosophy at Boston College

#13

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Wake Forest, North Carolina

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and it awarded 3 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SEBTS are $5,830, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Philosophy Report

#14

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#24 in overall quality

Florida State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. Florida State is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s philosophy degrees to qualified students.

Florida State also took the #24 spot in our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Philosophy at Florida State

#15

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s philosophy degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Philosophy at UCLA

#16

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#16 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Notre Dame is a fairly large school located in Notre Dame, Indiana that handed out 1 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Philosophy at Notre Dame

California State University - Long Beach landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784.

Read more about Philosophy at CSULB

#18

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
#11 in overall quality

Emory University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Emory is a fairly large school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 4 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Emory, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Emory are $44,676, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Philosophy at Emory University

#19

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#21 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. It awarded 2 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Virginia, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Virginia are $32,394.

Read more about Philosophy at University of Virginia - Main Campus

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 4 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UC Irvine Philosophy Report

#23 in overall quality

University of California - Davis landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Davis, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Davis Philosophy Report

#22

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s philosophy degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Philosophy at University of California - Santa Barbara

#23

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.

Read full report on Philosophy at UMN Twin Cities

#24

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #24. This large school is located in Athens, Georgia, and it awarded 3 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Georgia are $27,476, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Philosophy at UGA

#25

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California

University of California - Riverside landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Philosophy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of California - Riverside is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 1 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCR Philosophy Report

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Featured Philosophy and Religious Studies Schools

Find Schools Near You