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 22 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.
Vanderbilt University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools in the Southeast Region. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $107,157.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Philosophy graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of about $75,545 a year early in their careers.
West Virginia University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a public institution. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,560.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from University Of Virginia Main Campus make a median of around $63,572 per year.
Georgia State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a public institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from Georgia State University make a median of around $60,232 per year.
Clemson University earned the #6 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a public institution. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,063.
Tulane University Of Louisiana placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from Tulane University Of Louisiana make a median of around $53,219 per year.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #8 spot for philosophy salaries this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill typically earn about $59,952 annually.
Saint John Vianney College Seminary earned the #9 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Saint John Vianney College Seminary is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami. Philosophy graduates of Saint John Vianney College Seminary earn a median of about $43,712 a year early in their careers.
University Of Florida landed the #10 spot for philosophy salaries this year. University Of Florida is a public school located in the city of Gainesville. Philosophy graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of about $69,827 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Tennessee landed the #11 spot for philosophy salaries this year. The University Of Tennessee is a public school located in the city of Knoxville. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee typically earn about $41,933 annually.
University Of Memphis ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from University Of Memphis typically earn about $39,587 annually.
Florida International University landed the #13 spot for philosophy salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from Florida International University typically earn about $51,471 annually.
Florida State University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Florida State University is a public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,843.
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Tampa. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus typically earn about $57,476 annually.
Western Carolina University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from Western Carolina University typically earn about $35,643 annually.
University Of Central Florida came in at #17 for philosophy graduate earnings this year. University Of Central Florida is a public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $35,179.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #18 for philosophy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Philosophy graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of about $50,495 a year early in their careers.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #19 position for philosophy graduate earnings this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia typically earn about $30,936 annually.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #20 spot for philosophy salaries this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public school located in the city of Charlotte. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte typically earn about $29,251 annually.
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #21 spot for philosophy salaries this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. After graduating, philosophy degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University typically earn about $26,192 annually.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying philosophy schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $20,287.
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 · 22 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.
