by our College Data Analytics Team
[Philosophy](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a philosophy degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the early-career earnings of their philosophy graduates.
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Below are the schools whose philosophy graduates go on to earn the most.
University Of Southern California earned the #1 spot for highest-paid philosophy graduates in California. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,023.
Strong graduate earnings at Loyola Marymount University earned it the #2 place for philosophy. Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,354.
A rank of #3 makes California State Polytechnic University Pomona one of the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Philosophy graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of about $51,522 a year early in their careers.
California State University Long Beach came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. California State University Long Beach is a public school located in the city of Long Beach. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,835.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of California Berkeley earned it the #5 place for philosophy. Set 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 #6 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. University Of California Santa Barbara is a public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Philosophy graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $65,351 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Riverside ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. 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 #8 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Philosophy graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $53,585 a year early in their careers.
San Francisco State University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. Early-career philosophy graduates from San Francisco State University make a median of around $55,124 per year.
University Of California Santa Cruz placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from University Of California Santa Cruz make a median of around $50,265 per year.
University Of California Irvine earned the #11 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,157.
University Of California Davis ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. Philosophy graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of about $32,749 a year early in their careers.
California State University Sacramento landed the #13 spot for philosophy salaries this year. Set 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 placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from California State University Northridge typically earn about $49,662 annually.
California State University Fullerton landed the #15 spot for philosophy salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from California State University Fullerton make a median of around $30,171 per year.
San Diego State University earned the #16 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. San Diego State University is a public school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,712.
University Of California San Diego landed the #17 spot for philosophy salaries this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from University Of California San Diego typically earn about $24,669 annually.
California State University Fresno placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a public institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from California State University Fresno make a median of around $20,354 per year.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries philosophy graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 18 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.
