by our College Data Analytics Team
[Philosophy & Religious Studies](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for philosophy & religious studies students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the philosophy & religious studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Sacred Heart Major Seminary earned the #1 spot for value among philosophy & religious studies schools in Michigan. Sacred Heart Major Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $24,140. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,295. Sacred Heart Major Seminary admits about 100% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great value for students pursuing a degree in philosophy & religious studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $21,510 to complete the philosophy & religious studies program here. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $37,885 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
A rank of #3 makes Wayne State University one of the best values for philosophy & religious studies. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the philosophy & religious studies program here. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $55,469. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Hope College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in philosophy & religious studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Holland, Hope College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,484. Students borrow a median of $26,334 to complete the philosophy & religious studies program here. Early-career philosophy & religious studies graduates make about $25,208. Set against $26,334 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.