by our College Data Analytics Team
[Philosophy](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their philosophy graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the early-career earnings of their philosophy graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send philosophy graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
University Of Southern California tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from University Of Southern California make a median of around $95,023 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Loyola Marymount University earned it the #2 place for philosophy. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University typically earn about $58,354 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned it the #3 place for philosophy. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,522.
Students chasing top earnings in philosophy will find them at University Of Nevada Las Vegas, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas typically earn about $50,646 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at California State University Long Beach earned it the #5 place for philosophy. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Philosophy graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $46,835 a year early in their careers.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Located in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public institution. Philosophy graduates of University Of Washington Bothell Campus earn a median of about $51,685 a year early in their careers.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,685.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #8 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,247.
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from University Of California Santa Barbara make a median of around $65,351 per year.
University Of California Riverside landed the #10 spot for philosophy salaries this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a public institution. Philosophy graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of about $61,942 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #11 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles typically earn about $53,585 annually.
San Francisco State University came in at #12 for philosophy graduate earnings this year. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $55,124 annually.
Western Washington University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from Western Washington University typically earn about $38,501 annually.
University Of California Santa Cruz placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. University Of California Santa Cruz is a public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. Early-career philosophy graduates from University Of California Santa Cruz make a median of around $50,265 per year.
University Of California Irvine came in at #15 for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Philosophy graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of about $55,157 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Davis landed the #16 spot for philosophy salaries this year. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. Early-career philosophy graduates from University Of California Davis make a median of around $32,749 per year.
California State University Sacramento ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from California State University Sacramento typically earn about $37,380 annually.
California State University Northridge earned the #18 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. Philosophy graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of about $49,662 a year early in their careers.
University Of Oregon placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a public institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from University Of Oregon make a median of around $34,383 per year.
California State University Fullerton landed the #20 spot for philosophy salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $30,171.
Portland State University landed the #21 spot for philosophy salaries this year. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a public institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from Portland State University make a median of around $38,776 per year.
San Diego State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from San Diego State University typically earn about $29,712 annually.
University Of California San Diego earned the #23 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from University Of California San Diego make a median of around $24,669 per year.
California State University Fresno ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a public institution. Philosophy graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of about $20,354 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their philosophy graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 24 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
