Philosophy & Religious Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 273 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best philosophy & religious studies schools.
Choosing a Great Philosophy & Religious Studies School
The philosophy & religious studies program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Philosophy & Religious Studies 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.
Philosophy & Religious Studies Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Philosophy & Religious Studies Schools list, to help you decide. 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.
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for philosophy & religious studies. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 37 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in philosophy & religious studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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Santa Clara University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 31 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from Santa Clara University earn around $79,380 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in philosophy & religious studies, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 219 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $73,053 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
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College Of William And Mary came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $53,338. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans.
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Washington University In St Louis ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 24 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,553.
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Georgetown University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 30 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from Georgetown University earn around $79,632 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
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Carnegie Mellon University landed the #8 spot for philosophy & religious studies this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
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Emory University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 66 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at Emory University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $58,984. Emory University graduates carry a median of $16,438 in student loans.
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Yale University placed #10 among the best philosophy & religious studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. Yale University awarded about 74 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from Yale University earn around $74,578 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
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Dartmouth College placed #11 among the best philosophy & religious studies schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. Dartmouth College graduates 96% of students within six years. About 15 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $81,992. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in philosophy & religious studies from Dartmouth College
Wake Forest University placed #12 among the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 20 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Graduates of the philosophy & religious studies program make about $67,369 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
See the full philosophy & religious studies program report for Wake Forest University
Brown University came in at #13 for philosophy & religious studies this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brown University awarded about 32 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,025.
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Cornell University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy & religious studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Cornell University awarded about 28 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,976. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005.
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Princeton University earned the #15 position for philosophy & religious studies 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. There were roughly 49 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from Princeton University earn around $67,532 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $33,937. Students borrow a median of $13,122 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University placed #17 among the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Harvard University awarded about 87 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus landed the #18 spot for philosophy & religious studies this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete this degree.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #19 position for philosophy & religious studies this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 45 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $25,260 early in their careers. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,715 in student loans.
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Northeastern University landed the #20 spot for philosophy & religious studies this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Northeastern University graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy & religious studies program make about $74,800 in their early career. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $25,611 in student loans.
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Tufts University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 28 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $68,154 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,074.
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University Of Delaware earned the #22 position for philosophy & religious studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Newark. About 82% of students finish within six years. University Of Delaware awarded about 12 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the philosophy & religious studies program make about $54,155 in their early career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans.
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California State University Chico ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy & religious studies schools. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 17 philosophy & religious studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $45,591 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,591.
More information about a degree in philosophy & religious studies from California State University Chico
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best philosophy & religious studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 29 philosophy & religious studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $61,010. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $19,273 in student loans.
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Pepperdine University earned the #25 position for philosophy & religious studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Malibu. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 19 philosophy & religious studies degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Students who receive their philosophy & religious studies degree from Pepperdine University earn around $57,582 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,645 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Philosophy & Religious Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s philosophy & religious studies ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 273 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).
