2027 Best Value Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools
[Philosophy](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value philosophy schools.
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2027 Best Value Philosophy Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in philosophy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Philosophy Schools
For return on investment in philosophy, no school beat California State University Los Angeles this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $14,430. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $48,403. Set against $14,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in philosophy, landing the #2 spot this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $52,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in philosophy will find it at San Francisco State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $18,000. Philosophy graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $28,539 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in philosophy will find it at Holy Apostles College And Seminary, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Cromwell, Holy Apostles College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,580.
A rank of #5 makes Georgia State University one of the best values for philosophy. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the philosophy program here. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Georgia State University generally make around $51,103. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Texas Tech University came in at #6 for value in philosophy this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete the philosophy program here. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #7 for value in philosophy this year. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $7,235 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,185 for out-of-state students. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $72,222. That is a strong return on a $17,921 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University came in at #8 for value in philosophy this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $74,578. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Johnson University came in at #9 for value in philosophy this year. Set in the rural area of Knoxville, Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,122. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $23,819 in student loans. Philosophy graduates of Johnson University earn a median of $34,290 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,819 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #10 spot for philosophy value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $23,529. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $89,327. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
Biola University landed the #11 spot for philosophy value this year. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,984. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $25,308 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $45,003. That is a strong return on a $25,308 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Tufts University landed the #12 spot for philosophy value this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,704. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete the philosophy program here. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $68,154. Set against $17,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Boston College earned the #13 position for value in philosophy this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. In-state tuition and fees average $70,702. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the philosophy program here. Philosophy graduates of Boston College earn a median of $47,345 early in their careers. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
American University placed #14 among the best values for philosophy. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $24,139 in student loans. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from American University generally make around $58,030. That is a strong return on a $24,139 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Fordham University came in at #15 for value in philosophy this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $22,999 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $59,403. Set against $22,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 59%.
The New School came in at #16 for value in philosophy this year. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,730. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $24,460. Philosophy graduates of The New School earn a median of $38,468 early in their careers. Set against $24,460 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Other Philosophy Degree Levels
Explore the best-value 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. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- 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.
