by our College Data Analytics Team
[Philosophy](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a philosophy degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying philosophy schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send philosophy graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #1 spot for highest-paid philosophy graduates in North Carolina. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill make a median of around $59,952 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Western Carolina University earned it the #2 place for philosophy. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a public institution. Early-career philosophy graduates from Western Carolina University make a median of around $35,643 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in philosophy will find them at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, which ranked #3. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students who complete the philosophy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,251.
A rank of #4 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the highest-paying schools for philosophy. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. Philosophy graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of about $20,287 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published 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 · 4 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.