Philosophy programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 201 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for philosophy students pursuing a degree.
The philosophy program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Philosophy Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Philosophy Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the philosophy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for philosophy. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 29 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Santa Clara University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy schools. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 philosophy degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Philosophy graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $79,380 early in their careers. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans.
See the full philosophy program report for Santa Clara University
Stanford University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $100,827 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top schools for philosophy. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 214 philosophy degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $73,053 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
See the full philosophy program report for University Of Pennsylvania
A rank of #5 makes College Of William And Mary one of the top schools for philosophy. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 16 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $53,338 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750.
More information about a degree in philosophy from College Of William And Mary
Washington University In St Louis placed #6 among the best philosophy schools. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 22 philosophy degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $68,303 in their early career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
See the full philosophy program report for Washington University In St Louis
Georgetown University came in at #7 for philosophy this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 22 philosophy degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $79,632 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483.
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Carnegie Mellon University placed #8 among the best philosophy schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 28 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
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Emory University came in at #9 for philosophy this year. Emory University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Emory University awarded about 54 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Philosophy graduates of Emory University earn a median of $67,840 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,438 to complete this degree.
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Yale University landed the #10 spot for philosophy this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 34 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $74,578 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University earned the #11 position for philosophy this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Philosophy graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
See the full philosophy program report for Harvard University
Dartmouth College placed #12 among the best philosophy schools. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Dartmouth College awarded about 10 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Philosophy graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $81,992 early in their careers. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
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Wake Forest University placed #13 among the best philosophy schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 15 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from Wake Forest University earn around $67,369 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
More information about a degree in philosophy from Wake Forest University
Brown University came in at #14 for philosophy this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. Brown University awarded about 23 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Philosophy graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
More information about a degree in philosophy from Brown University
Cornell University earned the #15 position for philosophy this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Cornell University awarded about 27 philosophy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from Cornell University earn around $75,976 in the first couple years of their career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
More information about a degree in philosophy from Cornell University
Princeton University earned the #16 position for philosophy this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 philosophy degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
More information about a degree in philosophy from Princeton University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #17 among the best philosophy schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 37 philosophy students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Philosophy graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $34,284 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,408.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #18 for philosophy this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 23 philosophy degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Philosophy graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,509.
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Purdue University Main Campus earned the #19 position for philosophy this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. About 42 philosophy degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844.
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Northeastern University landed the #20 spot for philosophy this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 17 philosophy degrees were awarded at Northeastern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their philosophy degree from Northeastern University earn around $74,800 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,611.
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Tufts University earned the #21 position for philosophy this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 philosophy degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $68,154 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,074.
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University Of Delaware placed #22 among the best philosophy schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Newark. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. About 12 philosophy degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $54,155 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,861 to complete this degree.
Read more about the philosophy program at University Of Delaware
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #23 for philosophy this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 29 philosophy degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Graduates of the philosophy program make about $61,010 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,273 to complete this degree.
Get the full philosophy details for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Pepperdine University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy schools. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 15 philosophy degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Philosophy graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $57,582 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,645 to complete this degree.
See the full philosophy program report for Pepperdine University
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #25 among the best philosophy schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. About 43 philosophy degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $53,134. Typical student debt for the program is $21,818.
See the full philosophy program report for University Of Missouri Columbia
Rest of the Top 50 Philosophy Schools
These schools also placed among the best for philosophy this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 201 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
