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2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s

175 Ranked Colleges
789 Degrees Awarded
$41,396 Avg Salary
Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master's

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 10,054 people earned their degree in philosophy, making the major the 83rd most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, philosophy graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $30,510 and had an average of $21,514 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 789 philosophy graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s” ranking analyzed 175 colleges that offered a degree in philosophy. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular philosophy programs in the United States.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree philosophy students.

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Holy Apostles College and Seminary. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s. This small school is located in Cromwell, Connecticut, and it awarded 35 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Philosophy at Holy Apostles College and Seminary

2
The Graduate Center crest
The Graduate Center, CUNY
New York, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The Graduate Center, CUNY. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s list. The Graduate Center, CUNY is a medium-sized public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 31 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full The Graduate Center Philosophy Report

3
The American University crest
American University
Washington, District of Columbia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American University. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s. American University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Philosophy at The American University

4
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Out of the 175 schools in the Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Boston College landed the #4 spot on the list. Boston College is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. It awarded 22 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Philosophy at Boston College

5
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Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Georgia State University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this large public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified masters’s philosophy students in 2020-2021.

Full Georgia State Philosophy Report

6
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s philosophy degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Philosophy at SFSU

6
New School University crest
The New School
New York, New York

The New School landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s philosophy degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full New School University Philosophy Report

8
CUA crest
Catholic University of America
Washington, District of Columbia

Catholic University of America came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s ranking. CUA is a medium-sized school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 14 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Philosophy at CUA

8
Johnson University crest
Johnson University
Knoxville, Tennessee

With a ranking of #8, Johnson University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s list. This small school is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, and it awarded 14 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Johnson University Philosophy Report

10

With a ranking of #10, Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s list. This large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 13 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Philosophy at Columbia

10

Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s ranking. The Domincan School Berkeley is a small school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 13 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Philosophy at The Domincan School Berkeley

12

Franciscan University of Steubenville landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s ranking. Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private not-for-profit institution located in Steubenville, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Franciscan University of Steubenville Philosophy Report

13

With a ranking of #13, University of Dallas did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s list. UD is a private not-for-profit institution located in Irving, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Philosophy at UD

13

Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary - Overbrook landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s ranking. Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary - Overbrook is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. It awarded 11 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Philosophy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary - Overbrook

13

Northern Illinois University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s list. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified masters’s philosophy students in 2020-2021.

Full Northern Illinois University Philosophy Report

13

California State University - Los Angeles ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s philosophy degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Philosophy Report

17
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #17, Harvard University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s list. Harvard is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Philosophy at Harvard University

17
Biola crest
Biola University
La Mirada, California

Biola University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s ranking. La Mirada, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s philosophy degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Philosophy at Biola University

17
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Fordham University
Bronx, New York

With a ranking of #17, Fordham University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s list. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bronx, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Philosophy at Fordham U

20
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #20. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 9 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full Purdue Philosophy Report

20

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 9 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Philosophy at UWM

20
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s ranking. Loyola Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 9 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Philosophy at Loyola University Chicago

20

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #20. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 masters’s philosophy degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full U-M Philosophy Report

20
Duquesne crest
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #20, Duquesne University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s list. Duquesne is a medium-sized school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that handed out 9 masters’s philosophy degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Duquesne Philosophy Report

20
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania

Villanova University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s philosophy students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Villanova Philosophy Report

20
UCONN crest
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut

University of Connecticut did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #20. Storrs, Connecticut is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s philosophy degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Philosophy at UCONN

Rest of the Best 31 in Most Well Attended Philosophy Major for a Master’s

Not only did these schools make the top 31 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

27
27
27
27
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois
27
Texas Tech crest
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas
27
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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